Pax-it Basic Instructions

Please report problems with the microscopes and software to metcalfp@purdue.edu

1. Obtain a good image through the microscope eyepieces, before attempting to

capture the image with the Pax-it program.

2. Open the Pax-it program and select the camera using the pull-down menu on the
camera icon. The blue Pax-cam cameras on the microscopes are numbered 2XX.

3. If a live image does not appear in the window, check the following:
a.
Do you see a good image through the microscope eyepieces?
b.
Is the lever to the right of the eyepiece pulled out to the camera position?
c.
Is the exposure set too low? Increase the exposure using the slider
located on the image tab.

4. Adjust the focus of the microscope to maximize the focus strength bar (green bar) on
the image.

5. Before you capture the image, minimize the live image window and check the current
quicksave folder. A line near the bottom of the window should indicate the current
quicksave location. The quicksave folders are for temporary storage of images.

6. Go back to the image and click on capture. A window should open asking you for the
sample information (this image ID tag is saved with the image). Click on the camera line
to choose the correct camera and on the magnification line to choose the correct
magnification from the pull-down menus.

7. Click on the blue file cabinet icon folder (with hard drive selected on the pull-down
menu) to open the cabinet. Open the drawer corresponding to the quick save folder
used. Your image should be either the first or last in the folder. Click on the thumbnail to
open your image. You may need to minimize the live image window to see your image.

8. Add a micron bar by clicking on the micron bar icon. Indicate the size desired in the
pop-up window. You can move the micron bar by clicking on the green diamond icon.
Right click on the micron bar to select edit videotext item and change the color and font.

9. Choose export image to send your image to the desktop. You may then move your
image to a flash drive. Use import to re-open the image in Pax-it.

10. Do not leave images on the desktop. You can move an image from the quicksave
folder to another folder in the cabinet by clicking on the moving van icon.