Preferences: Spines

Purpose

Use Spines preferences to customize classification names and appearance for your spines, as well as visibility characteristics.

Access Spines preferences from File > Preferences > Tracing > Spines.

Spines

Display Style: Modify classification colors using the color pickers and shape using the drop-down menus (hollow or filled circle).

Reset Click to revert to system defaults.

Customize Click to access additional options in the Customize Spine Classifications window.

Show spine volume if available: Check the box to calculate and display spine volumes if they are available.

Outline/Solid: Choose your preferred style for spine-volume display in the 2D window by clicking one of the radio buttons.

Shaft Style: Select your preferred style from the drop-down menu (tapered or thin).

Anchor Point:

  • Use closest branch point: Select to attach the spine to the branch point nearest to where you clicked.

  • Insert new connection point if no existing point within this distance: Check the box to insert a new branch point if there is no existing point within the specified distance. Type a value in the text box to change the specified distance.

One-shot spine placement: Returns to the manual Tracing mode automatically (i.e., the cursor blinks at the most recent branch point) upon placing one spine.

Customize spine classifications

Customize Click to access additional options in the Customize Spine Classifications window.

You can change some spine classification properties directly in the table that lists all of the classification types:

Spine Name: To change a spine classification name, click the name (the table cell will become highlighted), then type in the new name. Keep the name under 12 characters.

Default classification names (none, thin, stubby, mushroom, filopodia, branched, detached, and other) can't be changed.

Color: To change a spine classification color, double-click the color square in the Color column to open the color-picker window. Select the desired color, then click OK to assign it to the spine classification (or you can click Set Color).

Hidden: Check the box to hide a spine classification type.

  • When a spine classification type is Hidden it will no longer be available in the Type dropdown in the Edit Spines panel.

  • If you have used a spine classification type to model spines, then Hidden the classification type, the spines will become invisible until you unhide them by clearing the checkbox (see also Hidden objects).

Create New Spine:

  • (optional) Type a name for the new spine classification into the box that says Spine Name.

  • Click Add Spine and the new spine classification is added to the bottom of the table on the right side of the Customize Spine Classifications window.

Buttons

Delete Spine Click to delete a selected spine classification.

All Visible Click to make all hidden spine classifications become visible.

None Visible Click to hide all spines classifcitions.

Set Color Highlight a spine classification in the table, then click the button to change the spine classification color (or you can double-click the color square in the Color column).

Default Colors Restores the default colors.

Also see Placing spines (2D)