Filtrex (Eng)

C ontrol
ina tion
nta m
i c ula te Co
Pa rt
MICROVISION Instruments
CE 1750 - Petite Montagne Sud
8, rue du Forez - 91047 Evry - France
Tél : (33) (0) 1 69 11 15 50
Fax : (33) (0) 1 69 11 15 51
Courriel : [email protected] 9th edition
S.A.S. au capital de 135 000 euros Filtrex 8.3
R.C.S. Corbeil - Essonnes : B 388 570 046 May 2013
Table of Contents
1. Overview of Filtrex 5
Starting up Filtrex 5
The Filtrex work sheet 5
The menus 6
The toolbar 7
The tabs, pages and documents 8
The status bar 8
The structure of a work session 9
Preparing the equipment 9
Start of the study 9
The filter analysis 9
Using the results 9
Protecting the settings 9
2. Preparing the equipment 11
List of sources 11
Image acquisition 11
Controlling the microscope 12
The image processor 13
Calibration of the device 14
Predefined calibrations 14
Defining a new calibration 14
Setting image processing 15
Acquisition channels 16
Adding an external method 16
Acquisition settings 16
Setting the thresholding 17
Fixed and relative thresholding 17
Adaptive thresholding 18
Color thresholding 19
Filtering setting 20
Standard filtering 20
Defining a macro 20
Defining detection criteria 21
Setting an external method 22
Defining the scan 22
3. Start of the study 25
New study 25
Adjusting the predictive focus 27
Definition of the classifications and varieties of particles 28
Saving the study 28
Templates and saved files 29
4. Filter analysis 31
Counting the particles 31
Filtrex - User Manual page 3 / 49

Modifying particles 31
Controlling the results 32
5. Overview of the analyzed filter 33
Reviewing particles 34
Characteristics of a particle 34
Drawing properties 35
Exporting 35
6. Using the results 37
Definition of the classifications 38
The classifications 38
The classification characteristics 38
Defining the particle varieties 38
The varieties 39
The variety detection criteria 39
The particle counting tables 39
Counting table properties 40
Statistical table 41
Exporting 41
7. The portfolio 43
Portfolio properties 44
8. Page layout and Report print-out 45
Exporting 46
9. Secure operating modes 47
Actions saved in the events log 48
“Application” category 48
“Study” category 48
"Measurement" category 49

1. Overview of Filtrex
Filtrex is a software application for measuring the length of particles that is particularly suitable for
controlling pollution in-filtered fluids. Filtrex offers the following features:
• Integration of 4 types of particle pollution controls:
Hydraulic fluid system
Washing as a surface of the pieces
Washing as a volume of the pieces
Washing as a volume of the pieces (G number)
• Exhaustive analysis of the membrane, possibly with the aid of a motorized scan.
• Rebuilding of particles in contact with the edge of the image.
• Characterization of the varieties of particles according to the following criteria: length, width,
lengthening and possibly, shade, intensity and brilliance.
• Presentation of the counting results in tables according to classification by particle length. The
classifications used may be those of a recognized standard, such as ISO 16232 or NFL 41-101,
or ones defined by the user. Specifications can be associated with them in order to establish
counting compliance.
Great care has been taken to ensure simplicity and ease of use, and the production of directly usa-
ble documents: annotating images, printing images and results, saving in the form of files that can
be used by other software.
Starting up Filtrex
The Filtrex shortcut is normally accessible in the "Microvision Instruments" program group, located
in the "Programs" menu within the Windows "Start" menu.
The Filtrex work sheet

The work sheet is the window displayed when Filtrex starts up. It contains the standard elements of
the Windows environment: the title bar (1) which includes the system menu box (on the left), and
the window enlargement / reduction boxes (on the right), the menu bar (2) provides access to all of

the software's functions. When the sheet does not occupy the entire screen, it can be moved (by
clicking on the title bar) or resized (by clicking within the frame).
The toolbar (3) contains some buttons for quickly accessing the software's most used functions.
On the left of the sheet, some tabs (4) allow you to display either the video image or various docu-
ments that are representative of the work in hand: mapping of the fields measured, the counting ta-
bles, the statistics, the images of characteristic particles and the printed report.
The video image or the document occupies most of the sheet (5). They are bordered by rulers (6),
graduated in real units, and by scroll bars (7) that are active when the document or the image is
larger than the window itself.
The status bar (8) at the bottom of the worksheet contains information relating to the work in pro-
gress.
The Filtrex work sheet
The menus
They provide access to all Filtrex functions. Here is a quick overview of them:
• the “File” menu is dedicated to the studies: start of a study, saving and re-opening a study, ex-
porting the results and printing the report. It also enables you to archive, load and print images.
• the “Edit” menu provides classic "copy/paste" functions that allow you to exchange images or
documents between different software applications. You can also cancel an action and access
the image annotation module.
• the “Image” menu is dedicated to the management of video images: choice of sources, acquisi-
tion and improvement of the images

• the "Measure" menu contains the functions used during a study: system calibration, definition of
the study characteristics, analysis & focusing settings and measurement taking.
• the "Results" menu allows you to define the classifications, particle varieties and document pre-
sentation options and to add or remove counting tables. It also contains items that allow you to
display the documents in windows that remain visible at all times.
• the “Layout” menu contains various more general options allowing you to customize the envi-
ronment and plotting options.
• the “?” menu: information about the Filtrex software and secure operating modes.
The toolbar
The toolbar provides quick access to certain frequently used functions and information:
The Filtrex toolbar
1. Source currently selected in the list of available sources

2. Live video image from the camera or acquisition of an image from a scanner.
3. Adjusting a camera's acquisition settings.
4. Control motorized features of the microscope.
5. Application of certain processing to live images.
6. Freezing the video image.
7. Removing the scanning circle.
8. Centering tool for defining the scanning circle.
9. Activation / Deactivation of the position tracking, when the system is equipped with an indexed
or motorized stage.
10. Switching from field to field:
With a motorized stage (or scanner), all buttons are active. The field movement buttons control
the stage.
With an indexed displacement stage, the buttons are inactive and field changes are performed
by moving the stage.
With a manual system, the field movement buttons are active and allow you to display the mea-
surements already taken.
11. Analysis of the displayed field.
12. Analysis of the sample (scanners or motorized systems)
13. Interactive tools: select a particle, draw a particle, combine two particles.
14. Adds the camera image to the portfolio.
15. Options for displaying the particles in the overview.
16. Particle counting table properties.
17. Portfolio properties.

18. Report properties.
19 Display / Masking of the overview, counting tables and statistics in a separate palette.
The tabs, pages and documents

The tabs located on the left of the window allow you to display five pages representing the current
study:
• The real-time video image is, of course, the most important page as it allows you to observe the
sample and to take the measurements.
The video image and the superimposed drawingss can be saved or printed using the correspon-
ding options in the "File" menu. A part of the image can be selected and then transferred to ano-
ther software application, using the “Copy” option in the “Edit” menu.
• The "Scanning" page presents mapping of the filter and the fields measured: it represents the
particles measured, possibly superimposed on the image that is under the camera while the
measurement is being taken.
A part of the overview may be selected, copied and then transferred to another software appli-
cation.
• The "Results" page allows you to display counting tables and the statistics. These documents
can be displayed in a separate window that is included in the report, or copied to external soft-
ware.
• The “Portfolio” page presents the images and the drawing of the particles that are characteristic
of the analyzed filter. The particle number, varieties, length and width can be indicated for each
image. This document is included in the report.
• The “Report” page is a true copy of the document that is likely to be printed. It always follows
the progress of the work in hand.
The report page layout can be personalized: size and contents of the header and footer, title and
order of the printed documents.
The status bar

The status bar is located at the very bottom of the sheet. It contains information relating to the work
in progress:
The Filtrex status bar
1. System date.
2. System time.
3. Name of the selected source.
4. Name and number of the image file that may be displayed.
5. Name of the selected lens.
6. Scale in which the video image, overview or report is displayed.
7. Reference of the analyzed product (or name of the "study" file in which the measurements are
recorded)

8. Position of the crosshairs when you click on one of the graduated rulers. When you use the fra-
ming tool, the size of the selected area is displayed here.
9. Display of one of the following indicators in graphical and digital form: PC memory in use, video
image brightness or focus indication. Click in the left-hand area to choose the value to display.
The structure of a work session
Preparing the equipment

During this stage, you essentially set:
• the acquisition and centering of the video image using the options in the "Image" menu, you try
to display on the screen the image in which the particles are sufficiently contrasted.
• the calibration of the system; this operation consists in establishing the equivalence between a
real distance and the length that is visible on the screen.
• particle acquisition: this refers to image treatments that enable the equipment to detect the par-
ticles in the video image. The programmed treatments are summarized in a palette that can be
displayed via the "Measure" menu.
The preparation of the equipment is presented in Chapter 2.
Start of the study

The preparation of the study consists in providing the software with the characteristics of the filter to
be analyzed: general information, type of fluid, scan and focus definition, particle modeling and op-
tical property measurement. The next step is to set the predictive focus.
These operations are described in Chapter 3.
The filter analysis

The analysis can be completely automatic if the system is equipped with a motorized stage or
otherwise semi-automatic. Several options allow you to monitor that the analysis progresses cor-
rectly. These options are described in Chapter 4.
The overview of the analyzed filter is presented in Chapter 5.
The portfolio containing the images of the characteristic particles is detailed in Chapter 7.
Using the results

This consists of defining the classifications, varieties of particles and counting tables containing all
or some of the particles according to a given classification.
The results tables, the page layout and print-out of the Filtrex report are presented in Chapters 6
and 8.
Protecting the settings

The settings made during the first two stages are fundamental and determine the validity of the
measurement results. It is possible to prevent these settings from being modified by setting the
software to a secure operating mode.
The secure operating modes are described in Chapter 8.

2. Preparing the equipment
List of sources
The “Sources” sub-menu in the “Image” menu lists the installed hardware configurations. Each con-
figuration consists of a camera, an optical device (compound microscope, magnifying glass or ma-
cro lens), certain elements of which may be motorized: object stage or focusing axis.
Filtrex can analyze filters observed with any type of source, but a scanner is often sufficient and
provides automatically calibrated images.
Filtrex can work with all of the proposed sources, but only those equipped with an indexed or moto-
rized stage can be used to analyze areas larger than the camera’s field. Choose the appropriate con-
figuration.
The list of sources also has two options for working with files rather than real sources:
• “Read files” allows you to successively analyze several images saved in tiff, bitmap or jpeg for-
mat. Navigation is then done either via the “Next scene” and “Previous scene” items in the
“Image” menu or via the "Next field” and “Previous field” items in the “Measure” menu.
• “Read cartography” allows you to analyze a preview or an overview saved in the Microvision
Cartography format. The “Scanning” page then displays an overview of the sample as a water-
mark. A mapping is analyzed in exactly the same way as a sample observed using a source
equipped with a motorized stage.
Image acquisition
The main functions associated with image acquisition available in the “Image” menu are:
• “Acquire continuously” displays the image of the sample on the screen in real time. The title
changes to "Freeze image" to stop continuous acquisition.
This toolbar button is equivalent to the “Acquire continuously” item.
This button is equivalent to the "Freeze image" item.

• With an 'XXL' source, the "Acquire a new image..." item displays the scanner dialog box through
which the sample image will be acquired. This is then displayed as a watermark in the “Scan-
ning” page and will be analyzed in the same way as for a source equipped with a motorized
stage.
This toolbar button is equivalent to the "Acquire a new image..." item.
• “Adjust camera…” displays a control palette that allows you to adjust the camera parameters.
The parameters displayed are specific to each camera, with the most usual being exposure time,
white balance for color cameras and gain and brightness adjustments. Adjusting the references
is an alternative method of adjusting the gain and brightness: its effect is displayed in the histo-
gram during adjustment.
When the image is acquired continuously, this button is equivalent to the “Adjust camera”
item.
Controlling the microscope

This button on the toolbar, or the “Adjust microscope…” in the “Image” menu, displays a pa-
lette that allows you to control motorized features of the microscope: filter wheel, lens turret,
diaphragm, etc.

The elements shown in black are the controllable elements of the microscope: they have been defi-
ned using the Nazca configuration software.
The filter wheel, the lens turret and the diaphragm are controlled by clicking on the arrows located
on the left and on the right of the position indicated.
X position, Y position and focus position are changed either with the arrow buttons, or by defining a
precise value: click in the position, enter the value with the keyboard, and select by pressing the
<Enter> or <Return> key.
The image processor

When the active source contains a digital camera, certain processes can be applied to the
continuously acquired and displayed images. They are defined with the “Adjust processor…”
item in the “Image” menu, which opens the following dialog box:
The first process proposed converts the camera image into black and white.
Background correction is a particularly interesting process when you perform motorized scanning
using a microscope with light background lighting: it allows you to get rid of any lighting disparities.

In order to implement it:
• at the start of the study, move the stage to an area with no objects
• click on the “Acquire background” button
• bring the stage back to an area to be analyzed: the objects to be measured must be visible, as
the background is now uniform in color over the entire image. The “Apply correction” button
can be used to estimate the correction quality.
Background image acquisition must be performed each time the source is started, therefore ge-
nerally each time the software is started.
Background image, to be ac- One of the continuously ac- The same image, with correc-
quired at the start of the study. quired images, without correction: the background is uni-
tion: the objects are visible, but form, facilitating object detec-
the background is not uniform. tion.
The “mirrors” functions apply symmetries to the image, or a 180° rotation when both are activated.
They can be used without restriction with non-motorized sources. When the source is equipped with
a motorized or indexed stage, the choice should be made once and for all in the Nazca configuration
software before performing the alignment adjustment.
Calibration of the device

Calibration consists of determining an equivalence between a real length and the apparent length on
the screen. A correct calibration is essential for Filtrex to run smoothly and must be performed if the
source is a video camera.
Predefined calibrations
The “Calibration” sub-menu in the “Measure” menu provides a list of scales corresponding to the
various magnifications produced by the optical system (microscope lenses or the lens’ zoom posi-
tion).
These scales were defined using the Nazca configuration software. You therefore just have to select
the desired magnification for the system to be calibrated. This can be checked by placing a ruler or
a micrometer under the camera and verifying that its graduations correspond with those on the
Filtrex rulers.
Defining a new calibration

If the optical system does not have a fixed position (continuous zoom, for example), the “Calibra-
tion” sub-menu displays the “Define…” item which provides access to a special setup window,
shown below:

The list of the predefined distance scales (1) is displayed on the top left of this sheet. It also incor-
porates some buttons and a text box (2) for creating, modifying and deleting the scales. Each scale
is expressed in a measurement unit (3) which can be modified: conversion is automatic.
Two vertical crosshairs and two horizontal crosshairs are drawn on the screen. Proceed as follows:
• place a ruler or a micrometer horizontally under the camera,
• align two crosshairs with known graduations that are as far as possible from each other,
• enter the indicated distance, expressed in the current unit, into the “X” text field (4).
The ratio between the distance entered and the number of points separating the two crosshairs defi-
nes the horizontal calibration factor, which is expressed as a current unit per pixel.
In principle, this factor is identical for the vertical crosshair, but it can be checked as follows:
• place the ruler or the micrometer vertically,
• align the two crosshairs,
• enter the indicated distance into the “Y” text field (4).
This defines the calibration factor for the vertical reticule and the “Y/X” ratio which must remain
close to 1. This ratio essentially depends on the precision with which the camera respects the video
standard. It is therefore not essential to always calibrate the system in both directions. If only one
direction is calibrated, the “Y / X” ratio, once defined, is used to calibrate the other direction.
Setting image processing

Generally, the detection of the particles depends on the three following stages:
• thresholding, which extracts from the image the phase to be measured. Several techniques are
presented below. It is the only essential stage.
• the filtering, which consists of removing the small undesirable objects and filling the incomplete
objects.
• finally, dimensional or morphological criteria can be applied to remove the undesirable objects.
The correct adjustment of these various stages is essential for the reliability of the results.

Acquisition channels
Filtrex can detect various types of particles in the same analysis. The first thing to be done is to in-
dicate to the software the number and the name of these types. This is done with the “Set acquisi-
tion channels…” item in the “Measure” menu. The following dialog box is displayed:
Defining acquisition channels
The “Add” and “Delete” buttons at the bottom of the window allow you to define different types of
particles. Click in a caption (left-hand column) to enter a name with the keyboard.
In the “Acquisition” column, a menu allows you to choose a method to detect the particles:
• the "Standard" method is appropriate in most of the cases. It includes several thresholdings and
filterings, which are described below.
• other methods are called “external methods”, as they are defined in separate files, called “plu-
gins”, sold separately. They are able to analyze specific images, where particles are identified by
a particular image processing.
Adding an external method

To add an external method to the list, select “Add a method…” item in the pop up menu.
If plugins are installed on the computer, the dialog presents the list of the methods available, grou-
ped by file. To display the contents of a file, click on the arrow located on the left of its name.
Each method is described with a typical image and a short description: click on the chosen method,
and use the text field on the bottom of the dialog to define a name: it will be displayed in the list.
Acquisition settings
Settings can be accessed via the “Show acquisition settings” item in the “Measure” menu. In the
dialog box which is displayed, a tab is associated with each channel of acquisition which has just
been defined. Each tab summarizes the current settings:

Settings are described below. In principle, they remain valid as long as no changes are made to the
observation method. However, they can be modified during analysis.
Setting the thresholding

Thresholding, which constitutes the first setting for any acquisition, consists of indicating to the sys-
tem the shades that characterize the objects to be measured or counted. There are several methods
for this:
• fixed thresholding consists in manually setting the values of shades characterizing the objects.
This method enables a high degree of detection precision, but requires stable lighting and uni-
form preparation of samples.
• relative thresholding consists in manually adjusting the shading values for a given field, but ap-
plying to all the fields while taking into account variations in the appearance of the image's
background. This method is appropriate for detecting rare or small objects in large samples.
• adaptive thresholding enables detection of objects in fields where the lighting is not uniform. Un-
like the previous methods, which are performed instantaneously, detection in this case takes a
few seconds.
• color thresholding, as its name implies, detects the objects according to their color which is de-
termined by its three components of hue, saturation and intensity.
The “Settings” button enables the parameters to be set and detection tests to be carried out.
Fixed and relative thresholding

Both these methods are adjusted using the same dialog box:

Setting threshold levels
The dialog box presents the histogram of the shades present in the image. An intensity scale is plot-
ted in a setting bar under the histogram. The shades that will be detected are overlaid in color on the
scale.
The result of the thresholding operation will appear if you click on the “Phase” button (superimpo-
sing a colored mask over the thresholded parts of the image) or on the "Outline" button (the
thresholded parts are surrounded).
A menu in the center allows you to indicate the general shade of the required objects: dark shades,
bright shades or intermediate shades. In some cases, the “Dark and bright shades” option can de-
tect two kinds of objects. One or two thresholds must be set:
• To set the threshold for dark objects, leave the low threshold at the left of the scale, and set the
high threshold (when the histogram shows two lobes, the right threshold is generally at the mi-
nimum level separating the lobes).
• To set the threshold for bright objects, leave the high threshold at the right of the scale, and set
the low threshold.
If the thresholding applied is "fixed", the same threshold values will be applied to all the images to
be analyzed. If the thresholding is "relative", the lighting variations between one field and another
will be taken into account.
Adaptive thresholding
This method is set using the following dialog box:
Adaptive threshold setting
Here you will indicate:

• the general shading of the objects,
• a size parameter which relates to the diameter of the largest objects to be detected (hold down
the <Ctrl> and <Shift> keys and click on the logo to display the size in pixels),
• the minimum shading variation to take into account between the objects and the image back-
ground.

As in the previous case, the result of the thresholding operation will appear if you click on the
“Phase” button (a colored mask will be superimposed over the thresholded parts of the image) or on
the "Outline" button (the thresholded parts are surrounded).
Color thresholding
This is set with the following dialog box:
Setting threshold levels for a color image
This window is capable of presenting three histograms (according to which label was last pointed to
by the mouse) and the associated thresholds:
• a colored histogram of the hues present in the image("Hue" label underlined); two thresholds
define which hues will be detected.
• a histogram of saturations (“Saturation" label underlined); two thresholds determine whether the
required colors are rather dull (on the left) or sharp (on the right)
• a histogram of intensities ("Intensity" label underlined); two thresholds determine whether the
required colors are rather dark (on the left) or bright (on the right)
The points in the image which will be detected are those with each of their hue, saturation and in-
tensity components inside the defined range. To extract an initial hue, ring the color to extract in the
video image. Filtrex then calculates the color components of the image points in the designated
area and then, regulated by the defined tolerance, the lower and upper detection thresholds.
The result of the thresholding operation appears if you click on the "Phase" button (superimposition
of a mask on the thresholded parts of the image) or on the "Outline" button (the thresholded parts
are bordered).
If the detection carried out is not satisfactory, there are several ways of adjusting it:
• if the particles are incomplete, increase the tolerance; if too many objects were detected, de-
crease the tolerance.
• if the required objects are of sharp color, click in the value located on the right of the second
scale: this defines the high threshold of saturation in its maximum value.
• if the required objects are bright, click in the value located on the right of the third scale: this
defines the high threshold of the intensity in its maximum value. If they are dark, click in the va-
lue located on the left of the bar.

Filtering setting
This processing operation allows you to correct a threshold setting that is not quite right, which lea-
ves artifacts or does not fully detect objects.
Standard filtering
The filtering parameters are: the diameter of the holes to be filled on the one hand, and the diameter
of the artifacts to be deleted on the other hand. Each of the following two actions can be applied:
• either by smoothing the particles' contours, which enables you to fill in any "bays" and "isthmu-
ses".
• or by retaining the outlines of the particles: only holes that are fully included in the particles are
filled in and only isolated artifacts are deleted.
The filtering settings box is as follows:
Filtering setting
Defining a macro
A "macro" is a succession of image transformations that are carefully arranged. It is defined in the
following window:
Defining a macro
On the left side the dialog box offers a list of the transformations that you can apply to an image.
The following is a quick description of them:
• closure: gap filling with outline smoothing and connection of nearby objects.
• opening: removal of the minor artifacts with outline smoothing.
• geodesic closure: filling in holes while retaining outlines.
• geodesic opening: removal of the minor artifacts while preserving the outlines.
• filling in: filling in all the holes, no matter what their size, while retaining outlines.

• edge objects: eliminating objects fully enclosed in the field.
• removal of 2 edges: deleting objects that cut across the top or left edges of the field.
• removal of 4 edges: deleting all the objects that cut across one of the edges of the field.
• maximum size: deleting objects with sizes that exceed the indicated perimeter, while retaining
outlines.
The list on the right is the macro, comprising some of these transformations. To include a transfor-
mation in the list, use the following procedure:
• click in the left-hand area on the desired transformation and then click on the “Ajouter” (Add)
button (or simply double-click in the left-hand area on the desired transformation); the trans-
formation is then placed at the end of the list.
• click on the buttons marked with an arrow to move the transformation to the desired position.
• if required by the transformation, indicate the size then confirm with the <Enter> key.
The macro’s effects on the image can be viewed in real time if the switch on the right-hand side is
set to “Phase” or "Outline".
For example: this sequence can be applied to detecting particles and fibers on a membrane
- Small closures, to link the sometimes disconnected parts of a fiber.
- Small-sized geodesic opening, for deleting artifacts.
Defining detection criteria

Filtrex makes it possible to conclude detection by applying criteria relating to the length, the width,
the median, the thickness, the area, the diameter or the lengthening of the detected particles.
Defining criteria
Menus allow you to choose the measurement and the comparison to be carried out. The limiting
value is entered in the corresponding text field.
There is a histogram corresponding to each criterion that shows the distribution of the particles de-
tected in the image according to the type of measurement selected. The grayed-out and colored
areas symbolize the particles that have either been eliminated or retained after the criterion has
been applied.
Several criteria can be combined. Generally, only the objects which satisfy all the criteria are pre-
served: this is shown by the word "And" at the beginning of each line.
If the “Enlarged selection” button is clicked on, any object meeting any of the criteria is preserved:
each line begins with the word “Or”.

Setting an external method
When a channel is defined with an external method, the window which displays the detection set
tings is simplified, and displays only the parameters suitable for the method (if it is not visible, use
the “Show acquisition settings” item in the “Measure” menu).
The settings dialog is specific to each method. In many cases, it looks like the following one:
One finds here the button which, placed in position “Phase” or "Outline", makes it possible to test
the selected parameters.
Defining the scan

This involves defining the limits of the samples to be scanned by proceeding as follows:
• Move the stages in order to display an outline of the sample.
• Click on this button or on the “Define scan” item in the “Measure” menu
• Click on three points on the image outline: a circle will appear on the screen. It defines the cen-
ter of the area to be scanned. In order to refine this positioning, choose the “Overview…” item in
the “Results” menu (keyboard equivalent <F12>). The following window appears:
Definition of the analysis zone

This scan overview shows:
- the centering circle and the three associated points in yellow (by default)
- the filter outline as a red-colored circle (by default)
- the scanning zone as a blue-colored circle (by default)
- the visible video image zone as a black-colored frame
- the points used for setting the predictive focus (if activated) using black squares (valid points) or
red squares (invalid points as height not defined)
Proceed as follows to refine the definition of the analysis zone:
• Click on a point within the yellow circle in the overview: the stages move to the corresponding
point.
• If this circle does not coincide with the outline used for centering the filter, point in the image to
a point on the outline while holding down the <Shift> key: the yellow circle now passes through
this point.
Repeat this process as long as the filter centering is not satisfactory.
NOTE: the lower part of the dialog contains useful information for following-up the scanning: scan-
ned area and total area of the analysis zone, number of measured fields and number of fields scan-
ned.
It is also possible to inform Filtrex of the ‘first field’ in the analysis area (typically, the field at the top
left of the filter) via the corresponding item in the “Measure” menu.

3. Start of the study
New study
During this stage, the user documents the study that is starting (reference of the sample, name of
the operator, type of control, etc.). This is done using the “New study…” item in the “File” menu.
The sheet that appears contains four tabs that contain fundamental information:
• “Study” tab:
This frame allows you to define general information (reference of the sample, type of control,
etc.) that will appear on the control report.
In the lower part of the window, the “Keep measured images” box allows you to associate the
image of the fields with the measurements taken. These images are especially displayed in the
overview, and are integrated to the study file. The “Create audit file” option associates to the
study file a text file with the same name. This file contains the tables on the “Results” page or
the individual particle measurements (length, width and position).
• “Supplement” tab:

This box allows you to indicate specific information (for example, "Traceability", "Checked by",
"Date of manufacture", etc.) to appear in the report.
• “Fluid” Tab:
This tab allows you to indicate to the software the type of control to be carried out (hydraulic
fluid or washing control), and, in the second case, the method to be used for expressing the re-
sults (as surface or volume of pieces).
Depending on the method chosen, you must also define the areas or volumes to be used for ex-
pressing the total statistical counts from the raw counts. Thus, for a hydraulic fluid control, the
final count will be calculated using the following formula:
Total statistical count = Raw count x (Reference vol. / Filtered vol. ) x (diam. of the filter / diam.
of the analysis)2
The “G number” method is a variant on volume counting that calculates the volume of the piece
from its surface and the system’s volume/surface ratio (G number) adjusted to 1 ml.
• “Scanning” Tab:

Definition of the analysis zone diameter. If a motorized stage are installed on the workstation,
scanning of this zone (the movement of the sample) is automatic.
Choice of focusing method (none, predictive focus or periodic autofocus).
“Advanced modelization” proposes a length or width measurement particularly adapted to com-
plex-shaped fibers. In addition, optical property measurement allows you to characterize the va-
rieties of particles according to shade, intensity and brilliance criteria.
NOTE: It is possible to modify certain properties of a study without losing the measurements alrea-
dy taken: "Study properties…” item in the “Measure” menu.
A study that has been saved but not completed can be resumed via the "Open study…" item in the
“File” menu.
Adjusting the predictive focus

Predictive focus consists in extrapolating a height from the focused position on three points of the
sample. This setting must be configured for each new sample.
The predictive focus palette appears when you click on the "Display predictive focus settings…"
menu item in the “Measure” menu or when you press the keyboard shortcut key, <F6>.
To adjust the predictive focus:
• If points have already been defined, click on the "Delete points" button.
• Click on the "Redefine points" button.
• Click on the "Redefine heights" button.
• Go to each of the points to check the focus. If necessary, move a point (the new point will be
positioned at the center of the video image) and/or readjust its height manually or automatically
("Focus" item in the “Measure” menu) by clicking on the “Define” button for the corresponding
point.
• The focal plane is valid if the LED at the bottom of the palette shows green.
The table below illustrates the scenarios you may encounter when setting predictive focus:

No points defined; the focal Three points have been de- The three points are defined
plane is not defined fined, but their height is un- and the focal plane in valid
known; the focal plane is not
defined
Click on the "Redefine points" Click on the "Redefine Check the sharpness of focus
button heights" button at each of the points
Definition of the classifications and varieties of particles

The counting results classify all or certain varieties of particles in tables according to classifications.
A classification is a list of particle size classes. This list can be associated with particle maximums
per class and specifications in order to establish the compliance of the counting.
A variety is a set of particles with common characteristics that can be identified automatically (via
detection criteria) or manually (using the measurement results palette).
It is helpful to define the particle varieties, classifications and counting tables at this stage so that
you can check the results during the analysis (see chapter 6).
Saving the study

At the end of the analysis, it is advisable to save the results of the study: For that, you should use
the "Save study" and sometimes the "Save study as…" items in the "File" menu.
If no name has been given to the study, these two items display the standard Windows dialog box in
which you should indicate the saving directory for the study and a file name to identify it (the suffix
".ftx" is automatically added). This name then appears in the Filtrex toolbar.

Afterwards, the role of these two items is slightly different: the "Save study" item updates the study
in the same file, whereas the "Save study as…" item allows you to create a new file, thereby leaving
the old file unchanged.
Templates and saved files

It may be useful to define study templates that retain, in particular, the settings made. In order to do
this, you should save the information prepared in a file by means of the “Save study” item.
In order to make use of this template:
• Open the file with the “Open study.…” item ("File" menu).
• Enter the characteristics specific to the new study with the corresponding item in the “Measure”
menu.
• Define a new file with the “Save study as…” item in the "File" menu.
NOTE: template files can be protected from any accidental changes: in the Windows Explorer, dis-
play the properties of the file, and check the "read only" box.

4. Filter analysis
Counting the particles

• If motorized stage are present:
Click on this button: automatic filter scanning starts (function also accessible via the “Mea-
sure sample” item in the “Measure” menu or the <Shift><F5> keys on the keyboard).
The following dialog indicates that a measurement is in progress:
It is possible to interrupt the process (“Stop” button" or <Esc> key) in the event of an incorrect
measurement or incorrect definition of the analysis zone.
• In all cases:
Click on this button to measure a field (“Measure field” item in the “Measure” menu or the
<F5> key on the keyboard)
Click on this button to prepare the following field (“Next field” item in the “Measure” menu or
the <F3> key on the keyboard)
Modifying particles
Click on this button in order to modify badly detected particles manually. Click on the desired
particle in the image: handles should appear at the axis edges. In the case of a very polluted
membrane, these selection handles are not displayed immediately.
To move a particle: with the mouse button depressed, point at an axis and move the particle to the

required position.
To deform a particle: with the mouse button depressed, point at a handle and move it to the requi-
red position.
To delete a particle: click on the "Delete" item in the “Edit” menu (or press the <Del> key on the
keyboard).
Click on this button to create a particle. In the image, point at the first end of the large particle
axis, keep the mouse button depressed then point at the other end: the large axis will appear
on the image. Release the mouse, the small axis will appear according to the movement of
the mouse. Then, click with the mouse to conclude the creation of the particle.
This button allows you to combine two particles. To achieve this, select two particles to com-
bine (click on the first particle, then press the <Shift> key and click on the second particle),
then press the button opposite.
Controlling the results

The “Scanning” page provides a scaled-down view of the filter. This presentation allows you to
quickly check the count in a customizable display of the detected particles. This page is detailed in
Chapter 5.
The “Results” page presents the count performed in the form of statistics and counting tables. This
page is described in Chapter 6.

5. Overview of the analyzed filter
The “Scanning” page shows a scaled-down view of the filter.
It shows the detected particles as well as the images present under the camera when the measure-
ment was taken (if the “Keep measured images” box was checked when the study was defined).

The boxed field is the "active" field, whose data is also displayed on the “Video” page. In order to
change the active field, use the “Previous field” and “Next field” options in the “Measure” menu or
the corresponding buttons in the toolbar or click on the desired field while at the same time holding
down the <Shift> and <Ctrl> keys on the keyboard.
The location of the filter's characteristic images is represented by a frame surrounding the image
number added to the portfolio.
Reviewing particles
Click on this button, or select the “Navigation…” item in the "Results" menu. The following
window appears onscreen:
This dialog box allows you to choose the size and varieties of the particles which are to be shown in
the overview. You can also search for particles individually by using the arrows located at the bot-
tom of the window: each click moves the stage to set a particle at the center of the screen.
Click on this button to add the image and the drawing of the particle to the “Portfolio” tab.
Click on this button to sort the particles and the fibers by decreasing order of size. Adding, mo-
difying or deleting a particle deactivates this sorting procedure.
Characteristics of a particle
Use the "Measurement results" menu item in the "Results" menu or the keyboard shortcut key, <F9>
to bring up the palette below which presents the results of the measurement of the selected particle
or the particle placed in the center of the screen.

This palette allows you to choose which varieties the particle belongs to by checking or unchecking
the varieties; this turns the switch to “Manual”. By clicking on "Auto", the particle varieties will again
be determined automatically.
Drawing properties
The “Drawing properties” item in the “Layout” menu displays the following dialog box:
Checking the "Number portfolio images" option displays the location of the images added to the
portfolio in the overview.
Exporting
• Saving the overview in “Microvision Cartography” format: use the “Export overview” item in the
“File” menu. The file created contains all the images measured. This can be loaded and analy-
zed by Filtrex or other Microvision software.
• Saving the measured images individually: in the “File” menu, use the “Export measured ima-
ges…” option.
• Transformation of the overview into a single image: select the “Frame” tool in the “Edit” menu,
then select the required zone. The “Copy” option allows you to transfer the selected portion to
other software.

6. Using the results
The “Results” page contains several documents: counting tables and the statistics.
The counting tables classify all or certain varieties of particles in accordance with a particle length
classification. Filtrex is extremely flexible and allows you to add, remove or modify classifications,
varieties and counting tables during a study.

Definition of the classifications
The "Define size classes…" item in the “Results” menu displays the following dialog box:
The classifications
The first items in the list correspond to predefined standards; they are grayed-out because they
cannot be modified. Click on the name of the classification to select it; its characteristics are then
displayed in the box on the right.
You can modify the name of a selected classification by clicking on its title
If you check the "Specifications" box, you can define a maximum number of particles per size class
in order to determine whether or not the count complies with the classification specification.
The buttons below the list of classifications can be used to add new classifications or duplicate se-
lected classifications, move them up or down the list or delete them.
The classification characteristics

A classification is a list of particle size classes with which a maximum number of particles is asso-
ciated (if the classification has specifications). Click on a size class to select it.
Click on the minimum size, maximum size or maximum number of a selected class to modify its
value.
The buttons below the list of classification characteristics can be used to add new size classes or
duplicate selected classes, move them up or down the list or delete them.
NOTE: During the analysis, a particle belongs to a given class if its length is strictly speaking grea-
ter than the minimum size for the class and is broadly shorter than the maximum size for the class.
Defining the particle varieties

The "Define particle varieties…" item in the “Results” menu displays the following dialog box:

The varieties
Each particle variety has an associated name and color and may also have a set of detection crite-
ria. Click on the name of a variety to select it and display its detection criteria in the lower box.
There are buttons for adding new varieties and moving or deleting selected varieties.
The padlock symbol indicates that the variety is already in use in a counting table and cannot, the-
refore, be deleted.
The "Caution" panel signals that certain variety detection criteria are optical measurements that
cannot be measured in this study ("Measure optical properties" in the "New study" dialog box").
If a variety is a "Fiber", its detection criteria will only include a minimum length and minimum
lengthening.
The variety detection criteria

The list of criteria, if defined, allows the system to automatically determine whether or not a particle
belongs to the variety.
A criterion is a measurement (length/median, width/thickness, lengthening and possibly, shade, in-
tensity and luster) that can have a minimum and/or a maximum value. The luster measurement
corresponds to a variation in intensity within a particle.
There are buttons for adding new criteria, moving or deleting selected criteria and specifying
whether all the criteria must be adhered to ("And") or only one ("Or).
The particle counting tables

You can add or delete counting tables via the "Add counting table" and "Delete counting table" me-
nu items in the “Results” menu.
Buttons (properties, display tables in palettes) and corresponding menu items will sub-
sequently either appear or be removed.
You can display these tables in a separate window: use the “Display in a window” item in

the “Results” menu then click on the name of the table in the sub-menu.
Counting table properties

The “'table name' properties…” item in the “Results” menu displays a dialog box with two tabs.
• The “Definition” tab is used to define the name of the table, the classification used and the parti-
cles concerned by the count:
• The "Options" tab is used to mask certain table columns and size classes for the selected classi-
fication, as well as for defining the display format for the weighted counts:

Statistical table
This table contains the following statistical values (calculated for particles): number, mean, standard
deviation, minimum, maximum and quadratic mean.
You can display this table in an separate window: use the “Display in window” item in the “Results”
menu then click on the “Statistics” sub-menu or press the <F9> key on the keyboard.
Exporting
• to a presentation software application via the clipboard: click on the title bar of the required do-
cument on the worksheet. When the frame is highlighted, select the “Copy” option in the “Edit”
menu. Activate the destination software application and paste in the desired position.
• to a spreadsheet program via a "text" format file: in the “File” menu, use the “Export results…”
item. This export combines the counting tables and the statistics.

7. The portfolio
The “Portfolio” page presents the images and the drawing of the particles that are characteristic of
the analyzed filter.
This toolbar button (or the similar button in the navigation palette) allows you to add the
image of the characteristic particle.

Portfolio properties
The dialog box below allows you to configure the display of these images:
• Check “Show all particles” to display all the particles present in the video image.
• Check “Show specific particles” to only see the particles designated by the navigation palette.
• Uncheck these two options to mask the drawings.
The number of the images, varieties, length and width (of the characteristic particle) and the key
are grouped together in a box at the bottom right of each image.
You can add specific text to each image in this box: activate the “Modify portfolio box" item in the
“Measure” menu once you have selected the image in the document. A double-click in the box also
activates this function.
In the case of a system equipped with motorized stages, click on an image while pressing the
<Shift> and <Ctrl> key on the keyboard to return to the characteristic particle.
Finally, it is possible to delete an image from the portfolio: after having selected the image, delete it
via the “Edit” menu or by pressing the <Del> key on your keyboard.

8. Page layout and Report print-out
The “Report” page shows the measurements report exactly as it will be printed:
The layout of this document can be fully customized: size and contents of the header and foo-
ter, order and title of the printed documents. You access it by pressing this button or via the
“Report properties…” item in the “Results” menu.
Three types of headers are available:
• a blank header for printing the report on preprinted paper. You then only set the height of the
space to be left blank.
• a standard header for which you can define the height, the title and a logo that you will have al-
ready placed in the clipboard.

• a customizable header, whose style you can import by opening a template file in "Microvision
Report" format via the "Import a template" item in the "File" menu.
The “Printed documents” heading allows you to select the documents to be included in the report, to
set the order, the title, the frame and the scale for the display.
The footer may include the software reference and page numbering or a given height may be left
blank for use with preprinted paper.
Exporting
• The report is saved in “Microvision Report” format (MVR).
This format, reread by Filtrex, allows you to apply the page layout of a previous report to the study.
• If Adobe Acrobat software is installed on the computer, Filtrex can save the report in “Portable
Document File” (PDF) format via the “Export report…” (…) item in the “File” menu.
This format allows you to exchange the reports exactly as they are printed: the recipient can use the
very popular “Acrobat Reader” software whose free distribution is encouraged by its publisher,
Adobe, to consult them.

9. Secure operating modes
For routine use of Filtrex, it may be useful to lock the settings made in order to prevent any acci-
dental changes. Filtrex provides the following three operating modes:
• the “Administration” mode is the normal operating mode in which all software functions can be
accessed.
• the "Operations" mode is a secure mode in which all routine operations are possible. However,
the settings are no longer accessible: they remain identical to those made in the "Administra-
tion" mode.
• the “Supervision” mode is a secure mode in which the adjustments remain accessible, but are
consigned in a log-file. Access to files is restricted, and also consigned in the log-file. This mode
is defined by a distinct software component, sold separately.
The operating modes shown in the "?" menu
The “Security settings…” item allows the administrator to define the software start-up mode, choose
the actions available in the "Operations" mode and protect this choice with a password.

Definition of the security parameters
Actions saved in the events log
“Application” category
• 110 Start-up of the application.
• 120 End of running of the application.
• 125 Experimental conditions cannot be found.
• 130 Audit of the application enabled
• 140 Audit of the application disabled
• 150 Events log cannot be found
(a new log is created)
“Study” category
• 210 New study.
• 220 Opening of study "(file name)".
• 230 Saving of study in "(file name)".
• 240 Printing of report.
• 250 Document loading "(file name)".
• 260 Saving of document in "(file name)".

"Measurement" category
• 610 Calibration: “(name of calibration)"
+ details of parameters
• 640 Detection settings
• 650 Scan settings

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Filtrex - User Manual page 3 / 49

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The Filtrex work sheet

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The Filtrex work sheet

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The Filtrex toolbar

1. Source currently selected in the list of available sources

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The tabs, pages and documents

The status bar

The Filtrex status bar

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The structure of a work session

Preparing the equipment

Start of the study

The filter analysis

Using the results

Protecting the settings

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This toolbar button is equivalent to the “Acquire continuously” item.

This button is equivalent to the "Freeze image" item.

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This toolbar button is equivalent to the "Acquire a new image..." item.

Controlling the microscope

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The image processor

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Calibration of the device

Defining a new calibration

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Setting image processing

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Defining acquisition channels

Adding an external method

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Setting the thresholding

Fixed and relative thresholding

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Adaptive threshold setting

Here you will indicate:

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Setting threshold levels for a color image

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Defining detection criteria

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Defining the scan

Definition of the analysis zone

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Adjusting the predictive focus

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Definition of the classifications and varieties of particles

Saving the study

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