Features

In order to carry out a meaningful measurement, the scale of the image must be known. Ideally, the image should have a scale so that the software can be easily calibrated for this size.

The Workspace

A measured object can be activated on the workspace by clicking on the object's edge. The activated object can then be enlarged or reduced using its corner points and can be moved by dragging and dropping.

Selection Mode

By clicking on the mouse icon the program will be placed in the selection mode. In this mode objects can be selected and altered.

Line Tool

Select the Line tool for length measurement. The start point of the line is determined with the first click and the end point with the second.

Holding down the shift key will simplify the measurement of vertical or horizontal lines.

After the second click the program will automatically return to the selection mode unless the "keep tool selected" option is checked by holding down the ctrl key.

Rectangle Tool

Select the Rectangle tool to measure a rectangle or square. The first click determines the first corner and the second click will determine the diagonal corner point. Holding down the shift key will allow for the simple measurement of a square.

After the second click the program will automatically return to the selection mode unless the "keep tool selected" option is checked by holding down the ctrl key.

Ellipse Tool

Select the ellipse tool for the measurement of ellipses or circles. The first click will determine the the first boundary point and the second click will determine the diagonal second boundary point.

For the measurement of a simple circle hold down the shift key.

After the second click the program will automatically return to the selection mode unless the "keep tool selected" option is checked by holding down the ctrl key.

Polygon Tool

Select the polygon tool for the measurement of more complex shapes. Every click will determine another corner point and by double clicking the polygon can be closed. Holding down the shift key will allow for the use of horizontal and vertical lines.

After closing the polygon the program will automatically return to the selection mode unless the "keep tool selected" option is checked by holding down the Ctrl key.

The "add"/"remove" corners icons allow for the adding or removing of extra corner points to/from the polygon.

The magic wand can be used to produce a polygon measurement from a group of image particles of the same color. The magic wand sensitivity can be adjusted by selecting "Options" » " magic wand settings " on the menu-bar.

Label Tool

The label tool can be used for the textual labeling of all measured objects.

Right clicking an object will open a pop-up window in which the label option can also be selected.

When more than one object is selected, these can be labeled at the same time by clicking menu "Options" » "label".

This label will also appear in the results column on the right hand side.

By default, the label will automatically appear below the selected object. The position of the label can be adjusted without affecting the position of the object by clicking and dragging the handle point in the center of the text.

If no object is selected, the Label tool can also be used for placing text labels anywhere over the workspace.

Rotation Tool

Click on the object rotation icon to place the program in object rotation mode. Clicking on a corner point of the object will then allow it to be rotated.

Graphical Scale Tool

The scale specification allows for the software to be calibrated for the scale of an image.

After calibration, object size and area specifications are indicated in the unit type as well as the scale.

Using the scale tool, the scale can be graphically determined by the measurement of an object of known size. This measurement is made in the same way as the line measurement. After determining the graphical scale of the line, the dimensions will be shown in the scale window.

If the image scale for a recording system is known, it can be entered directly into the scale window as a number in unit pixels/mm.

Results Table

Measurement results will appear in the results table in order of measurement. Different values are shown depending on the type of object measured.

Right-clicking over the results table will open a pop-up menu.

Selecting "copy" will place all results on the clipboard to be used as tables in other programs.

In the menubar click file and select "export results" to save the results as an Excel or text file.

The results table can be displayed or hidden by clicking the show results icon.

Saving and Exporting Results

Measurement results can be saved as a text file (ASCII) or as an Excel file for further processing. It is also possible to copy the results in RTF-Format on to the clipboard (by right-clicking over the result table and selecting "copy").

Saving the original image with the indicated object measurements is also possible.

More than one object can be selected by using the mouse to click, hold and drag over a number of desired measured objects. All objects within the rectangular selection will be then be activated.

Selected objects can then be copied and deleted (edit menu). Right clicking on the workspace will open a pop-up menu with the options of changing the "Line color", "Font" and "Label".

The order of the measured objects on screen can also be altered. An object's position can be switched to either the foreground or the background under menu, "Edit" >> " bring to foreground" or "send to background".

Loading and Saving an Image

By clicking the Load image icon a new window will open for image selection. Supported image formats are JPG, BMP, PNG, TIF, GIF, PSD. Images with measurements and labels can then be saved by clicking on the Save image tool.

Loading and Saving Measurements

Measurements may be saved and uploaded later for further processing. When saving, you can decide whether or not to also save the image data in the measurement folder.

Selecting "New Measurement" will delete all current measured objects. The existing scale will be retained. Please note that the size of the measurement file saved will be greater if you choose to also save the image data.

Options

The sensitivity of the magic wand tool can be adjusted in program options. By selecting `Save settings´, settings including window size and position, the settings for font and color, the line color, the sensitivity of the magic wand, whether the tool selection is to be maintained and the option to issue coordinates of the object to the results table will be saved.

Measurement error due to distortion

Measurement error due to visual distortion can be easily avoided by selecting the appropriate spacing and through use of the zoom. The following example shows the effect of distortion. For easy control with Datinf® Measure the recording of more than one measurement of the same size for the purpose of a controlled measurement can be used.