Virtual Microscope

Each microscope slide has been scanned in its entirety to create high resolution images (up to 32 GB for an image of 150,000 x 75,000 pixels).

The browser-based interface recreates the experience of using a light microscope. To aid in the interpretation of tissue sections, the key features are described for each slide.

Description

A slide can be viewed using (1) the interactive description to its right, or by (2) direct manipulation of image within the viewer.

The description is navigated with these commands.

• Links - move to a specific structure (always in the center of the view)
• Images - show this view (applies to all images)
• Navigation Buttons (optional) - move between multiple pages of description

Use Return to Previous Page in the top left returns to the page before visiting help.

Features

Various features are included to help in the navigation of images.

• Thumbnail - region of the image that is visible
• Scalebar - shows the size of structures (can be moved using the mouse)
• Toolbar - manipulation of the displayed view
  • Magnifications - correspond to objective lenses used to view slide with a physical microscope
  • Navigation Buttons - zooming and panning of the view
  • Size of View - size of the entire image window in units of the slide
  • Pointer - used to point out structures on the slide

Hint: other ways to view structures from the description

• List of Views - rapidly scroll the structures using the drop down list
• Left/Right Arrows - arrows appear when the mouse is over the right/left edges

Options

These options change various features of the viewer and descriptions.

• Full Screen - shows or hides the descriptions
• Slide Information - details about the slide
• Preferences - changes how features are displayed
  • Dark/Light theme
  • Show/hide features of the viewer
  • Show/hide or change color of the scalebar
  • Multiple/single page description
  • Increase/decrease font size in description
• Contact - authors names and contact information
• HELP - leads to this page

Viewer

The display of images can be changed using multiple types of interaction.

Mouse

• Click to zoom in
• Double-click to zoom out
• Alt-double-click to zoom-out to the entire slide
• Drag the image to pan

Keyboard

• Shift or 'A' key to zoom-in
• Ctrl or 'Z' key to zoom-out
• Arrow keys to pan across the image
• ESC key to zoom-out to the entire slide

Touch

• Tap to zoom-in
• Double-tap to zoom-out
• Alt-tap to zoom-out to the entire slide
• Drag the image to pan