Better 2d visualization of 3d image stacks

You have full access to this article via your institution. Download PDF Shihavuddin, A. _et al_. _Nat. Commun._ 8, 15554 (2017). 3D image acquisition of biological specimens often requires

taking images at multiple places throughout the sample's depth. These 'z-stacks' contain volumetric information but are frequently viewed as 2D images. The most widely used

manipulation for generating such 2D images is maximum intensity projection. However, Shihavuddin _et al_. demonstrate that this process can lead to artifacts that complicate interpretation

of these 2D projections. They develop an alternative algorithm called smooth manifold extraction that preserves local spatial relationships within the data and overcomes potential problems

that could arise in maximum intensity projections. They apply their algorithm to multiple biological specimens (including cells and tissues) imaged with both wide-field and confocal

microscopy, and they demonstrate that the algorithm is compatible with multicolor imaging. The software is available as a Fiji plugin. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT

THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Better 2D visualization of 3D image stacks. _Nat Methods_ 14, 767 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.4374 Download citation * Published: 01 August 2017 *

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