Expanded Functionality of ZEN Imaging Software

ZEN software was launched by Carl Zeiss for confocal laser scanning microscopes in 2007. The logical structure of the ZEN user interface means that complex experiments can be designed and executed by users with minimal training and support.

Carl Zeiss has now expanded the ZEN software suite to drive all ZEISS light microscope systems. Users can experience one identical software interface for all their microscopy experiments. This offers synergies for research institutes using several microscopy technologies. The software meets the requirements of various user groups with different software packages: ZEN pro, ZEN lite and ZEN desk module packages.

At the heart of ZEN is Smart Setup. Users select the fluorophores used in their samples, Smart Setup features intelligent functions that suggest a few different configurations appropriate for the fluorophores in the sample. Users can then decide which parameters to optimize for their experiments, such as image acquisition or maximum resolution. Smart Setup automatically configures the system based on this input.
Dr. Horst Wolff, Product Manager for imaging software at Carl Zeiss, remembers: "As a cell biologist, I always wanted a software solution that would control my microscope intelligently, do all settings automatically and therefore give me more time for my research."

ZEN 2011 is optimized for recording several gigabytes of large image data sets. The software can store high-speed dual camera time lapse series synchronously and reliably on the interlocked hard disk drives. Image stacks, time lapse series or tile images are saved together with the recording date of the system in the .czi format. Image processing modules generate 3D projections and export them as rendering or a film sequence.