11  Analyzing and editing images

Measurement toolbar.
Image mode toolbar.
Temperature scale.
Thumbnail view of the infrared image.
Thumbnail view of the digital photo (if available).
Results and information tabs:
• Properties.
• Profile.
Results and information pane (Properties tab):
• Note.
• Measurements.
• Parameters.
• Annotations.
• Image information.
Close button.
Save button.
Auto-adjust button.
Navigation buttons. Click the buttons to go to the previous/next image.
Zoom setting button. Click the button and select one of the predefined zoom settings.
Zoom button. Click the button to display the zoom-in and zoom-out buttons.
Pan button. Click the button and then drag the image to pan a zoomed-in image.

11.5  Working with measurement tools

11.5.2  Adding a measurement tool

Follow this procedure:

1

On the measurement toolbar, select one of the following:

• Select (Add spot) to add a spot.
• Select (Add box) to add a box.
• Select (Add ellipse) to add a ellipse.
• Select (Add line) to add a line.

2

Click the location on the image where the measurement tool is to be placed.

11.5.3  Moving and resizing a measurement tool

Follow this procedure:

1

On the measurement toolbar, select (Selection).

2

To move a measurement tool, select the tool on the image and drag it to a new position.

3

To resize a measurement tool, select the tool on the image and use the selection tool to drag the handles that are displayed around the frame of the tool.

11.5.4  Displaying a profile plot

11.5.4.1   General

A profile plot displays how the temperature results vary over a line tool.

11.5.4.2   Procedure

Follow this procedure:

1

Add one or several line tools to the image, see section 11.5.2 Adding a measurement tool .

2

Click the Profile tab. This displays the profile plot in the right pane.

3

In the right pane, you can select the following types of temperature scales for the plot:

• IR Scale: Uses the same temperature scale as in the image.
• Auto: Uses the minimum and maximum measured temperatures of the line as the minimum and maximum values for the temperature scale.
• Fixed: Uses manually entered minimum and maximum values for the temperature scale.

4

In the right pane, select the check box to reverse the start and end points of the line.

Note  More profile settings, such as grid lines and line colors, can be modified when working in the Microsoft Word environment. For more information, see section 12.2.4 Inserting a profile object .

11.5.5  Creating local markers for a measurement tool

11.5.5.1   General

The Image Editor will respect any existing markers for a measurement tool as set up in the camera. However, sometimes you may want to add a marker when analyzing the image. You do this by using local markers.

11.5.5.2   Procedure

Follow this procedure:

1

On the measurement toolbar, select (Selection).

2

Right-click the tool and select Local max/min/avg markers.

3

In the dialog box, select or clear the markers you want to add or remove.

4

Click OK.

11.5.6  Calculating areas

11.5.6.1   General

The distance included in the image parameter data can be used as the basis for area calculations. A typical application is to estimate the size of a damp stain on a wall.

To calculate the area of a surface, you need to add a box or circle measurement tool to the image. The Image Editor calculates the area of the surface enclosed by the box or circle tool. The calculation is an estimate of the surface area, based on the distance value.

11.5.6.1.1   Procedure

Follow this procedure:

1

Add a box or circle measurement tool, see section 11.5.2 Adding a measurement tool .

2

Adjust the size of the box or circle tool to the size of the object, see section 11.5.3 Moving and resizing a measurement tool .

3

Right-click the tool and select Local max/min/avg markers. In the dialog box, select the Area check box. This displays the calculated area, based on the distance value, in the MEASUREMENTS pane.

4

To change the distance value, click the value field in the PARAMETERS pane, type a new value and press Enter. The recalculated area, based on the new distance value, is displayed in the MEASUREMENTS pane.

11.5.6.1.2  Calculating lengths

11.5.6.1.2.1   General

The distance included in the image parameter data can be used as the basis for length calculations.

To calculate the length, you need to add a line measurement tool to the image. The Image Editor calculates an estimate of the line length, based on the distance value.

11.5.6.1.2.1.1   Procedure

Follow this procedure:

1

Add a line measurement tool, see section 11.5.2 Adding a measurement tool .

2

Adjust the size of the line tool to the size of the object, see section 11.5.3 Moving and resizing a measurement tool .

3

Right-click the tool and select Local max/min/avg markers. In the dialog box, select the Length check box. This displays the calculated length, based on the distance value, in the MEASUREMENTS pane.

4

To change the distance value, click the value field in the PARAMETERS pane, type a new value and press Enter. The recalculated area, based on the new distance value, is displayed in the MEASUREMENTS pane.

11.5.7  Setting up a difference calculation

11.5.7.1   General

A difference calculation gives the difference (delta) between two temperatures—for example, two spots, or a spot and the maximum temperature in the image.

11.5.7.2   Procedure

Note  This procedure assumes that you have previously added at least one measurement tool to the image.

11.5.7.2.1   Procedure

Follow this procedure:

1

On the measurement toolbar, select (Add delta).

2

The difference calculation is displayed under MEASUREMENTS in the right pane.

3

To change the setup for the difference calculation, do the following:

In the right pane, click (Edit). This displays a dialog box.
In the dialog box, select the measurement tools and what values (maximum, minimum, or average) you want to use in the difference calculation. You can also select a fixed-temperature reference.

4

To delete the difference calculation, click (Delete).

11.5.8  Deleting a measurement tool

Follow this procedure:

1

On the measurement toolbar, select (Selection).

2

Select the measurement tool on the image and do one of the following:

• Press the Delete key on your keyboard.
• Right-click the tool and select Delete.

Note  Deleting a measurement tool included in a difference calculation also deletes the difference calculation.

11.6  Adjusting the infrared image

11.6.1   General

An infrared image can be adjusted manually or automatically.

In the Image Editor, you can manually change the top and bottom levels in the temperature scale. This makes it easier to analyze the image. You can, for example, change the temperature scale to values close to the temperature of a specific object in the image. This will make it possible to detect anomalies and smaller temperature differences in the part of the image of interest.

When auto-adjusting an image, the Image Editor adjusts the image for the best image brightness and contrast. This means that the color information is distributed over the existing temperatures of the image.

In some situations, the image may contain very hot or cold areas outside your area of interest. In such cases you will want to exclude those areas when auto-adjusting the image and use the color information only for the temperatures in your area of interest. You can do so by defining an auto-adjust region.

11.6.2  Example 1

Here are two infrared images of a building. In the left image, which is auto-adjusted, the large temperature span between the clear sky and the heated building makes a correct analysis difficult. You can analyze the building in more detail if you change the temperature scale to values close to the temperature of the building.

Automatic

Manual

11.6.3  Example 2

Here are two infrared images of an isolator in a power line. To make it easier to analyze the temperature variations in the isolator, the temperature scale in the right image has been changed to values close to the temperature of the isolator.

Automatic

Manual

11.6.4  Changing the temperature levels

Follow this procedure:

1

To change the top level in the temperature scale, drag the top slider up or down.

2

To change the bottom level in the temperature scale, drag the bottom slider up or down.

11.6.5  Auto-adjusting the image

Follow this procedure:

1

To auto-adjust the image, click Auto.

11.6.6  Defining an auto-adjust region

An auto-adjust region sets the top and bottom levels in the temperature scale to the maximum and minimum temperatures in that area. By using the color information only for the relevant temperatures, you will get more details in your area of interest.

Follow this procedure:

1

On the measurement toolbar, select (Set auto adjust region).

2

Use the displayed tool to create a region. This region can be moved and resized to suit your area of interest.

3

To delete the auto-adjust area, select the region and do one of the following:

• Press the Delete key on your keyboard.
• Right-click the region and select Delete.

11.7  Changing the color distribution

11.7.1   General

You can change the distribution of colors in an image. A different color distribution can make it easier to analyze the image more thoroughly.

11.7.2  Definitions

You can choose from the following color distributions:

• Temperature Linear: This is an image-displaying method where the color information in the image is distributed linearly to the temperature values of the pixels.
• Histogram Equalization: This is an image-displaying method that distributes the color information over the existing temperatures of the image. This method of distributing the information can be particularly successful when the image contains few peaks at very high temperature values.
• Signal Linear: This is an image-displaying method where the color information in the image is distributed linearly to the signal values of the pixels.
• Digital Detail Enhancement: This is an image-displaying method where high-frequency content in the image, such as edges and corners, are enhanced to increase the visibility of details.

11.7.3   Procedure

Follow this procedure:

1

Right-click the image and select Color distribution. This displays a menu.

2

On the menu, select one of the following:

• Temperature Linear.
• Histogram Equalization.
• Signal Linear.
• Digital Detail Enhancement.

11.8  Changing the color palette

11.8.1   General

You can change the palette that is used to display the different temperatures within an image. A different palette can make it easier to analyze the image.

Color palette	Image example
Artic
Cool
Gray
Iron
Lava
Rainbow
Rainbow HC
Warm

11.8.2   Procedure

Follow this procedure:

1

On the measurement toolbar, select (Color). This displays a menu.

2

On the menu, click the palette you want to use.

11.9  Changing the image modes

11.9.1   General

For some images you can change the image mode.

11.9.2  Types of image modes

Image mode	Image example
Thermal MSX (Multi Spectral Dynamic Imaging): This mode displays an infrared image where the edges of the objects are enhanced. The thermal/photo balance can be adjusted.
Thermal: This mode displays a fully infrared image.
Thermal Fusion: This mode displays a digital photo where some parts are displayed in infrared, depending on the temperature limits.
Thermal Blending: The camera displays a blended image that uses a mix of infrared pixels and digital photo pixels. The thermal/photo balance can be adjusted.
Picture in picture: This mode displays an infrared image frame on top of a digital photo.
Digital camera: This mode displays a fully digital photo.

11.9.3   Procedure

Follow this procedure:

1

On the image mode toolbar, select one of the following:

• (Thermal MSX).
• (Thermal).
• (Thermal Fusion).
• (Thermal Blending).
• (Picture in picture).
• (Digital camera).

2

Applicable to the Thermal MSX and Thermal Blending modes: To adjust the thermal/photo balance, click the arrow next to the image mode icon and drag the slider left or right.

3

Applicable to the Digital camera mode: To change the image to grayscale, click the arrow next to the image mode icon and select the check box.

Note   The grayscale setting for the digital camera remains when switching to other image modes that use the visual image, e.g., Thermal Fusion, Thermal Blending, and Picture in picture.

11.10  Working with color alarms and isotherms

11.10.1   General

By using color alarms (isotherms), anomalies can easily be discovered in an infrared image. The isotherm command applies a contrasting color to all pixels with a temperature above, below, or between the set temperature levels. There are also alarm types that are specific to the building trade: humidity and insulation alarms.

You can select the following types of color alarms:

• Above alarm: This will apply a contrasting color to all pixels with a temperature above the specified temperature level.
• Below alarm: This will apply a contrasting color to all pixels with a temperature below the specified temperature level.
• Interval alarm: This will apply a contrasting color to all pixels with a temperature between two specified temperature levels.
• Humidity alarm: Triggers when a surface where the relative humidity exceeds a preset value is detected.
• Insulation alarm: Triggers when there is an insulation deficiency in a wall.
• Custom alarm: This alarm type allows you to manually modify the settings for a standard alarm.

Setting parameters for the activated color alarm are displayed under ALARM in the right pane.

11.10.2  Image examples

This table explains the different color alarms (isotherms).

Color alarm	Image
Above alarm
Below alarm
Interval alarm
Humidity alarm
Insulation alarm

11.10.3  Setting up above and below alarms

Follow this procedure:

1

On the measurement toolbar, select (Color). This displays a menu.

2

On the menu, select one of the following:

• Above alarm.
• Below alarm.

3

In the right pane, take note of the parameter Limit . Areas in the image with a temperature above or below this temperature will be colorized with the isotherm color. You can change this limit, and also change the isotherm color on the Color menu.

11.10.4  Setting up an interval alarm

Follow this procedure:

1

On the measurement toolbar, select (Color). This displays a menu.

2

On the menu, select Interval alarm.

3

In the right pane, take note of the parameters Upper limit and Lower limit . Areas in the image with a temperature between these two temperatures will be colorized with the isotherm color. You can change these limits, and also change the isotherm color on the Color menu.

11.10.5  Setting up a humidity alarm

11.10.5.1   General

The humidity alarm (isotherm) can detect areas where there is a risk of mold growing, or where there is a risk of the humidity falling out as liquid water (i.e., the dew point).

11.10.5.2   Procedure

Follow this procedure:

1

On the measurement toolbar, select (Color). This displays a menu.

2

On the menu, select Humidity alarm. Depending on your object, certain areas will now be colorized with an isotherm color.

3

In the right pane, take note of the parameter Calculated limit . This is the temperature at which there is a risk of humidity. If the parameter Relative humidity limit is set to 100%, this is also the dew point, i.e., the temperature at which the humidity falls out as liquid water.

Note  The parameter Calculated limit takes the following three parameters into account:

• Relative humidity.
• Relative humidity limit.
• Atmospheric temperature.

11.10.6  Setting up an insulation alarm

11.10.6.1   General

The insulation alarm (isotherm) can detect areas where there may be an insulation deficiency in the building. It will trigger when the insulation level falls below a preset value of the energy leakage through the building structure—the so-called thermal index.

Different building codes recommend different values for the thermal index, but typical values are 0.6–0.8 for new buildings. Refer to your national building code for recommendations.

11.10.6.2   Procedure

Follow this procedure:

1

On the measurement toolbar, select (Color). This displays a menu.

2

On the menu, select Insulation alarm. Depending on your object, certain areas will now be colorized with an isotherm color.

3

In the right pane, take note of the parameter Calculated insulation . This is the temperature where the insulation level falls below a preset value of the energy leakage through the building structure.

Note  The parameter Calculated insulation takes the following three parameters into account:

• Indoor temperature.
• Outdoor temperature.
• Thermal index.

11.10.7  Setting up a custom alarm

11.10.7.1   General

A custom alarm is an alarm of any of the following types:

• Above alarm.
• Below alarm.
• Interval alarm.
• Humidity alarm.
• Insulation alarm.

For these custom alarms, you can specify a number of different parameters manually, compared with using the standard alarms:

• Background .
• Colors (semi-transparent or solid colors).
• Inverted color (for the Interval isotherm only).

11.10.7.2   Procedure

Follow this procedure:

1

On the measurement toolbar, select (Color). This displays a menu.

2

On the menu, select Custom alarm.

3

In the right pane, specify the following parameters:

• For Above and Below :
  • Background .
  • Limit .
  • Color .
• For Interval :
  • Background .
  • Upper limit .
  • Lower limit .
  • Color .
  • Inverted interval .
• For Humidity :
  • Background .
  • Relative humidity .
  • Relative humidity limit .
  • Atmospheric temperature .
  • Color .
• For Insulation :
  • Background .
  • Indoor temperature .
  • Outdoor temperature .
  • Insulation factor (0–1).
  • Color .

11.11  Changing the local parameters for a measurement tool

11.11.1   General

For accurate measurements, it is important to set the measurement parameters. The measurement parameters stored with the image are displayed in the right pane, under PARAMETERS.

In some situations you may want to change a measurement (object) parameter for one measurement tool only. The reason for this could be that the measurement tool is in front of a significantly more reflective surface than other surfaces in the image, or over an object that is further away than the rest of the objects in the image, and so on.

For more information about object parameters, see section 18 Thermographic measurement techniques .

The following indicators are used when local parameters are activated for a measurement tool:

• In the image, an asterisk (*) is displayed next to the measurement tool.
• In the result table of the Image Editor, an icon is displayed next to the measurement value.
• In result fields and tables in infrared reports, an asterisk (*) is displayed and the local parameter values are included in brackets.

11.11.2   Procedure

Follow this procedure:

1

On the measurement toolbar, select (Selection).

2

Right-click the tool and select Local parameters.

3

In the dialog box, select Use local parameters.

4

Enter a value for one or more parameters.

5

Click OK.

11.12  Working with annotations

11.12.1   General

You can save additional information with an infrared image by using annotations. Annotations make reporting and post-processing more efficient, by providing essential information about the image, e.g., conditions and information about where an image is taken.

Some cameras allow you to add annotations directly in the camera, e.g., notes (image descriptions), text, voice, and sketch annotations. These annotations (if available) are displayed in the right pane of the Image Editor. You can also add notes (image descriptions) and text annotations to images using the Image Editor.

11.12.2  About image descriptions

11.12.2.1  What is an image description?

An image description is a brief free-form textual description that is stored in an infrared image file. It uses a standard tag in the *.jpg file format and can be retrieved by other software.

In the Image Editor and FLIR cameras, the image description is called Note.

11.12.2.1.1   Procedure

Follow this procedure:
In the right pane, type the image description in the field under NOTE.

11.12.3  About text annotations

11.12.3.1  What is a text annotation?

A text annotation is textual information about something in an image and is constructed of a group of information pairs—label and value. The reason for using text annotations is to make reporting and post-processing more efficient by providing essential information about the image, e.g., conditions, photos, and information about where the image was taken.

A text annotation is a proprietary annotation format from FLIR Systems , and the information cannot be retrieved by other vendors’ software. The concept relies heavily on interaction by the user. In the camera, the user can select one of several values for each label. The user can also enter numerical values, and make the text annotation capture measurement values from the screen.

11.12.3.2  Creating a text annotation for an image

Follow this procedure:

1

Under TEXT ANNOTATIONS in the right pane, do one of the following:

Click . This adds a text annotation row. Repeat to add more rows.
• Click . This opens the Text annotations dialog box.

2

Enter the desired labels and values. See the image below for examples.