WinFOLIA - Computer Leaf Image Analysis Software

Components of a WinFOLIA System
Image Acquisition Hardware
When portability is not required, we recommend WinFOLIA systems based on high resolution desktop scanners. These devices produce high quality images free of illumination problems (such as non-uniform lighting). Unlike cameras, scanners have a built-in permanent calibration and are very easy to use. We sell different models in function of their scan area (the maximum leaf size they can digitize), speed and accuracy.

Note: Desktop scanners cannot be used in the field but are transportable and usable in remote locations where electrical power is available.
    
Our lightweight portable scanner can be used for in the field leaf image acquisition. Non-destructive acquisition, while leaves are attached to the plant, is a possibility. It takes its power from a portable computer or a tablet running Windows 8 (or 7) and allows WinFOLIA to get images directly from it to do in field leaf analysis. It has a very good image quality and ease of use.

Portable Imaging & Calibration Kit (PICK)

Conventional and inexpensive digital cameras1 can also be used for leaf image acquisition (in the field or laboratory). Precautions must be taken so that calibration can be done accurately and rapidly. To facilitate this task, we offer the Portable Imaging & Calibration Kit (PICK) for digital cameras.

The PICK allows to acquire images of leaves and other biological samples (needles, roots, ...) in fields with a camera for their analysis in Regent`s programs (WinFOLIA, WinSEEDLE, WinCAM, ...). The latter can be done in field or in laboratory.

It contributes in different ways to obtaining good images suitable for precise automated analysis. The background provides good contrasts with biological samples. The translucent non-reflective cover holds them firmly against it to avoid shadows and distorted measurements. Calibration targets allow to make a fast and precise calibration in just one click (to get measurements in units of your choice (mm, cm...).

The camera is held above it using a tripod (not included) with or without an extension arm and uses the ambient light (it works under sunny or cloudy days). To avoid fuzziness due to the depress of the shutter we recommend to trigger the camera using a remote control (an option for many camera models) or, if your camera is WiFi, using a phone or tablet.

It comes in 3 sizes (to accomodate larger or more leaves per image) and two models. One is optimized for color and morphology analysis (disease quantification, area per color, leaf or object area...) using the Pro version of Regent`s software, the other for more basic leaf (or object) area and morphology analyses (grey levels analysis) using any of its software.

The PICK is a good complementary item to our scanner based systems wich works in the office (they are more precise and produce higher definition images).

Scanners
Model Selection and Image Transfer to WinFOLIA

WinFOLIA uses the TWAIN1 protocol to communicate with scanners and get images directly from them (without saving them to disk) in a very fast process. There are many versions of TWAIN and some features are not mandatory for a scanner to be TWAIN compliant. Regent Instruments cannot test all scanners and drivers available on the market so we do not guarantee that they will be compatible with all features of WinFOLIA. We have tested and selected a few models that are representative of their categories and we offer them for sale with WinFOLIA as complete systems (WinFOLIA can also be purchased as software alone). These models meet the requirements for precise scientific work and we give them a speed rating to help you choose one. There are important differences in terms of image quality and speed among different models. We retain those that are robust, reliable, will last long and which come with good warranty support from their manufacturer. With all scanner models it is possible to scan leaves using the scanner manufacturer program, save the image to disk and then open and analyse those images in WinFOLIA2. This process is slower than TWAIN because it involves two extra steps.

We calibrate the scanners we sell for precise measurements. Scanners are mainly made for artistic applications. When you set it to scan at 400 dpi, it might in reality scan at 392 or 410 dpi. This is what our calibration compensates for. Our calibration is permanent and is automatically used by our programs to compensate for differences among scanners so that data produced by different models or different units of the same model will give similar results. Our calibration also compensates for differences when using a single scanner under different conditions such as when measuring an object at various orientation on its scan area and, for dual lenses scanners, when using different lenses.

Our scanners come with additional instruction manuals that explain how to install the scanner with our accessories and how to scan biological samples for analysis with our programs. These help you to get the best images from it and to save time by giving some tips that are specific to the scanner that you have purchased (optimizing it for speed vs. accuracy or avoiding frequent beginners errors). We know the scanners we sell for using them in the same conditions as you with WinFOLIA so we can easily help in case of problems. Because testing scanners is a continuous non-neglectable time and money investment, we do not disclose the scanner models we sell, neither do we give our opinion on specific models. If you prefer to buy a scanner locally, we suggest to test it before purchase and to select a reseller that will be able to assist you after as Regent Instruments will not provide technical assistance for scanners not purchased from us.

Our scanners also come with their manufacturer’s software program(s) which allow to use them for other generic applications (object, photo, slide or document scanning).

1 TWAIN drivers are installed in your Windows operating system when you install the scanner manufacturer software programs.
2 Files must be in tiff uncompressed grey levels (8 bits/256 grey levels) or colors (24 bits/millions of colors) or jpeg format.

Although WinFOLIA can obtain and analyse images directly from many scanners, it is advantageous to purchase one from Regent for the reasons given here.

Digital Cameras
Model Selection and Image Transfer to WinFOLIA

Some reasons for using cameras instead of scanners are that they can take images of larger objects (albeit at lower resolution), are (most of the time) more portable or simply because you might already have some at hand (they are quite cheap and common these days). WinFOLIA can open and analyse jpeg images files produced by almost any digital camera (RAW files do not work). The fastest way to measure leaf area and morphology in the field is when the computer can get instantaneous image transfer from the camera to it. This is possible if your camera has a TWAIN driver (this is rare) or that it can be remotely controlled from the computer (with the camera manufacturer software) and transfer images directly to it via a wire (such as USB2) or a wireless (WiFi) connection. In those cases, WinFOLIA can analyse images as soon as they are saved to disk (or directly from the camera if a TWAIN driver is available). It is also possible to transfer one or more images at a time using the following methods:

1. Remove the memory card from the camera and insert it in a card reader connected to the computer (some computers have built-in card readers). The memory card appears as a removable disk on Windows computers. The image files they contain can be opened from WinFOLIA or they can be transferred from the card to the computer hard disk prior to this.
2. Many digital cameras can be mounted as a removable disk simply by connecting them to the computer (after installation of their manufacturer drivers). WinFOLIA can access these images directly or you can transfer them to the computer and open them from there.
3. You can use the software program that came with the camera to transfer images in lot and analyse them later in WinFOLIA.