Light microscopy image acquisition, and measurement software
KF-MicroScale brings microscope camera control, image acquisition, calibration, and scientific measurement together in a single application. Designed for routine light microscopy, it eliminates the need to switch between separate capture and measurement software, allowing operators to complete their entire imaging workflow from a single, intuitive interface.
Rather than overwhelming users with complex imaging tools, KF-MicroScale focuses on what matters most: capturing, documenting, and measuring microscope images quickly, accurately, and reliably.
- Unified camera control, image acquisition, and measurement
- Automatic per-objective calibration with persistent scale factors
- Support for approximately 3,000 DSLR and mirrorless cameras through libgphoto2
- Support for generic UVC cameras and dedicated microscope cameras through manufacturer SDKs
- Live calibrated measurements on both the live view and captured images
- Non-destructive image annotation
- Batch image acquisition for external focus stacking
- Session galleries and printable reports
KF-MicroScale is currently targeted at Windows, with portability to other desktop platforms considered for future development.
The user interface is available in English and French. The application has been designed to remain lightweight, responsive, and intuitive for routine laboratory use.
Runtime
- A supported desktop operating system (see Platform)
- A compatible digital camera or microscope camera is required for live view, capture, and live calibrated measurements. Re-annotating or re-measuring previously captured images does not require a camera to be connected.
- A microscope with at least one calibrated objective, for calibrated measurements
The source code is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL-3.0).
Pre-built installers and ready-to-use binary distributions may be distributed separately, including commercially, provided that the requirements of the GPL are respected.
KF-MicroScale supports a broad range of imaging devices, including approximately 3,000 DSLR and mirrorless camera models through libgphoto2, generic UVC-compatible microscope and USB cameras, and dedicated microscope cameras through their manufacturers' SDKs.
This broad compatibility allows laboratories to use existing imaging hardware while maintaining a consistent workflow.
KF-MicroScale provides all the tools required for efficient microscope image acquisition.
Live camera preview and still-image capture are complemented by a comprehensive set of acquisition tools, including a floating magnifier, focus grid, scale bar overlay, configurable live information cartouche, and live image adjustments such as contrast, saturation, and color rendering. Automatic folder creation, sequential file numbering, and session galleries further simplify image acquisition and image management.
Video capture uses the same acquisition interface as still images. Live image adjustments and the scale bar overlay remain available, ensuring a consistent user experience. Measurement tools are intentionally unavailable during video recording.
Each microscope objective is calibrated manually, only once, using a calibration slide. KF-MicroScale stores the corresponding pixel-to-unit conversion factor and automatically restores it whenever that objective is selected, ensuring accurate and reproducible measurements.
Available tools include linear, polyline, angle, area, perimeter, radius, and diameter measurements, as well as object counting. Measurements can be performed directly on the live view or on captured photographs, with the appropriate calibration automatically applied for the selected objective.
Existing images can be annotated at any time without modifying the original image, ensuring complete preservation of the source data.
KF-MicroScale includes several features designed to streamline routine microscopy workflows. Side-by-side image comparison, non-destructive image annotation, printable measurement reports, and batch image acquisition for external focus stacking help simplify documentation and analysis. Batch acquisition can be configured either by image count or by time interval, with exposure settings independent of the live preview.
KF-MicroScale is designed for light microscopy and provides a complete workflow for image acquisition, documentation, and calibrated measurements. Its flexibility and broad hardware compatibility make it suitable for virtually any application requiring accurate microscopic imaging and measurement.
Kseniya Vyatkina-Speyser ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8849-6332
Frederic G. Speyser ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1767-5325