Efficient Image Editing with ImageJ: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Editing In ImageJ John H. Krantz Hanover College

2. Outline • Using ImageJ • Basics • Opening Images • New Images • Drawing • Basic Image Editing • Advanced

3. Example JPGs I will Edit

4. ImageJ • Free at: http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/index.html • Overview • Java program • Interface a bit awkward because it is free • Expandable via plug-ins • Covers all basic editing and many advanced - very advanced • Scientific quality image editor • Used in many technical applications

5. Basic ImageJ Interface • Menus and Tool bars • FileOpen, Save, Save As, Revert • EditCut, Copy, Paste, Selection, Options • Image Basic Image Editing • Process More Advanced Image Editing Options • Shapes are for selection or drawing. The “A” is for adding text.

6. File/New

7. Drawing with ImageJ • Very simple but easy • Access to pixels • No anti-aliasing in most drawing modes • Downside: jaggies • Upside: in complete control of graphics • Can store and edit in lots of formats

8. File/Open

9. Try some • When open in ImageJ, all images are bitmaps, but can be edited in different types • Basic Graphics Objects • Adding Text • Saving in Different Format • File/Save As • Important: Must use File/Save As every time not saving the file as a bitmat

10. Basic Editing in ImageJ • Edit a bitmap • Most Important Command: Revert • Under the File Menu • Takes back to last save – careful with saves. • Ctrl-z is undo but only one step. • Suggest make copy first so don’t destroy original

11. Cropping or my Thumb got in the way – well not really

12. Select Area Select square on Tool Box

13. Cropped Image – What thumb?Under Image Menu: Crop

14. Basic Editing for Web • Resizing Image For Fast Download • Under Image/Scale or Image/Adjust/Size

15. Saving Images

16. Converting Images • Save as for Image Types – use GIF or JPG • Must add extension, it is not added automatically • Always use save as to save anything other than a TIFF • This is a full color uncompressed image

17. Selecting Region to Edit

18. Brightness and ContrastImage/Adjust/Brightness and Contrast

19. Converting Images • Converting Color Depth or to Grayscale image • Under Image Menu/Type • To grayscale image, convert to 8 Bit

20. Filtering Images • Gaussian: blurs • Amount of blur depends upon the standard deviation (called radius)

21. Filtering Images • Edges: finds them – so type of outline

22. Adding to Images • Setting Colors • Edit: Options: Foreground Color • Image: Colors • Adding Text • Set font in • Edit: Options: Font • Draws in selected color

23. Adding to Images • Drawing a basic graphics object • Draw width: • Edit: Options: Line Width • Select shape • Put shape on image • Edit: Draw or ctrl-D • Filled regions • Same as above, but: • line width not important • Use Edit: Fill or ctrl-F

24. Plugins • These are the heart and sole of ImageJ • Some have limits but as developments go on, you will be able to get new ones without these limits • How to get: http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/plugins/ • Pick desired plug in. • Go to ImageJ folder, then to plugins folder • I suggest making folders under this to keep organized • Restart ImageJ

25. Creating Shortcuts • Under Plugins menu • Pick Shortcuts • Then Create Shortcut • Lists all commands • Type letter that will be matched with control button. • Under Plugins/Utilities/Shortcuts will show all current shortcuts

26. Adding Shortcuts Example • Pick command JPEG • This saves files in a jpeg format • A pain to get to usually • Use “J” • Try ctrl-J

27. Mail List • http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/list.html • Active community of people developing • They are very tolerant of idiotic questions. I have personal experience of their tolerance