For your first session, we recommend the following:
1. Obtain a sample that won't charge and which can be viewed at low
magnification. Ideally something that can be imaged without degradation.
2. Bring an image up on the SEM; low mag., large spot size, reasonably well
focused at twice the capture magnification. Don't focus at any greater than 10
times the capture magnification.
3. Turn to your PC, and bring up VitalSCAN, or DIGISEM.
4. Click on the SCALE button. This function will seek to adjust the brightness and
contrast of the image to optimal levels. Watch the messages at the bottom left
of the screen. If the signal is too far out of range, and the adjustment
cannot be completed automatically, a message will
indicate that the brightness or contrast on the SEM should be adjusted.
This algorithm is interactive, see the description of the SCALE function.
5. Click the mouse on [ABC], then [ SECONDARY], then [Full Scan].
6. A pseudocolored image will appear and then a data window will pop up. Hit
ESC for now, and you'll get a very nice grayscale image. At this point you can
print it (with a video printer), save it (Hit F1), and adjust the gray levels.
F1 will save (although this is a 'quickie save' and is not the recommended
procedure for archival quality images).
If you have an image, proceed to Calibration
