Picasso

A collection of tools for painting super-resolution images. The Picasso software is complemented by our Nature Protocols publication. A comprehensive documentation can be found here: Read the Docs.

Picasso 0.5.0

Picasso has introduced many changes, including 3D rotation window and a new clustering algorithm in Render and reading of .nd2 files in Localize. Please check the changelog to see all modifications.

Picasso 0.4.0

Picasso now has a server-based workflow management-system. Check out here.

Installation

Check out the Picasso release page to download and run the latest compiled one-click installer for Windows. Here you will also find the Nature Protocols legacy version. For the platform-independent usage of Picasso (e.g., with Linux and Mac Os X), please follow the advanced installation instructions.

Advanced installation for Python programmers

As an alternative to the stand-alone program for end-users, Picasso can be installed as a Python package. This is the preferred option to use Picasso’s internal routines in custom Python programs. For windows, one is still possible to use Picasso as an end-user by creating the respective shortcuts. This allows Picasso to be used on the same system by both programmers and end-users.

Requirements

Python 3.8 (Tested on Windows 10)

We highly recommend the Anaconda or Miniconda Python distribution which comes with a powerful package manager.

Setting up the environment with conda

Sample instructions to create an environment and installation of packages with conda are as follows:

1. Open the console and create a new conda environment: conda create --name picasso python=3.8
2. Activate the environment: source activate picasso for Linux / Mac Os X or activate picasso for Windows.
3. (Optional) For Mac systems (e.g. M1) install PyQt via conda: conda install -c anaconda pyqt.
4. Install using pip: pip install picassosr.
5. (Optional) If you want to use hdbscan install using pip: pip install hdbscan.
6. (Optional) If you plan to compile your own installer additionally install Pyinstaller: pip install pyinstaller
7. Continue with the installation of Picasso

Troubleshooting: In case installing via pip fails, try to install the failing packages via conda.

Note that sometimes outdated packages can cause problems. As of version 0.3.0, Picasso switched from PyQt4 to PyQt5, so make sure to update PyQt. If you experience errors, please check whether your packages have the correct version (e.g., see issue #4). When using conda, make sure that you have the default package channel (e.g., see issue #30).

Installation

Via PyPI:

1. Install using pip: pip install picassosr.
2. Launch via calling one of the modules, e.g. picasso localize.

Via GitHub:

1. Open the console, cd to the directory where you want to install and run git clone https://github.com/jungmannlab/picasso. Alternatively, download the zip file and unzip it.
2. Change to the downloaded directory cd picasso
3. Run installation python setup.py install.
4. Launch via calling one of the modules, e.g. picasso localize.

Updating

To update Picasso from GitHub use the following commands:

1. Move to the Picasso folder with the terminal, activate environment.
2. Update with git: git pull.
3. Update the environment: pip install --upgrade -r requirements.txt.
4. Run installation python setup.py install.

Optional for windows users

Run the PowerShell script “createShortcuts.ps1” in the gui directory. This should be doable by right-clicking on the script and choosing “Run with PowerShell”. Alternatively, run the command powershell ./createShortcuts.ps1 in the command line. Use the generated shortcuts in the top level directory to start GUI components. Users can drag these shortcuts to their Desktop, Start Menu or Task Bar.

Using Picasso as a module

The individual modules of picasso can be started as follows: 1. Open the console, activate the environment: source activate picasso for Linux / Mac Os X or activate picasso for Windows. 2. Start the picasso modules via python -m picasso .., e.g. python -m picasso render for the render module

Using GPU for Fitting

To enable GPU fitting, follow instructions on Gpufit to install the Gpufit python library in your conda environment. In practice, this means downloading the zipfile and installing the Python wheel. Picasso Localize will automatically import the library if present and enables a checkbox for GPU fitting when selecting the LQ-Method.

Example Usage

Besides using the GUI, you can use picasso like any other Python module. Consider the following example::

from picasso import io, postprocess

path = 'testdata_locs.hdf5'
locs, info = io.load_locs(path)
# Link localizations and calcualte dark times
linked_locs = postprocess.link(picked_locs, info, r_max=0.05, max_dark_time=1)
linked_locs_dark = postprocess.compute_dark_times(linked_locs)

print('Average bright time {:.2f} frames'.format(np.mean(linked_locs_dark.n)))
print('Average dark time {:.2f} frames'.format(np.mean(linked_locs_dark.dark)))

This codeblock loads data from testdata_locs and uses the postprocess functions programmatically.

Jupyter Notebooks

Check picasso/samples/ for Jupyter Notebooks that show how to interact with the Picasso codebase.

Contributing

If you have a feature request or a bug report, please post it as an issue on the GitHub issue tracker. If you want to contribute, put a PR for it. You can find more guidelines for contributing here. I will gladly guide you through the codebase and credit you accordingly. Additionally, you can check out the Projects-page on GitHub. You can also contact me via [email protected].

Contributions & Copyright

Citing Picasso

If you use picasso in your research, please cite our Nature Protocols publication describing the software.

Credits

• Design icon based on “Hexagon by Creative Stalls from the Noun Project”
• Simulate icon based on “Microchip by Futishia from the Noun Project”
• Localize icon based on “Mountains by MONTANA RUCOBO from the Noun Project”
• Filter icon based on “Funnel by José Campos from the Noun Project”
• Render icon based on “Paint Palette by Vectors Market from the Noun Project”
• Average icon based on “Layers by Creative Stall from the Noun Project”
• Server icon based on “Database by Nimal Raj from NounProject.com”