Photoshop

Photoshop is used to convert color images (data sets) into greyscale, and proper file types if necessary.

Presuming that you are trying to convert several files in the same manner, you have the option of programming a "Batch" command within Photoshop to do it for you.

Creating a Batch Command

Use this command when you have want to perform the same actions on a series of files.

1. Open one of your desired images in photoshop. This can be done via File > Open, find the desired file and click open

2. Click the History/Action button located in the top right of the screen (has three vertical boxes with a curved arrow -- outlined in green in fig 1). This will open a panel with two tabs at the top entitled history and action. Click the action tab.

3. In side the action tab, there will be a folder labeled "default actions" Make sure that the check box to its left is not checked (unlike fig 1).

4. Click the button shaped like a file folder in the bottom right of the panel (outlined in blue in fig 1). This will open a new window entitled New Set. Choose a name for the set of commands you are creating and click ok. Your new set name will appear under "default actions" in the panel.

5. Click the button shaped like a sticky note to the right of the file folder (outlined in pink in fig 1). This will open a New Action window. Name your new action, and make sure that the set box contains the name of your new set. Click Record. You will now see that the record marker (circle to left of file folder) is red (fig 1). You are now ready to start recording commands for amira to carry out. You can record multiple commands for the same file (ie. change colour and save as a different file format) within the same action. DO NOT record multiple commands for the same files under different actions -- use the same one.

6. Once you have finished carrying out the desired series of commands on a single image, click the stop button (blue square next to the record circle).

7. To set your commands in motion go to File > Automate > Batch... This will open a Batch window.

8. In this window choose your folder of images to alter (Source) and a folder to export the finish product to (Destination) (you can create a new folder on the desktop for exporting purposes, then resave to your file on the server). You can even select a naming convention for your newly generated files under File Naming within the Destination section. If you change the default settings be sure to include extension as the final piece of the name. Do not click any other boxes and then click OK. This will start the batch sequence you just made on all files within the source folder.

9. Once finished your new product will saved in your destination folder.

Note: If you need to change the file type of all desired files, input the Converting File Types sequence (below) as the final step. Otherwise, all files will be saved as their original file type.

Converting File Types

1. Open desired file via File > Open, find the desired file and click open

2. To save the file as another type click File > Save As this will open the Save As window

3. Choose a file name for this file, and select an appropriate desired format. (Remember: Amira will only accept TIFF, JPEG, SGI-RGB, ACR-NEMA, and DICOM file types)

4. Click Save

Convert Color to Grayscale

1. Open desired file via File > Open, find the desired file and click open

2. From the top list of menus select Image > Adjustments > Desaturate

3. Save your altered image via File > Save As