Release Notes for Image Lab Software
Version 6.1
January 2020
Contents
Contents.................................................................................................................................. 1
System Requirements............................................................................................................. 2
Correction for GS-900 User Guide...........................................................................................2
New and Updated Features..................................................................................................... 2
Resolved Issues....................................................................................................................... 3
Documentation........................................................................................................................ 3
Contacting Bio-Rad Technical Support.....................................................................................4
Legal Notices........................................................................................................................... 4
Introduction
Image Lab desktop software is a powerful application for image acquisition and analysis of a
wide range of laboratory gels and blots on supported Bio-Rad Laboratories imaging systems.
This version of the software also has advanced features for the normalization of western
blots using either total protein normalization or housekeeping proteins. Image Lab is free of
charge for existing Bio-Rad ChemiDoc, GelDoc, and GS-900 users.
Note: Image Lab software is for Research Use Only, and is not for use for diagnostic
purposes or as a medical device. This software is intended for a variety of applications
relevant to DNA/Protein gel electrophoresis and blot detection in a research setting.
Image Lab is used for data analysis of images generated on the ChemiDoc MP, ChemiDoc,
ChemiDoc XRS+, GelDoc Go, GelDoc XR+, and GelDoc EZ Imaging Systems along with the
GS-900 Calibrated Densitometer. Images captured by the discontinued ChemiDoc MP (non-
touch screen, 2011 model) and ChemiDoc Touch (2014 model) Imaging Systems can also be
analyzed in Image Lab v6.1.
Image Lab is also used for image acquisition on all non-touch screen Bio-Rad Imaging
Systems (ChemiDoc XRS+, GelDoc XR+, GelDoc EZ, GS-900, and the discontinued
ChemiDoc MP).
Image acquisition on all touch-screen Bio-Rad imaging systems is performed using Image
Lab Touch, another member of the Image Lab software family.
10000076958 Rev C 1
System Requirements
Install Image Lab v6.1 on a PC or Mac computer that meets or exceeds the following
requirements.
Component Windows Mac
Operating Windows 7 (64-bit) OS X 10.14, 10.15
system Windows 10 (64-bit)
Processor Intel Core i3 or equivalent Intel Core i3 or equivalent
Hard disk 60 GB 60 GB
space
Memory (RAM) 4 GB 4 GB
Screen 1280 x 1024 or higher, 128 MB video 1280 x 1024 or higher, 128 MB video
resolution RAM RAM
Image Lab v6.1 does not support instrument control on ChemiDoc MP (non-touch screen,
2011 model), ChemiDoc XRS+, and GS-900 instruments on Mac operating systems.
However, you can analyze images acquired on these imagers in Image Lab v6.1.
Correction for GS-900 User Guide
In the Technical Specifications section, the resolution spot size (in µm) should read 36.3,
42.3, 63.5, 95.1, 127.0.
New and Updated Features
Image Lab v6.1 desktop software includes the updated features described in the subsections
below. For more information, refer to the Image Lab v6.1 User Guide.
Updated Licensing in Security Edition
Licenses are now generated by Bio-Rad instead of a third party, and the software is
activated when you enter your license code during installation.
Updated User Role Restrictions
The following tasks are added back to the Role Restriction section in the Image Lab User
Guide:
Enable/disable Write Once Support
Set up and recalibrate the instrument
Create new protocols
Open existing protocols
Run protocols
Edit protocols
Create new images
Viewing GelDoc Go Images in Image Lab v6.1
Images generated from the GelDoc Go instrument can be viewed in Image Lab v6.1.
2
Resolved Issues
The following issues are resolved in v6.1.
Image Lab software is enhanced to improve the interpretation of low density reflective scans. This
ensures more accurate readings of faint bands on colorimetric blots and other reflective applications
A rounding error, which affected how the software determined band boundaries in the
lane/band tool, was corrected. In rare instances, the defect caused the software to
truncate the Rf values used for band boundary determination at the 16 th decimal place
during file save. In such instances, reopening the file resulted in a band boundary with a
slightly different position. Results are now consistent in the lane and band table and in
generated reports before and after saving the image.
Image Lab crashed when users prompted an MW Analysis from the Image Lab analysis tools in the
left panel.
Documentation
The following guides are available as PDFs in the Image Lab Software Help menu.
Information about each imaging system and how to start working with it now appears in an
instrument guide.
Image Lab Software User Guide, v6.1 ─ concepts and procedures for users of all Bio-Rad
non-touch-screen imaging systems.
GelDoc EZ Imaging System with Image Lab Software Instrument Guide
GelDoc XR+ and ChemiDoc XRS+ Imaging Systems with Image Lab Software Instrument
Guide
GS-900 Calibrated Densitometer with Image Lab Software Instrument Guide
ChemiDoc MP (no touchscreen, discontinued) Imaging System with Image Lab Software
Instrument Guide
Also included in the Help menu are links to the user guides for ChemiDoc and ChemiDoc MP
(touchscreen) and GelDoc Go (touchscreen) Imaging Systems with Image Lab Touch
Software.
ChemiDoc, ChemiDoc MP, and GelDoc Go touch screen instruments are controlled by Image
Lab Touch software. Images obtained by Image Lab Touch can be exported to Image Lab
v6.1 for more advanced analysis.
3
Contacting Bio-Rad Technical Support
The Bio-Rad Technical Support Department in the United States is open Monday through
Friday,
5:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Pacific Time. Go to [Link] for worldwide technical
support.
Phone: 1-800-424-6723, option 2
Web: [Link]
Email: Support@[Link] (United States/Canada Only)
For technical assistance outside the United States and Canada, contact your local technical
support office.
Legal Notices
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
Bio-Rad reserves the right to modify its products and services at any time. This guide is subject to change
without notice. Although prepared to ensure accuracy, Bio-Rad assumes no liability for errors or
omissions, or for any damage resulting from the application or use of this information.
BIO-RAD is a trademark of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
All trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owner.
Copyright © 2020 by Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved.
