What is DeltaViewer?

DeltaViewer is an application program for Apple Macintosh. DeltaViewer reads in a sequence of cross sectional images of an object like those obtained by confocal laser microscopes, CT, MRI, optical microscopes, and electron microscopes. It then computationally reconstructs the surface of the object, and shows it on computer display. The image on the screen can then be freely rotated by mouse, so that one can easily recognize the 3-dimansional shapes of the objects and their spatial relationships.

TIFF+TIFF->3D image

Main Features

Easy to use

Usually the most difficult part of operation of such a program is how to specify the boundary of the object you want to see. With DeltaViewer, you are free from the headaches of experimenting with the best threshold values. All you need to do is click a few points inside the object, and click another few points outside the object on some cross section view. DeltaViewer's powerful interpolation algorithm does the rest.

Intuitive

DeltaViewer makes use of OpenGL graphics library, and allows you to rotate the resulting view as you like.

Works on personal computers

DeltaViewer runs on Apple Macintosh computers. So you do not need to buy expensive workstations, nor run to the computer center every time you want to work on your data. You can view your data right at your office.

Free!!

You do not need to spend money on software either. DeltaViewer is freeware. You can download it from this site and start using it today.

System Requirements

Operating system

DeltaViewer 2.1 runs on Apple Macintosh computers with Mac OS X. DeltaViewer has been tested under Mac OS X 10.3.9. It probably works under older versions of Mac OS X, too, but we suggest you use DeltaViewer under the newest system available.

Memory

Generally speaking, 3D image processing requires a lot of memory. Since DeltaViewer uses 4 bytes of memory to store color information of each pixel, reading in a 3D image of size 512 x 512 x 256, for instance, already consumes 256MB of memory. Any serious reconstruction would require at least 512MB of memory. If there is not enough memory, DeltaViewer will crawl to death.

Video card

DeltaViewer makes full use of OpenGL. High performance video cards greatly accelerates DeltaViewer. Also, the more VRAM you have, the larger textures can be applied to objects, resulting in the more beautiful final picture. These high-performance video cards are usually BTO options. You may need to order one when you buy the next Macintosh, or buy an add-on card and replace the older one yourself.

To use texture mapping in 3DView, you need a video card which supports 3D texturing. All of the Newer Macs come with a video card capable of 3D texturing, but some older Macs do not support 3D texturing.

Who makes DeltaViewer?

DeltaViewer Project Team:

Masaaki Wada (Department of Information and Computer Sciences, Nara Women's University)

Hideko Sugiura (April, 2000-March, 2002)

Sachiko Fujihara (April, 2002-)

Yuno Ho (April, 2002-March, 2003)

Eriko Hosoi (April, 2002-March, 2003)

Tomoe Isa (April, 2002-March, 2003)

Izumi Yokoyama (April, 2003-March, 2004)

Chiaki Nishibori (April, 2003-)

Kaori Hagihara (April, 2003-March, 2004)

Atsuko Kubo (April, 2003-March, 2004)

Partnership:

Nobuko Katagiri (Tokyo Women's Medical University)

Satoshi Tamotsu (Department of Biological Science, Nara Women's University)

Birgit Zipser (Department of Physiology, Michigan State University)