Exp401 Imaging Specialist Report

Summary

During Exp401 sediments were mainly recovered. Imaging specialist assignments were done. General imaging duties/services provided:

• Headshots photography

• Headshot posters

• Microscopes cleaning, setting and assistance

• Paleo Lab assistance

• SHIL images check and support

• WRLS composites creation

• Close-ups photography

• Special request photography

• Friends and Family photography

• T-shirt logo printing

• Groups photography

System Status

PICAT -

Setup, Use and Maintenance –

Clean and setup of the system was done at the beginning of the expedition. Most of the thin Section images were done by the TS specialist tech.

Calculation of the mean exposures required was achieved manually using a light meter and assessing the first samples images as a start setup. In order to have more standardized results f/stop and speed used either in single or cross polarized images were fixed values and only ISO value was meant to be changed to achieve the proper exposure.

In training videos suggests to use the camera Program Mode to calculate the exposure for the single polarized image and set it up in Manual for the cross-polarized image. I realized in previous expeditions the cross-polarized image was acquired using the Program mode too, which had been producing overexposed images since the system calculations try to achieve a proper exposure using also the areas darkened by the cross-polarization, which indeed should be expected to be dark.

Bulb Issues –

There was no issue with the bulb in the PICAT system during this expedition. Last expedition the bulb was replaced two times. The first one with the same voltage and wattage specifications as the system requires, 12v 100W, but it worked for no more than two weeks before a change was due.

Since there were no more identical bulbs with the same specifications a new one with same configuration as required but similar specifications, 15v 150W, was installed and has been in use since. A different exposure configuration is required for every kind of bulb, exposure settings provided are for a start reference.

The installed bulb illumination intensity is lower than the original for the system so image exposure should be recalculated. Most of the images required about 2/3 stops higher exposure with the 15v 150W bulb.

The bulbs used have an expected life of 50 hours and when working are very hot. Since there has been a more than expected requirement to replace bulbs action has been taken by disconnecting only the lamp cable from the power adapter after use but letting the fan on for about 15 minutes in order to reduce the temperature of the bulb. The same way flash systems work in which bulbs get high temperature.

An isolated switch for the light would be an update that might be considered in order to avoid problems carried by unplugging the light connection.

Closeup Station –

Setup, Use and Maintenance –

Close-up camera and flash system worked properly, settings were confirmed using a light meter. A total of 37 close-up images were produced.

Issues and Updated Procedure –

A Color Profile has been created at the beginning of the expedition using a Color Checker Card and a Lightroom Classic Extra Plug-in installed in the Close-ups PC. The same Color Profile was used to achieve a faithful image as lighting and camera settings are the same for the whole expedition. Lens Correction Profiles was enabled to correct distortion and vignette, as well as remove the chromatic aberration related to it.  

Tethered capture as well as setting of white balance, rotation, angle and crop of the image is pretty much as simple as in Capture One. The main difference is how tonal clipping is set up. Instead of just setting a predefined value in the session preferences and then selecting the dark and light areas of the QPcard as in Capture One, in Lightroom’s Tone Curve panel the Point Curve should be adjusted to those values on every image by clicking on the dark and light areas of the QPcard using a Targeted Adjustment tool and dragging to those preset values, 47 and 247 accordingly, and then Refine Saturation altered when tones adjusted by 50%.

Every step in this procedure is in process to be updated in the Close-up Capture User Guide. If using Lightroom Classic is too complicated keep working with Capture One.

Microscopes -

Setup and Maintenance –

At the beginning of the expedition, when setup of microscopes was done per requests I realized most microscopes needed cleaning and alignment, specially the optics. Several days were required to clean properly all the systems used. Some of the objectives taken from storage drawers to be used also required cleaning. It’s tough to remove oil from some since it gets stickier when left for long periods. Since my first expedition I noted that some objectives, installed and not, present some dust inside their optics. Only a blower has been used to remove as much dust as possible, but not possible to remove all this way. Of course, dust covers might help to avoid part of it, but the environment where they are will affect them anyway.

Cleaning of instrumentation used during this expedition will be done at the end of the transit. Service to the microscopes includes cleaning of eye pieces and objectives, then center of condenser, stage and objectives, and finally setup of Kohler illumination.

Use –

Microscopes were used by paleontologists and sedimentologists. All three Stereo Discovery.V8, Axiophot and Axio Imager microscopes in the Microscope Lab were used by paleontologists. The Axio A1 microscope in the smear slides area was used by sedimentologists. The Axio Imager and the Axiophot were requested by Nannopaleontologists to have a rotational stage. If change of stages is requested on next expedition be mindful that some stages might look similar but they are model specific. A sticker below with the model they are supposed to work with has been attached to the last sets bought and/or changed.

Stages, objectives and eyepieces were configured as the scientists requested. Other required materials were provided, as slide boxes, slides, covers, oil, lens cleaning tissues among others. Assistance in setting and solving issues was provided during the expedition.

Issues –

Assistance requested was mainly due to changed settings, some of the solutions were basic and some required resetting and/or cleaning of light and optics. Even a hair was found inside the optics below the analyzer.

Glue for preparing slides was mentioned by Nannopaleontologists to be affecting the visibility of their slides. At first, they had an expired Norlan glue, but after a not expired new one was provided they kept saying it was the glue. I checked some of their slides and it seem that lack of clearness was due to the material in it. Anyway, I cleaned all optics, which was affecting a bit, and change their oil, since it appeared to be expired too. No complains were mentioned about this after that. Norlan glue and latest expired oil were kept in the Core Entry fridge.

In the middle of the expedition a request was received to check the Stereoscope on the far right in the Microscope Lab because it was not focusing properly, especially when using higher magnifications. Adjustment and cleaning of eyepieces, objective, illuminator and outside optics of outside body and binocular tube was done. Focus was corrected on the left eyepiece but not the right. Scientists used it sporadically as a secondary microscope.

The microscope used in the TS lab present a halo when reflected light is used, most notable with a low magnification objective, as 2.5X was used. Tests were done, but not solved it, by changing the type of light and aligning it, cleaning the optics, change of objectives and eye pieces. Luminous field diaphragm may not be working properly and may be the reason for this problem as the pushrod is difficult to move and very subtle change in the image is visible when moved. A better understanding and acquire of knowledge on reflected light system setup may be helpful to look in more detail of this kind of issues.

SEM and Miscellaneous –

The SEM was used by paleontologists during this expedition. Assistance at the beginning of the expedition was provided on how the Hitachi SEM works, as a very straight forward and old but friendly system, scientists were able to work with it very easy with just a few requests for support. Presentation of SEM usage, Coating instrument and upload procedures was done by Core Description Specialist.

Since the continuous attention with the microscope lab requirements a detailed support in the Paleo Lab was provided as requested by the same scientists. Preparation of stains and glue as requested, as well as keeping enough materials that were in use were part of the support in the Paleo Lab.

Dust cover replacements arrived and were installed.

Scale bar setup–

On last scientific expedition in-house Image Capture software was reinstalled, which made the scale bar setup being reset. In case it happens again or cameras are interchanged microscopes scale bar settings must be changed by proceeding with the standard procedure using a micrometer to define proportional difference, document with instructions included in confluence.

SHIL -

SHIL calibration was performed at the beginning of the expedition. Hands-on training in SHIL workflow and procedures was done to each sedimentologists shift before arrival to the first site.

Image quality was checked in every image produced and the data related to it. Scientists decided to scrape depending on every core, most of the were not. Scientists performed a very good job doing SHIL images, just a few errors required repetition of the images, most of them because confusion on the spacers required of WRND samples.

A few cores were required to have WRLS images, which the scientists created mostly in a good way after a hands-on training provided. Pieces were mostly cylindrical and of enough width which helped to create good WRLS Composites. A set of Photoshop actions were created in order to streamline the process of alignment of the Quadrant images previously, which is very useful if a lot of WRLS Composites must be created, as in next expedition. A copy of the 360 WRLS creation actions.atn preset is kept in …\IODP_Share\EB\SHIL  to Check until a proper development of the procedure is written in confluence.

A couple of files came out corrupted showing only the label created for the image. The problem was solved by canceling the crop button after cropping. A detailed explanation  of this issue should be found in the Physical Properties Specialist report.

Cancel of tests and display image changes were made on LIME as required. There were no other issues and no changes.

Photography-

Basic keyword and metadata were added to all the images taken by the Imaging specialist. Ratings are added as part of the metadata, suggesting 2 & 3 Stars rated images to keep and upload in Merlin One. Some new keywords were added where none of the present match for the basic keywording.

Submissions for Friends and Family gallery reached the 1000 to 1500 images weekly since most of the participants were just uploading every photo taken, including several multiple shots of the same. A lot of time was taken to process the images as always by adding keywords and rating for deletion and final selection. After week 4 a request was done to do a preselection of their own photos and submit no more than 30 images per person per week. This made some people stop sharing but some other did as requested even they didn’t submit their best images. Then not all the images from week 1 to 4 have keywords and are not properly rated, only the submitted images for the F&F Gallery have gone through the full process.

Headshot photos were taken for all scientists, some techs that requested for it and new Siem and Entier crew members. Headshot posters were produced for Scientists, IODP Staff, Entier and Siem crew.

A total of 175 photos have been posted on eight weekly photo galleries at the time this report is presented. Curation and process if required of other high rated images is in progress in order to share them with everyone onboard and may be uploaded to Merlin One.

Printer Epson Stylus 4900 -

It was used to print group photos. After being printing several pages some grey tones were not showing properly, but running a clean nozzles job solve the issue. A setting to make the printer make a basic and simple clean every time it is turned on was checked, then it is recommended that even if it is not in use keep turning it on at least a couple of days a week or more so that nozzles don’t get stuck.

Light Black and Cyan ink cartridges were replaced for new ones. Ink levels are still good for more than one regular expedition printing work. About one and a half boxes of letter size photographic paper remains, should be enough too but if do not receive more be aware of this.

Printer Epson ecotank 8550

No issues. Regular cleaning of nozzles was carried out. Ink tanks were filled to top and now at least ¾ of each tank remains filled. It was used to print T-shirt logos.

Scanner was used to digitalize hand drawn representations of the stratigraphic compositions of the cores made by a Co-chief. Images acquired were cropped properly, saved as jpeg and pdf files and copies printed were delivered for each.

Items Received

• Microscopes dust covers.

• Replacement bulbs for PICAT.

• Replacement sockets for PICAT.

Items Shipped to shore

• None

Items Ordered

• Letter size photographic paper.

Miscellaneous

Closeups request forms were scanned and saved in pdf format as “logsheets_closeups_401.pdf”. File was saved in “DATA1/1.9 Lab Logbooks”.  Physical documents have been kept until now and will be discarded unless a sailing scientist request them.