ZEN core is your control software for any ZEISS light or electron microscope, enabling correlative microscopy and advanced image analysis.
Software

ZEN core

Software Suite for Connected Microscopy

ZEN core is the universal software designed to operate any ZEISS light or electron microscope. Control your microscope with a single, standardized graphical user interface. This highly flexible software suite lets you perform exactly the microscopy workflows you need.

From Lab to Production

ZEN stands for ZEISS Efficient Navigation. ZEN core lets you obtain more meaningful information. It increases productivity, especially in multi-user labs and not only ensures data repeatability and reliability but also connects data from different modalities and locations. ZEN core is your ecosystem for seamless, end-to-end microscopy workflows.

Profile image of Tim Schubert

ZEN core is an innovative software platform with a clear and intuitive operating concept and sophisticated functions for correlative microscopy, suitable for all types of imaging systems as it can process data from different microscope modalities. This software integrates the entire ZEISS imaging portfolio into a single cohesive solution and marks a significant step forward for efficiency and flexibility in connected microscopy environments.

Tim Schubert Imaging Specialist, Materials Research Institute Aalen – Aalen University, Germany

The Ecosystem of ZEN core

From imaging to analysis and deep learning, from stereo microscopes to automated imaging systems, from SEMs to FIB-SEMs, ZEN core provides a harmonized user interface. Streamline all your microscopy workflows using the powerful ZEN ecosystem.

One Interface for all Microscopes in a Multi-User Environment

ZEN core serves as your hub for connected microscopy and lets you control ZEISS microscopes, from entry level stereo to light and even to scanning electron microscopes and focused ion beam SEMs. Perform multi-modal experiments, EDS on your SEM or excecute image analysis as a post procesing step. Finally, you can explore all your data your desktop computer or via mobile access.
Mobile Access

Data exploration, visualization, and organization across scales and imaging modalities on mobile devices.

FIB-SEM and TEM prep

Control of basic FIB-SEM workflows including TEM lamella preparation.

Scanning Electron Microscopy & Analysis

Control of SEMs including image acquisition and EDS analyses.

Digital Microscopy

Sample and data exchange between different microscopic modalities including digital microscopy.

Light Microscopy & Analysis

Control of light and stereo microscopes, and cameras. End-to-end workflows from imaging to analysis to deep learning.

ZEN core

Microscope control, hub for connected microscopy and correlative microscopy.

Toolkits

Toolkit overview

1 Only extensible with Coded Microscope & Based Acquisition

2 No device control and acquisiton features

3 Two variants available: with tiling for a motorized stage and without tiling for a manual stage

4 Mandatory for SEM & Crossbeam

5 Requires Motorized Acquisition

1 Only extensible with Coded Microscope & Based Acquisition

2 No device control and acquisiton features

3 Two variants available: with tiling for a motorized stage and without tiling for a manual stage

4 Mandatory for SEM & Crossbeam

5 Requires Motorized Acquisition

 

Discover What’s in For You

The demands of microscopists are not static over time: tasks change, and requirements expand with the progress in research or the need to optimize failure analysis. The ZEN software suite is therefore continuously evolving. Users of ZEN core will benefit from this continuous development now and in the future. Take advantage of updates in the functionalities and enjoy working with new features.

ZEN Toolkits

  • Base
    Perform basic image acquisition of multi-channel fluorescence and time-lapse experiments with manual, coded, and motorized microscopes.

    Motorized
    Automatically acquire images at different focus positions. Combine them to create an image with a greater depth of field. Record high-resolved images of large samples by automatically scanning pre-defined areas.

    Smart Acquisition
    Automatically identify positions in overview images and create detail scans.

    Coded Microscope
    Read out of coded microscope components.

    EDS
    Integrated control for the analysis of chemical composition with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

    Automated Imaging
    Acquisition of large EM tiled images on ZEISS FE-SEMs via defined imaging protocols.

  • 2D
    Employ extended image processing functions and perform automatic 2D image analysis guided by an intuitive software wizard.

    3D
    Employ extended image processing functions, visualize 3D image stacks with advanced rendering tools, and perform 3D image analysis guided by an intuitive software wizard.

    AI
    Segment, classify, and denoise images based on machine learning algorithms accessible through a dedicated user interface for training AI models. Training interfaces are included.

    Connect
    Acquire and correlate images from different instruments such as light and electron microscopes, with a sample-centric workspace and a dedicated file management system. Perform workflows in 2D and 3D, optionally simplified by using L-marker calibration.

    Developer
    Customize and automate image acquisition, processing, and analysis with a dedicated Python script editor for recording, debugging, and code completion.

    GxP
    Maintain GxP compliance for your images, tables, and reports when working in regulated environments such as pharmaceutical companies. Ensure traceability and accountability (precondition for 21 CFR Part 11 compliance).

  • Materials Apps
    Perform layer thickness measurements and analyses of grain size, cast iron or multiphases. Compare diagrams with standard charts. Obtain AI-ready results and optionally perform image segmentation or object classification later using the AI Toolkit.

    NMI
    Perform automated imaging, classification and reporting of non-metallic inclusions in steel.

    TCA
    Perform automated identification and classification of particles compliant to cleanliness standards.

    TEM Prep
    Prepare lamellae for TEM investigations on ZEISS Crossbeam using an automated workflow.

    Auto Liftout
    Automatically lift out and attach readily prepared lamellae to a TEM grid.

ZEN core for Electron Microscopes

More than Just the Sum of Its Parts

Benefit from this operational software that is more than just a system control: ZEN core for EM not only simplifies standard SEM workflows but also opens the door for connected microscopy. It links to functionalities such as correlative microscopy, post-processing analyses, reporting, or data management.
Electron microscopists can easily perform standard workflows on every ZEISS SEM and FIB-SEM, from EVO to Sigma to GeminiSEM and Crossbeam.

How it works

The central Navigation Workspace is a unique concept featured by ZEN core. It guides all your workflows thanks to the adaptable workbenches and easy top navigation. It allows for easy navigation and intuitive operation. 
The central Navigation Workspace is a unique concept featured by ZEN core. It guides all your workflows thanks to the adaptable workbenches and easy top navigation. It allows for easy navigation and intuitive operation. 

Navigation Workspace

ZEN core presents a unique concept featuring a central Navigation Workspace and adaptable workbenches, allowing for easy navigation and intuitive operation.
To understand its capabilities, imagine using a satellite that provides a comprehensive overview of the entire planet Earth while also allowing you to zoom into the image and finally identify the door of your house. Similarly, the Navigation Workspace guides all your workflows. Just follow the tools in the top navigation. Easily find all essential EM control parameters. Gain an overview of the entire sample holder and all your samples easily, collect the acquired data in an image gallery while simultaneously controlling your live image.

Customize the UI to the workflows you need by creating and saving workbenches that show only the controls you need. The workbench concept makes Operating an SEM with ZEN core with its workbench concept makes it especially attractive for novice users working in a multi-user facility.
Customize the UI to the workflows you need by creating and saving workbenches that show only the controls you need. The workbench concept makes Operating an SEM with ZEN core with its workbench concept makes it especially attractive for novice users working in a multi-user facility.

Workbenches

ZEN core resembles a real-life workshop: Functions are grouped into workbenches and each workbench offers a dedicated set of tools. The image (“the workpiece”) is taken from workbench to workbench to apply the required tools. You can add, remove and rearrange workbenches and tools as needed for your task.
Uniquely, ZEN core offers the ability to customize the UI to the workflows you need by creating and saving workbenches. Once there, even beginners or users spending little time on the instrument will benefit from just having to open the predefined workbenches and start working on the instrument immediately.
Image acquisition, analytics, and multi-modal, multi-scale workflows can be run by workbenches, such as Sample setup, Acquisition, EDS Processing or Reports.

Benefit from the integration of image acquisition and EDS analysis. A single harmonized interface with EDS acquisition and processing workbenches lets you collect analytical data on your ZEISS SEM quickly and easily.
Benefit from the integration of image acquisition and EDS analysis. A single harmonized interface with EDS acquisition and processing workbenches lets you collect analytical data on your ZEISS SEM quickly and easily.

Integrating Image Acquisition and EDS Analysis

Combining state-of-the-art FE-SEM and EDS technology from ZEISS and Oxford Instruments not only streamlines your EM workflows but also grants unparalleled quality of results. Acquire SEM imagery and rapidly analyze chemical composition without having to switch computers, monitors, keyboards, or software.
Now, a single interface with EDS acquisition and processing workbenches lets you collect analytical data quickly and easily. Analyze a specific ROI. Visualize the elemental composition over the entire field of view with EDS mapping. Process your data afterwards working on the tool or remotely as the Processing Workbench is hardware independent.

Watch this video to understand how you will benefit from the Navigation Workspace: Follow the mouse to understand how you can use the image of the sample holder to navigate to your ROI and start image acquisition.

Download White Paper

Comparing Segmentation Methods for Particle Analysis of Lithium Ion Battery Materials Using ZEN core

Cover page preview of the white paper 'Comparing Segmentation Methods for Particle Analysis of Lithium Ion Battery Materials using ZEN core'

Author: Tim Schubert, Aalen University, Germany

Accurate particle size measurement is vital in materials research, because it affects material properties. This study examines methods for analyzing particle size distributions and geometric features using light optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It tackles the challenges of segmenting individual particles by comparing three techniques: global thresholding, machine learning, and deep-neural-network instance segmentation in lithium-ion battery anodes.

  • Comparison of three segmentation methods
  • Analysis of particle sizes with instance segmentation
  • Segmentation of individual particles with a trained model

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Downloads

  • ZEISS ZEN core

    Software Suite for Connected Microscopy in Material Laboratories

    16 MB
  • ZEISS ZEN core

    Your Microscope Software for User-specific Repetitive Workflows in Biomedical Labs

    4 MB
  • ZEISS Microscope Software for Your Routine Laboratory - Flyer

    Get it done. Easy.

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