Below you'll find step-by-step instructions for creating and importing tiled images into your Scalar project.

Tiled Images

Scalar supports the use of DZI files (.dzi), or Deep Zoom image files. The Deep Zoom file format functions in a manner similar to Google Maps images whereby large, high-resolution images are broken into smaller tiles which are then displayed individually only as needed, that is, only when that region of the overall image is being viewed.

Scalar users will need to create their DZI files using third party conversion tools. A list of reliable converters can be found here, but we recommend using Microsoft's Deep Zoom Composer (see below). What's more, because Deep Zoom images, and tiled images in general, require a number of associated files, Scalar users will need to find a place to host those files. Once the files have been hosted somewhere online, users can simply import the DZI file (.dzi) into their Scalar project using the internet URL importer.

Step-by-Step, Using Deep Zoom Composer

1. Download Deep Zoom Composer.
2. Start Deep Zoom Composer and create a new project.
3. Select the Import tab and add the image file(s) you'd like to convert to a DZI.
4. Select the Layout tab and drag the source image(s) from the image gallery into the center layout area..
5. Select the Export tab.
6. Select Images as the output type.
7. Enter a filename and directory for the exported DZI.
8. Select Export as a composition (single image).
9. Set the image settings as desired.
10. Click the Export button.
11. You should now find a folder with your chosen name in the directory you designated in step 7.
12. In the newly created folder (from the step 11), change the extension of the dzc_output.xml file to dzc_output.dzi.
13. Place the entire folder in a directory that is accessible from the web.
14. Go to your scalar dashboard and go to the media tab.
15. From the drop down menu in the top-right, select "Internet URL."
16. For "Media File URL" enter the publicly accessible URL of the file we previously renamed dzc_output.dzi in the folder you hosted online.

See an example of a DZI file in Scalar.

OpenSeaDragon

DZI files are displayed in Scalar via OpenSeaDragon, an open-source, web-based viewer for zoomable images.

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