Microdensitometry with image analyser video scanners

A numerical method for calibration of the Quantimet 720 1D Auto detector as a densitometer in absolute density units has been developed and applied to integrated microdensitometric measurement. A procedure for the estimation and correction of microscope glare error has also been derived. The error after glare correction was found to be comparable with threshold setting variation encountered in routine use of the Quantimet. The method should prove valuable in densitometric applications not only for Quantimet image analysers but also for any instrument employing a video imaging system because the underlying principles are the same.