NanoLocz

NanoLocz

Atomic Force Microscopy Image Analysis Platform.

• Download NanoLocz
• User Guide
• Open AFM Data Resources

  About NanoLocz

  NanoLocz is a free interactive AFM image viewer and analysis platform. It’s designed for browsing and analysing image data from AFM and HS-AFM imaging with the aim of increasing throughput.

Capabilities:

• Read AFM file types: .spm, .asd, .jpk, .h5-jpk, .ibw, .ARIS, .tiff, .nhf, .gwy
• Image Levelling - Line Profiling - Image Alignment
• Mask Analysis - Particle Detection - Single Particle Tracking
• Simulation AFM - Localization AFM
• Export as: .tiff, .gif, .avi, .png, .jpeg, .pdf, .txt, .csv, .xls, .h5

Free Online NanoLocz 1.3 Workshops:
To mark the release of v1.3, We’re hosting two free online workshops via zoom. Register here

• Session 1: Wednesday 11 June, 09:30 BST
• Session 2: Tuesday 17 June, 16:00 BST

Workshops are open to anyone - select your preferred time.

Link to User Guide

29.05.2025 - NanoLocz Version 1.31 Update:

• Drag & Drop Support – Quickly open files or folders by dragging them into the file list box.
• Multi-Plane Levelling – Enhanced levelling using weighted plane/line fits across multiple surfaces (code adapted from SPIW).
• Flexible Draw/Analysis Tools – Apply line, circle, square or freehand drawing with analysis tools profiles, averages, ROIs, and masks.
• Improved File Import – .h5-jpk file opener; support for common table/image formats (.csv, .jpg, etc.); .asd now reads all channels; faster loading for large .jpk files.
• Unified Histogram Slider – One interface for controlling sliders used in masking, particle detection, and now LAFM.
• Expanded LAFM Tools – Auto-rendering, FRC resolution analysis, new filters, alignment tools, localization import/filtering.
• Enhanced 3D Plotting – Lighting controls and export bug fixes for 3D movie generation.
• Improved Label Tools – Time formatting options and ability to position labels off-image.
• Transfer Detections – Move particle detections between channels with one tool.
• Dark/Light Mode Toggle – Easily switch between UI themes.
• More Auto-Save Options – Greater control over automatic saving behavior.
• General Bug Fixes

15.05.2024 - NanoLocz Version 1.20 Update:

• Processing speed - Improved app start-up speed + speed increases for Particle Detection, LAFM and Particle Assembly steps
• AutoSaving - Choose output folder and preferred file format 1st
• Improved Saving - Including batch export
• Batch levelling - Set levelling options (auto or manual) in preview mode and then run batch save
• HDF5 (.h5) export/input - A more accessible file format (can be opened with Python)
• Set Preferences - NanoLocz remembers preferred Output/Input folders and other settings
• Jpk file opener - Error fixed
• asd file opener - Reading of ‘Only Trace Imaging’ files enabled
• Line Profile snap to angle - Hold ‘shift’ when drawing line profiles to snap to the nearest 45 degrees
• New pre-set auto levelling options
• Recalculate correlation button - recalculates the correlation between particles and the selected reference image, useful for excluding poorly matching particles after Fine Align (Fine align tab)

01.03.2024 - Full Article Released in Small Methods: https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202301766

01.03.2024 - NanoLocz Version 1.10 Update:

• General: bug fixes, more colormaps, stacking of images/video with different pixel dimensions.
• File Openers: .asd file heights corrected.
• Simulation AFM: Parachuting option added.
• LAFM: Improved localization precision, improved auto centre for symmetrisation, height scale in nm.
• New filter: remove scars/scratches.

23.11.2023 - Preprint Released on BioRxiv - Link
Full Software version 1.0 released

NanoLocz Install - Go to Releases:

Note: loading on start-up of the app can take ~1min for Mac/Windows versions
Options for Install:

1. Install as Mac desktop app download: Mac_AppInstaller_mcr.app.zip
2. Install as Windows desktop app download: Windows_AppInstaller_mcr.exe
3. Install as MATLAB app download: NanoLocz.mlappinstall Open ‘NanoLocz.mlappinstall’ file. This will open MATLAB if not already open and ask you to install. Once installed the app can be used from the apps tab. For quick access right click the NanoLocz app to add to Favourites and/or Quick Access Toolbar.
   MATLAB app requirements: MATLAB 2020a (the newer the better), Curve Fitting Toolbox, Image Processing Toolbox, Signal Processing Toolbox, Statistics and Machine Learning Toolbox, Bioinformatics Toolbox, Computer Vision Toolbox.

Disclaimer:

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

Contributing

Contributions are extremely welcome.

License

Distributed under the terms of the GNU GPL v3.0 license, “NanoLocz” is free and open source software

Publications

• If using the NanoLocz software please cite:
  Heath, G.R, Micklethwaite, E. and Storer, T.M.
  NanoLocz: Image analysis platform for AFM, high-speed AFM and localization AFM.
  Small Methods 2024, 2301766.

• If using the Localization Atomic Force Microscopy method please cite:
  Heath, G.R., Kots, E., Robertson, J.L. et al.
  Localization atomic force microscopy.
  Nature 594, 385–390 (2021)

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