Microlucida gives you the power to capture 2D and 3D whole slide images at your brightfield or fluorescence microscope. It allows you to easily generate high quality whole slide images and image stacks. It also enables you to use a single high-quality image acquisition application across all of your microscopes, a feature particularly beneficial for core facilities.
Microlucida is designed to operate on a wide variety of microscopes and hardware commonly used in laboratories. This versatility allows customization of your research system to fit your exact needs and budget. It's simple-to-use user interface also allows a new user to begin capturing high magnification whole slide images easy within minutes.
We work closely with you to choose the best hardware for each new system, ensuring optimal performance to help you achieve your research goals within your budget. We sell all necessary hardware equipment, or you might be able to use your own microscope equipment, since our software can integrate with most existing microscopes.
Minimum System Requirements |
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Operating System |
Windows 10, 64-bit |
Processor |
4-core |
CPU RAM |
16 GB |
GPU RAM |
>6 GB |
Recommended System Requirements |
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Operating System |
Windows 11, 64-bit |
Processor |
8-core |
CPU RAM |
64 GB |
GPU RAM |
>8 GB |
Storage |
Solid state drive(s) |
File Input Options |
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Supported image file formats |
CZI, HDF5, H5, IMS, JP2, JPG, JPEG, JPF, MJC, JPX, LIF, LSM, ND2, OIB, OIF, TIF, TIFF, SVS |
Output Specifications |
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Data output formats |
XML*, ASC, DAT |
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* Our XML data file format, the Neuromorphological File Specification (NFS), is endorsed as a standard by the INCF. |
Image file output formats |
JP2, JPX, TIFF, SVG |
Movie export format |
MP4 |
Hardware Compatibility |
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Computer controlled microscopes |
Leica supported microscopes:
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Zeiss supported microscopes:
Nikon supported microscopes:
Olympus BX and IX Series:
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Manual microscopes |
Most models after 2002 of Zeiss, Olympus, Nikon, Leica |
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Structured illumination |
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Filter wheels and shutters |
Zeiss, Olympus, Leica, Nikon, LEP, Prior, Sutter |
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Color video cameras |
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Monochrome video cameras |
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Light sources |
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Hardware options
Digital Cameras |
We sell the digital cameras from world leading manufacturers of scientific grade. We help you choose the model that is most effective for your use–from real-time color cameras for brightfield microscopy to state-of-the-art cooled, high sensitivity cameras for dim fluorescence microscopy. We can also configure systems with dual cameras to optimally support the widest range of specimens – from brightfield microscopy through structured illumination fluorescence microscopy. |
Motorized Stages |
Microlucida is most productive and efficient with a three-axis motor driven microscope stage that we can provide. The software automatically maintains the registration of the graphics overlay with the microscope image when the stage is moved, allowing for integration of multiple fields of view. This feature ensures the fastest and most accurate data acquisition from objects larger than a single field of view. |
Specialized Microscope Hardware: motorized external filter wheels, shutters and illumination devices |
When working with multi-channel fluorescence microscopy, we automate many of the functions of a microscope to dramatically reduce the amount of work that you need to do, such as changing fluorescence filters and opening and closing the shutter. We can add automatic, motorized devices to most existing manual microscopes. |
Supported Image File Formats: PDF
Microlucida® Version 2020.2.1
Released September 2020
New Features and Enhancements:
View Full Version History Here.
MBF’s software utility is underscored by the number of references it receives in the worlds most important scientific publications.
Rauschenberger, L., E.-M. Krenig, et al.
Peripheral nerve injury elicits microstructural and neurochemical changes in the striatum and substantia nigra of a DYT-TOR1A mouse model with dystonia-like movementsView Publication
Iavarone, E., J. Simko, et al.
Thalamic control of sensory processing and spindles in a biophysical somatosensory thalamoreticular circuit model of wakefulness and sleepView Publication
Ouyang, L., Q. Li, et al.
Cognitive outcomes caused by low-level lead, cadmium, and mercury mixture exposure at distinct phases of brain developmentView Publication
de Schultz, T., K. Braun, et al.
Paternal Deprivation and Female Biparental Family Rearing Induce Dendritic and Synaptic Changes in Octodon degus: II. Nucleus AccumbensView Publication
Linnhoff, S., A. Haghikia, et al.
“Can transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) reduce fatigability-related oscillatory brain activity changes?”View Publication
Pignataro, A., P. Krashia, et al.
“Chemogenetic rectification of the inhibitory tone onto hippocampal neurons reverts autistic-like traits and normalizes local expression of estrogen receptors in the Ambra1+/- mouse model of female autism.”View Publication
Pickett, L. A., J. W. VanRyzin, et al.
“Microglia phagocytosis mediates the volume and function of the rat sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area.”View Publication
Lin, Y., X.-J. Zhang, et al.
“Developmental neuronal origin regulates neocortical map formation.”View Publication
Gergues, M. M., K. J. Han, et al.
“Circuit and molecular architecture of a ventral hippocampal network.”View Publication
Microlucida is used across the globe by the most prestigious laboratories.
"I rarely have encountered a company so committed to support and troubleshooting as MBF."
Andrew Hardaway, Ph.D.
"MBF Bioscience is extremely responsive to the needs of scientists and is genuinely interested in helping all of us in science do the best job we can."
Sigrid C. Veasey, MD
"I am so happy to be a customer of your company. I always get great help related with your product or not. With the experienced members, you are the best team I've ever met. All of your staff are very kind and helpful. Thank you for your great help and support all the time."
Mazhar Özkan
"We’ve been very happy for many years with MBF products and the course of upgrades and improvements. Your service department is outstanding. I have gotten great help from the staff with the software and hardware."
William E. Armstrong, Ph.D.
"Our experience with the MBF equipment and especially the MBF people has been outstanding. I cannot speak any higher about their professionalism and attention for our needs."
Bogdan A. Stoica, MD
"MBF provides excellent technical support and helps you to find the best technical tools for your research challenges on morphometry."
Wilma Van De Berg, Ph.D.
Our service sets us apart, with a team that includes Ph.D. neuroscientists, experts in microscopy, stereology, neuron reconstruction, and image processing. We’ve also developed a host of additional support services, including:
We offer a free expert demonstration of Microlucida. During your demonstration you’ll also have the opportunity to talk to us about your hardware, software, or experimental design questions with our team of Ph.D. neuroscientists and experts in microscopy, neuron tracing, and image processing.
Neuron tracing & analysis directly at the microscope. The gold standard for neuron tracing.
The complete stereology solution. The gold standard for unbiased cell counting