Interactive vs. Auto(Batch) Analyses

Imatest has two types of analysis module: Fixed (in the left-most column of the main window) and Interactive (in the second column).

Fixed modules require that all settings be entered prior to running the analysis. Stored settings are read from imatest.ini and can be changed by user input. Results are displayed as figures and can be saved as image (usually PNG), CSV, XML, and JSON files.
Interactive modules are run from GUIs (Graphic User Interfaces) that allow results to be queried and modified after the analysis has been run. This allows you to explore results in great depth. Results can be saved as image (usually PNG), CSV, XML, and JSON files.

	Auto(Batch) / Fixed vs. Interactive module summary
Auto(Batch) / Fixed	Interactive
Graphic results in Figures allow limited manipulation (zooming or rotation for 3D images).	Graphic results displayed in GUI windows allow a high degree of manipulation: You can change calculation and display settings and you can select any available display. You can analyzed results in great depth.
Batches of files can be run.	Only a single file can be analyzed (one exception: several files can be combined (signal-averagted) to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)).
Most are available as Industrial Testing (IT) modules (EXE or DLL programs that can run in production/quality control environments).	Not directly available in IT.
Images cannot be directly acquired (in the Image Sensor edition).	In the Imatest Image Sensor Edition, Images can be acquired directly from devices (development boards from Aptina, Omnivision and others as well as devices supported by the Matlab Image Acquisition toolbox). Directly-acquired images can be continuously refreshed in realtime.

In most (but not all) cases there are corresponding Fixed and Interactive modules.

		Coresponding Interactive and Auto(Batch) / Fixed modules
Interactive module	Auto(Batch) / Fixed module	Notes
Rescharts Interactive interface for several separate sharpness modules.	SFRplus Auto	All settings must be made in Rescharts (SFRplus Setup). SFRplus Auto is highly automated (with automated region detection based on criteria set in Rescharts), requiring no user input.
	SFR	Fixed SFR can analyze several regions (ROIs); Rescharts SFR can only analyze a single region.
	Random/Dead Leaves
	Log F-Contrast
	Star
	Wedge
	Any image sharpness
Multicharts Analyze color/grayscale charts.	ColorTest	Can analyze a large variety of color charts, including the Colorchecker 24-patch and SG, the DSC Labs ChromaduMonde, the IT8.7, and many others (all charts supported by Multicharts). Before running ColorTest, the chart type should be selected in ColorTest settings (in the Fixed Modules or Settings dropdown menus). Plots are identical to Multicharts. There is considerable overlap with Stepchart and Colorcheck, both of which were developed earlier.
Multicharts Analyze color/grayscale charts.	Stepchart	Can analyze a large variety of grayscale stepcharts, including the Q-13/Q-14, ISO-14524, ISO-15739, Imatest 36-patch Dynamic Range chart, and many others. Figures are slightly different from Multicharts, but Multicharts chart seleections 6. Grayscale Stepchart (linear) and 7. Special Grayscale & Color charts correspond to charts supported by Stepchart.
Uniformity Interactive	Uniformity	Settings made in either module are used by the other. Blemish Detect capability is not yet included in Uniformity Interactive, but Blemish (fixed module) has most Uniformity functions.