Edit images manually
This chapter describes how to use the embedded image editor included in the FLIR Thermal Studio application.
Measurement tool
You can add one or more measurement tools to the image, such as Spotmeter, Rectangle, and Polygon. Each measurement tool has its own settings, which are shown in the Measurements section of the properties pane.
Add a measurement tool
In the image editor, click Add measurement, and then click the preferred tool.
Move the tool pointer over the image and into position. Note that the pointer shows the temperature as it is moved around the image.
Click to place the tool in the image. Click to place the start point, drag the pointer to the desired size, and then click to place the end point. For the Polygon shape, click to place the start point, and then drag the pointer to the next point. Continue until you have the desired shape. Finish by right-clicking the shape.
Click the measurement tool. The properties for the tool are shown in the Measurements section of the properties pane.
Edit a measurement tool
To move the measurement tool, follow this procedure:
In the image editor, move the pointer to the center of the measurement tool.
Click and hold the measurement tool, and then move it into position.
To change size of the measurement tool, follow this procedure:
In the image editor, move the pointer to the outline of the measurement tool.
Click and hold the outline, and move it to the desired size and shape.
Change settings of a measurement tool
In the image editor, move the pointer to the center of the measurement tool.
Right-click the tool. A dialog box appears with the current settings of the tool.
Change the settings by selecting and deselecting the available check boxes. Any changes are immediately presented in the Measurements section of the properties pane.
To close the settings dialog box, click anywhere on the screen.
Delete a measurement tool
In the image editor, move the pointer to the measurement tool.
Right-click the tool, and then click Remove.
Use the Magic wand
Use the Magic wand to capture an area in the image based on pixel temperature. This is similar to the Polygon measurement tool but more advanced and easier to use when you want to capture and measure more complex shapes.
In the image editor, click Add measurement, and then click Magic wand.
Move the tool pointer over the image and into position. Note that the pointer shows the temperature as it is moved around the image.
Click to place the tool in the image. An area that has the same temperature as the selected point appears in the image.
In the Measurements section of the properties pane, move the Tolerance slider to adjust the area and include pixels that are close in temperature to the selected point.
Export to a csv file
Use the Export to csv functionality to export detailed temperature information. The export will include the temperature values of every pixel within the selected measurement tool.
In the image editor, right-click the measurement tool. A dialog box appears with the current settings of the tool.
Click Export to csv.
In the Save as dialog, browse to the folder where you want to store the exported file, and then click Save.
Use coverage
Use the Coverage functionality to see, as a percentage, the number of pixels in the image that are above or below a certain temperature.
In the image editor, right-click the measurement tool. A dialog box appears with the current settings of the tool.
Click the Use coverage check box. Use the Above and Below boxes to change the temperature. Any changes are immediately presented in the Measurements section of the properties pane.
To close the settings dialog box, click anywhere on the screen.
Shape
You can add shapes to the images, such as arrows, comments, and alerts.
Add a shape
In the image editor, click Add new shape, and then click the preferred shape. The shape is added in the center of the image.
To move the shape, click and hold the shape, and then move it into position.
To change the size, click and hold the outline of the shape, and move it to the desired size and shape.
To change the shape settings, right-click the shape.
Palette
You can change the palette that is used to display the temperatures within an image. A different palette can make it easier to analyze the image. The FLIR Thermal Studio application comes with a set of predefined palettes, but custom palettes can also be used.
To change the palette, follow this procedure:
In the image editor, click Select palette.
Select one of the predefined palettes, or click From file to select a custom palette.
To export a palette, follow this procedure:
In the image editor, click Select palette.
Click Export palette.
In the Save as dialog, browse to the folder where you want to store the exported palette, and then click Save.
Isotherms control
Use the isotherm tool to apply a contrasting color to all pixels with a temperature Above or Below a certain temperature, or within a certain temperature Interval. Using isotherms is a good method to easily discover anomalies in a thermal image.
To add an isotherm, follow this procedure:
In the image editor, click Isotherms control.
Select one of the options Above, Interval, or Below.
Select a color that will be applied to the areas that meet the temperature settings.
In the Isotherms section of the properties pane, either set the temperature Limit for the Above and Below options, or set the High and Low temperatures for the Interval option.
Color distribution
Use the Color distribution option to change the distribution of colors in the image. A different color distribution can make it easier to analyze the image more thoroughly. The following distributions are available:
Histogram equalization
The color information is distributed over the existing temperatures of the image. This method of distributing the information is especially successful when the image contains few peaks at very high temperature values.
Signal linear
The color information in the image is distributed linearly with respect to the signal values of the pixels.
Temperature linear
The color information in the image is distributed linearly with respect to the temperature values of the pixels.
Digital Detail Enhancement (DDE)
The high-frequency content in the image, such as edges and corners, are enhanced to increase the visibility of details.
To change the color distribution, follow this procedure:
In the image editor, click Color distribution.
Click one of the available color distributions.
Auto-adjust control
When you auto-adjust a thermal image, you adjust it for the best image brightness and contrast. This means that the color information is distributed over the existing temperatures of the image.
In some situations the image may contain very hot or very cold areas outside your area of interest. In such cases you might want to exclude those areas and use the color information only for the temperatures in your area of interest. You can do so by defining an auto-adjust region. Note that the defined regions will not be saved in the image.
To auto-adjust an image, follow this procedure:
In the image editor, click Auto-adjust control.
Select the Enable scale auto-adjust check box.
To define an auto-adjust region, follow this procedure:
In the image editor, click Auto-adjust control.
Select the Enable scale auto-adjust using defined rectangle check box. A dotted rectangle is added to the image.
Move and change the size of the rectangle to suit your area of interest. Note how the image changes as you make your changes.
To exit, click one of the icons in the bottom right corner of the rectangle:
To confirm the change, click the check mark.
To cancel the change, click the cross.
Crop an image
Use the Crop image option to trim the image. Provided that the cropped image has not been saved, it is possible to revert to the original image size.
To crop an image, follow this procedure:
In the image editor, click Crop image.
Select the Show crop rectangle check box. A dotted rectangle is added to the center of the image.
Move the pointer to the outline of the rectangle; to either one of the sides or one of the corners.
Click and hold the outline, and then change the shape of the rectangle to the desired size.
To exit, click one of the icons in the bottom right corner of the rectangle:
To confirm the change, click the check mark.
To cancel the change, click the cross.
To revert to the uncropped image, follow this procedure:
In the image editor, click Crop image.
Click Reset image.
Image rotation
To rotate an image, follow this procedure:
In the image editor, click Image rotation.
Move the Image rotation slider to rotate the image to the desired angle, or click one of the available predefined angles.
As an alternative, type the desired angle in the Angle text box.
Fusion mode
Use the Fusion mode feature to mix a visual image with its corresponding thermal image. The following fusion modes are available:
MSX (Multi Spectral Dynamic Imaging)
Displays a thermal image where the edges of the objects are enhanced. The thermal–visual balance can be adjusted.
Thermal only
Displays a fully thermal image.
Thermal fusion
Displays a visual image with some parts displayed as a thermal image, depending on the temperature limits.
Blending
Displays a blended image that uses a mix of thermal image pixels and visual image pixels. The thermal–visual balance can be adjusted.
Picture in picture
Displays a thermal image frame on top of a visual image.
Visual only
Displays a fully visual image.
To set the fusion mode, follow this procedure:
In the image editor, click Fusion mode.
Select the preferred fusion mode.
Note that some of the modes have additional settings:
MSX
Move the Alpha slider to show more or fewer contours in the image.
If necessary, select the Adjust fusion alignment check box to manually align the images.
Thermal fusion
If necessary, select the Adjust fusion alignment check box to manually align the images.
Select Color mode of the visual image; either Color or Black and white.
Blending
Move the Blending level slider to change the proportions of the thermal image and the visual image.
If necessary, select the Adjust fusion alignment check box to manually align the images.
Select Color mode of the visual image; either Color or Black and white.
Picture in picture
Select the Use blending check box, and then move the Blending level slider to change the proportions of the thermal image and the visual image.
Select the Adjust picture-in-picture rectangle to provide an option to move the rectangle or change its size.
If necessary, select the Adjust fusion alignment check box to manually align the images.
Select Color mode of the visual image; either Color or Black and white.
Visual only
Select Color mode of the visual image; either Color or Black and white.
Show a profile plot
The plot shows the temperature profile along a drawn measurement line in the image.
In the image editor, click Show profile plot. An empty plot is added under the image.
In the image editor, click Add measurement, and then click Line.
In the image, draw a measurement line of interest. The plot now shows the temperature profile along the drawn measurement line.
If necessary, click the end points of the line and move them into new positions. Note how the profile plot changes as you change the position of the line.
To change the plot settings, click Settings (the icon is located to the right of the plot).
Show a time-temperature plot
This plot is available for video files (.seq and .csq). The plot shows the temperature fluctuations over time for the image statistics (max, min, average) and for selected measurement tools.
In the image editor, click Show profile plot.
In the image editor, click Sequence. The plots for the image statistics (max, min, average) are displayed. Each plot shows how the temperature changes with time.
To change the plot settings, click Settings (the icon is located to the right of the plot).
To add a new plot, do one of the following:
On the Settings pane, click Add plot, and then select a measurement and a type of value.
Right-click a measurement tool in the image or click Measurement options (the icon is located next to the measurement in the properties pane). A dialog box appears. Under Sequence plot, select the type of value.