ZEN Microscopy Software
Your Complete Solution from Sample to Knowledge
ZEN is the universal user interface you will see on every imaging system from ZEISS. For simple and routine works, ZEN leads you straight to result. For complex research experiments, ZEN offers the flexibility to design multi-dimensional workflows the way you wanted. No matter what microscopy task you have, you will find intuitive tools and modules to assist you:
Smart Acquisition
Make your most complex experiments a success
Operate every one of your devices with the same convenient interface. Smart Setup, the intelligent control center, will automatically generate the settings for you, regardless of the microscope types. Aiming for reproducible experiments? So long as you have one raw image from a previous acquisition, a simple click lets you replicate the exact experiment precisely. You will find plenty of other smart automation, some guide you for rare events detection, and others assist you with hardware calibration.
Quantitative Processing
Obtain reliable and reproducible results
More than 180 image processing tools help you transform and manage your data. Simply search the keyword of your intended method, e.g., kymograph or deconvolution, ZEN will lead you straight to it. ZEN will read the metadata of the input image, then display only the logical processing steps, and optimize the default parameters automatically. You can even process images from other platforms using third-party import tools. With a dedicated workspace, you can also batch process multiple images with ease for quantitative and unbiased results.
Powerful Visualization
Interact with your big data confidently
Quickly generate a huge 2D tile scan with multi-channels at high magnification, and smoothly zoom in and out with a simple mouse scroll, just like using a map application on your smartphone. Having 200 GB of cleared mouse brain data? Just load it in ZEN – you will be amazed by the speed and clarity of the various 3D rendering methods. Powered by arivis ImageCore technology and efficient use of system resources, you can view your large 3D images even on regular consumer hardware.
Effortless Analysis
Gain insight into your research efficiently
Image analysis is essential to extract meaningful information from your microscopy images, via digital tools of segmentation and registration. ZEN addresses this with the simple and modular Bio Apps. Each Bio App is optimized for one type of application, e.g., cell counting or confluency measurement, with tailored segmentation settings and streamlined data presentation. The wizard-based ZEN Image Analysis module guides you step by step to create your unique measurements.
Unique Correlative Microscopy
Combine perspectives across scales and modalities
ZEN overlays, navigates, and organizes your multimodal data. Spending days painfully locating synapses between two special neurons for the ultrastructural information? You can substantially improve your efficiency by combining the large field of view of a widefield fluorescent microscope and the high resolving power of a field emission electron microscope. ZEN lets you quickly overview the whole slice with fluorescent markers, identifying and relocating ROIs for EM imaging.
Secure Storage
Stay confident when dealing with complex data
ZEN stores each of your valuable experiments with all its metadata.
The .czi file format is Bio-Formats compatible and can be read directly by ImageJ, and much other third-party software. Export your data into OME-TIFF (Open Microscopy Environment) to further facilitate cross-platform image data exchange.
To manage massive amounts of data, ZEN provides a server-based central platform to store and organize your raw data and manage user access right; while ZEN Data Explorer grants browser-based access from anywhere.
New Packaging Structure
Simplified Access to Endless Possibilities
ZEN software provides a comprehensive end-to-end solution for any microscopy user, continuously evolving to address emerging life science applications with added features, e.g., automated smart acquisition, intuitive image analysis, and cloud-based data management. However, the increased capabilities also make the ZEN ecosystem complex. With ZEN version 3.6, you get simplified options that make the numerous capabilities of the software more accessible. Many ZEN modules show great synergy and have been frequently combined to get your specific job done. Using that as the guiding principle, we have consolidated all the powerful software functionalities into a simple set of acquisition, toolkit, and application packages tailored to your experiments. The packages come with a substantial price saving compared to the individual modules, so you can get more value for your investment.
Less Trouble to Convince Your Boss
ZEN Packages
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Base
Perform basic image acquisition of multi-channel fluorescence and time-lapse experiments with manual, coded, and motorized microscopes.Motorized Focus
Acquire images of multi-channel fluorescence, time-lapse and z-stack experiments, with software autofocus, extended depth of focus processing, and direct processing.Motorized
Acquire images of multi-channel fluorescence, time-lapse, z-stack, tile scan, and multi-position experiments with software autofocus, extended depth of focus processing, and direct processing.Advanced
Acquire images of multi-channel fluorescence, time-lapse, z-stack, tile scan, multi-position, and confocal HDR experiments with software autofocus, extended depth of focus processing, direct processing, and colocalization analysis.Smart
Configure inhomogeneous acquisition experiments with a simple user interface, and perform adaptive and automated acquisition using image analysis or Python scripting tools. -
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/4D image stacks with advanced rendering tools, and perform 3D image analysis guided by an intuitive software wizard.Vision4D
Visualize and analyze 3D/4D data of unlimited size with the flexible pipelines and machine learning tools of the stand-alone Vision4D software platform.AI
Segment, classify, and denoise images based on deep learning algorithms accessible through a dedicated user interface for training AI models.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.Developer
Customize and automate image acquisition, processing, and analysis with a dedicated Python script editor for recording, debugging, and code completion.Molecular Quantification
Acquire and analyze molecular dynamics using FRAP, FRET, and ratio imaging within a dedicated analysis workspace using the most established algorithms.Deconvolution
Intuitively enhance the resolution of 2D and 3D data down to 120 nm using 15 published deconvolution algorithms, powered by efficient multi-CPU/multi-GPU processing. -
Bio Apps
Perform out-of-the-box cell counting, confluency measurement, spot detection, and gene/protein expression with AI-based segmentation and tailored result presentation.
Newest ZEN Release Highlights
Find out if you can benefit from the latest features available with the most current ZEN release.
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Floating Licenses
Gain user flexibility and better use of workstation resources
The introduction of Floating Licenses for ZEN and its toolkit packages expands the usage models in your institution. Where ZEN users were formerly restricted to a particular workstation, you are no longer limited and may now use your infrastructure resources much more flexibly.Image Compression by Zstandard
Use the full potential of your imaging system
Advanced imaging systems acquisition rates can easily outpace data storage speeds, thereby limiting large data experiments. ZEN is now equipped with lossless and fast Zstandard compression. Up to 20-fold compression ratios accelerate data storage and optimize data economy. Zstandard comes built-in with both the Direct Processing module and ZEISS Lattice Lightsheet 7 systems. It is also optionally available for any data in .czi format.Class selection for detailed scans: green-positive cells next to dark areas
Smart Acquisition Package
Improvements for Guided Acquisition workflows
The Guided Acquisition module has been equipped with new features to perform even more complex Smart Imaging workflows. For this, it now comes with fully developed class selection in the Image Analysis Wizard and allows precise adjustments on how much detailed acquisitions should be run.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Readiness
Open Model architecture enables model exchange
Deep Learning tools have become ubiquitously available in image analysis software, and the ZEISS software portfolio is no exception. To foster simple model exchange, ZEN and Vision4D are compatible with APEER Deep Learning and 3rd party models. Apply your favorite models in established workflows free of charge.