Image preprocessing requirements
Input data
NOTE! When using Filebuilder to generate the image series descriptor file, a warning will appear if your files are too big (details below).
Preprocessing of images with other software tools (e.g. Nutil Transform, ImageMagick, Matlab scripts) or python scripts found in many open source libraries (e.g. PIL)) is usually needed to fulfill these requirements (converting to PNG or JPEG and downscaling to screen-like size), but QuickNII allows storage of original image dimensions as part of its series descriptor.
File naming convention
Serial section images should be assigned consecutive serial numbers, preferably indicated by three-digit numbers at the end of the file name, e.g. Sample_ID_s001.png
The section number should reflect the serial order and spacing of the sections (e.g. s002, s006, s010 for every 4th section starting with section 2).
NOTE: if you plan to analyse your images with the QUINT workflow, both the image segmentation file from ilastik and the atlas map that correspond to a particular section must contain a unique ID that meets the file naming requirement described above. These unique IDs must also be present in the XML/JSON file containing the anchoring information: this happens automatically as long as the images that are anchored with QuickNII contain the unique IDs.
Nutil Quantifier supports IDs in the format: sXXX.., with XXX.. representing the section number, as well as formats defined by regular expressions.
Example: tg2345_MMSH_s001_segmentation.png (It is fine to include a string of letters and numbers followed by the unique ID).
As Nutil Quantifier scans and detects the _s part of the name, the file name should not contain additional _s. Example that would not work: tg2345_MMSH_ss_s001.png
Generate a XML descriptor file
Collect the section images in a folder. The section sampling is defined by the serial numbers.
Remember to have a filenaming pattern that is consistent and with equal number of digits.
Use the small program “FileBuilder.bat” provided with QuickNII to generate the XML descriptor file. A new window will open, and ask for the folder where your images are located. Point to the correct folder, mark all image files (ctrl+A), and click ok.
Files will be reviewed, and an xml file will be generated when all files passed (green OK). If the files are too big they will not pass and get a red warning. The orange warning allows files to pass.
Click “Save xml”and give a name to your descriptor file. You can now open the xml in QuickNII. If the section number is not recognized, you have the option to just number the images in filebuilder.
NOTE! The xml descriptor file must be located in the same folder as the small png or jpeg images for QuickNII.