How to send an image from Igor (displayed on one monitor) to a second monitor?

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Wed, 08/21/2013 - 08:42 am

Hi there,

I would like to write a program with Igor Pro in order to communicate with a spatial light modulator (SLM) from Hamamatsu. The program should be able to send images from Igor to the SLM and vice-versa (to receive images from the SLM to Igor).
Basically, the SLM works as a second display monitor connected to a computer via a digital visual interface (DVI). The computer is also connected to a pimary display monitor, on which Igor works. Both monitors display different information.
I do not know if it possible to do that with Igor (although nothing is impossible with Igor), but what would be the best way to do it? Maybe is there an XOP that has been already written for this purpose?

Thanks a lot.
You should start by stating what OS this is running on: If you are on a Mac, all you have to do is to create a new image plot and move the window to the coordinates of the second monitor (and use zoom if necessary). If you are running on Windows than you have to first extend the silly MDI to cover your second monitor and then position the image window as necessary.

I suspect that in both cases you would be better off writing an XOP. My experience with SLM applications is that you often want to expand the image to the full size of the monitor. This is usually not possible with standard graph windows because they require a frame, drag/title bar, etc., that are completely undesirable with the SLM. When you write an XOP you can choose the window style and possibly use display modes that fill the monitor display area without drawing any window boundaries. An XOP would also allow you better control over the speed/timing of image display.

A.G.
WaveMetrics, Inc.

August 21, 2013 at 09:50 am - Permalink