Using the Points Tool

This annotation tool lets you add a series of points to the 2D views in a scene and compare the value of different features of interest. For example, the HU values of calcified lesions on a cardiovascular CT scan. Points can also be viewed in the 3D view of a scene.

Information provided for each point within a set includes its position in the world coordinate system, as well as its intensity and voxel position. For fused datasets, each corresponding intensity value and voxel position are also available. You can add captions to each point within a set to annotate your findings. Additional options for Points — such as Export, Copy, and Look at Annotation — are available in the pop-up menu (see Annotation Pop-Up Menu).

The Probe tool can be used to display the native value and coordinates of the voxel under the mouse cursor (see Using the Probe Tools).

Points properties and settings

See Annotation Properties for information about modifying the appearance of the annotation's control points.

Information provided for each point within a set includes its position in the world coordinate system, as well as its intensity and voxel position. For fused datasets, each corresponding intensity value and voxel position are also available. You can add captions to each point within a set to further annotate your findings, as well as save and load a point set.

The basic properties available for the points in a Point Set are described in the following table.

Basic properties
  Description

Caption

If selected, captions will be shown with each point in 2D and 3D views.

Do the following to add captions manually:

  • Check the Display caption option in the Basic properties box.
  • Double click inside the cell that corresponds to the point that you want to label and then enter the required caption.

Do the following to generate captions automatically:

  • Check the Display caption option in the Basic properties box.
  • Check the Auto generate caption option.
  • Select the parameter that you want to appear as the caption for each point in the set in the drop-down menu.

World Position

Indicates the world position of each point in the set.

Voxel Position

Indicates the voxel position of each point of each dataset in the scene.

Intensity

Indicates the native value of each point of each dataset in the scene.

Exports the world position of each point in the set in the CSV or JSON file format. JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a text format that is completely language independent, but uses conventions that are familiar to programmers of the C-family of languages, including C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, Python, and many others.

Note The length units of Points annotation data (Scout and Zoom tags) that are exported in the JSON file format are automatically encoded in micrometers with a precision of two decimal points. This will be applied regardless of the Preferences settings for the default unit or significant digits for measurements. In this scheme, a measurement of 5.2 mm will be exported as 5200.00 µm, 3.762834 mm as 3762.83 µm, 3.762837 mm as 3762,84 µm, and so on. You should also note that this export option is available for Dragonfly Pro only.
The option to delete a point and to center it within the selected view are available in a pop-up menu, as shown below.

The Points tool creates a series of points on 2D views in a unique application of the tool. The native value for each point in the set, along with its coordinates, are displayed onscreen.

  1. Maximize the 2D scene view on which you plan to create the point set, recommended.
  2. Click the Points tool  in the Annotate panel.
  3. Click on the image to add the first point in the set.

    The coordinates of the point and its native value appear in the Basic properties box on the Data Properties and Settings panel. If required, you can add a caption to the point.

  4. Add additional points, as required.
  5. Click the Track tool to end the point set.
  1. Select the required point, either directly in the 2D view or in the Basic properties table.
  2. Click inside the selected point and then drag to reposition the point.

    You can select multiple points if you need to reposition multiple points in the set.

  3. Click inside the selected point(s) to de-select it.
  • Right-click the point you need to delete in the Basic properties table and then choose Delete in the context menu.

A number of configured actions and keyboard shortcuts are available for creating and editing point sets. The default settings for these actions are listed in the following table.

Default configured actions for Points tool
Action State Key Mouse

Create a point in Point mode

(OrsStatePoints)

Left Ctrl

Left mouse

Edit a point in Point mode

(OrsStatePointsEdit)

 

Left mouse

Switch to Point mode

 

 

 
See Configurable Actions for information about modifying the default actions for the Points tool.