Transfer Function Pane


The Transfer Function Pane is used to interactively adjust the transfer function of an image. This docking pane attaches to the Image Window and is available in both horizontal and vertical formats. It may also be undocked from the window entirely. The stick-pin allows you to reduce the pane to a tab which opens and hides from the window border.

If you change settings for an Image Set, the changes may be applied to either the active image or to the entire set, depending on the state of the (Process) button. For RGB images, the adjustments of the transfer function are handled by the Palette Properties dialog. The current transfer function is listed in the Profile Control below the histogram graph. The Sample,Range, and Stretch settings control the way the transfer function is computed for the image. These properties are described in detail in Transfer Functions. See Choosing Transfer Function Settings for advice on setting the controls.

Transfer Function properties can be specified using controls on the pane, by using equivalent properties in the View > Transfer Function submenus, or by using menus commands opened from the drop menu on the button on the Image Tools Toolbar.

  

Transfer Function Pane Properties

Region

The Region selects the sampling region where the image intensity is measured for calculating the transfer function. The options are as follows:

Entire Image: Samples the entire image.

Cursor: Samples intensity inside the Image Cursor.

Cursor Live: Samples intensity inside the Image Cursor and updates as the cursor moves. This slows cursor movement.

Range

The Range specifies how the intensity limits are calculated from the sample region. One of the options allows you to force the minimum and maximum to specific values.

Stretch

The Stretch provides options for extending the transfer function to higher or lower intensity. The options are as follows:

Linear: Uses no Bias with equal Grayscale spacing between the transfer function's limiting values.

Log: Extends the transfer function to greater contrast at lower intensity values.

Gamma: Extends the transfer function to higher or lower intensity based on the gamma setting. A gamma less than 1 biases toward higher contrast in lower intensity, and vice versa.

Gamma Slider

Sets the gamma value when Gamma Stretch is selected.

Min Z

Specifies the minimum Z (intensity) value. This is active only when the Specify Z Stretch is selected.

Max Z

Specifies the maximum Z (intensity) value. This is active only when the Specify Z Stretch is selected.

Min %

Specifies the minimum percentile intensity. This is active only when the Percentile Stretch is selected.

Max %

Specifies the maximum percentile intensity. This is active only when the Percentile Stretch is selected.

Contrast

Specifies the contrast value when the Autoscale Stretch is selected.

Save

Opens the Default Transfer Function Properties dialog for saving the current settings as a profile for future use. See below.

  

Note

The Transfer Function Pane does not apply to RGB images. For RGB images, use the Palette Pane or Palette Properties dialog instead.

Saving Default Transfer Function Properties

The Default Transfer Function Properties dialog sets global properties for transfer functions used by new image windows. The properties exposed in this dialog are the same as those in the transfer function panes except for the addition of the profile control to save and recall default parameter sets.

Default Transfer Function Properties

Profile [|>]

Selects the parameter profile for this command and allows you to save or work with existing presets.

Sample

The Sample control determines the region where the image intensity is sampled for calculating the transfer function. The options are as follows:

Full Image: Samples the entire image.

Cursor: Samples the region inside theImage Cursor.

Cursor Live: Samples the region inside the Image Cursor and updates as the cursor moves. This slows cursor movement.

Range

The Range specifies how the intensity limits are calculated from the sample region. One of the options allows you to force the minimum and maximum to specific values.

Stretch

The Stretch provides options for extending the transfer function to higher or lower intensity. The options are as follows:

Linear: Uses no Bias with equal Grayscale spacing between the transfer function's limiting values.

Log: Extends the transfer function to greater contrast at lower intensity values.

Gamma: Extends the transfer function to higher or lower intensity based on the gamma setting. A gamma less than 1 biases toward higher contrast in lower intensity, and vice versa.

Gamma Slider

Sets the gamma value when Gamma Stretch is selected.

Min Z

Specifies the minimum Z (intensity) value. This is active only when the Specify Z Stretch is selected.

Max Z

Specifies the maximum Z (intensity) value. This is active only when the Specify Z Stretch is selected.

Min %

Specifies the minimum percentile intensity. This is active only when the Percentile Stretch is selected.

Max %

Specifies the maximum percentile intensity. This is active only when the Percentile Stretch is selected.

Contrast

Specifies the contrast value when the Autoscale Stretch is selected.

Related Topics

Setting Application Properties, Transfer Functions, Choosing Transfer Function Settings, Displaying Images, Image Windows, Palette Pane, Palette Properties dialog