[comp.sys.mac] Digitizers and image processing software

sorensen@hstbme.mit.edu (A. Gregory Sorensen) (05/27/88)

We are interested in grey-scale digitizing some pathology microscope slides for
alignment with medical images.  We have a Mac II, and are looking for
two things:
	1. Video Digitizer
	2. Analysis software

MacWEEK just put out a Graphics Arts supplement that lists many
video digitizers, ther prices, resolution, etc.  Two look inexpensive 
enough for our grant money to pay for:

QuickCatpure ($995, 256 Grey levels, real time acquisition)
MacVision ($399, same grey levels, real time acquisition)
Both have 640x480 resolution.

Anybody have experience with these? Is MacVision shipping and functional? Why
is it $600 cheaper?


The Supplement also points out two image processing software packages: 
Image Studio and Digital Darkroom.  Do either of these allow you to do feature 
analysis, like area of a feature, histogram analysis, FFT, etc?

Sure appreciate any info y'all have.

pkahn@meridian.ads.com (Phil Kahn) (05/27/88)

We received the QuickCapture board and software from Data Translation
(617) 481-3700 and we are very pleased with it.  It is very fast and
the quality is superb (7 good bits). It allows different input video
configurations, and we plan to hook up RBG and then ddigitize each.
The input video line is software selectable. The interface is
suggestive and allows the images to be displayed on the screen at
about 7 frames/sec and captured and saved in TIFF format. Additional
features will become available when their software is completed next
month. 

I don't know the other board, but typically the lower prices translate
into slower on-board clock times which translates into less than
real-time capture.  Also make sure you know how many bits are solid. 7
out of 8 bits is very good (i.e., the top seven bits do not fluctuate
with a stable input image). 

phil...