Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics

A national research center for biomedical fluorescence spectroscopy at the University of California, Irvine

Globals for Images

Globals for Images · SimFCS

Software for fluorescence image analysis, visualization, simulation, and acquisition.

  • Many Tutorials
  • Fluorescence data analysis, simulation, and acquisition
  • Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)
  • Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) and Phasor plots
  • Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
  • Generalized Polarization (GP) and Spectral Phasors
  • Number and Brightness (N&B)
  • Photon Counting Histogram (PCH)
  • Raster and Spatio-temporal Image Correlation Spectroscopy (RICS and STICS)
  • Single Particle and Modulation Tracking (SPT, MT)
  • Image Mean Square Displacement (iMSD)
  • Pair correlation function (pCF)
Globals for Airyscan

Globals for Airyscan

Image correlation analysis for the ZEISS™ LSM 880 Airyscan detector by Enrico Gratton and Lorenzo Scipioni.

  • Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)
  • Image Mean Square Displacement (iMSD)
  • Pair correlation function (pCF)
  • Number and Brightness (N&B)
Globals for Spectroscopy

Globals for Spectroscopy

Software for the analysis of data from time and frequency domain fluorometry, stopped flow kinetics, photon migration, and anisotropy decay.

  • Marquardt and Simplex minimization
  • Rigorous error analysis
  • Sum of exponential decay rates
  • Continuous distribution of decay rates
  • Discrete or distributed rotational rates
  • Discrete or distributed quenching processes
  • Anisotropy decay with energy transfer
  • Excited-state reactions and energy transfer
  • Associative and non-associative decay rate
  • Extensive linking capabilities, function and tables

Sponsors

We gratefully acknowledge the sponsorship of the following organizations:

Globals Software · G-SOFT Inc.

Globals Software

Globals Software is scientific software for the analysis, acquisition, simulation, and visualization of data from spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy.

There are three separate versions of Globals Software for the Windows operating system: 

  • Globals for Images· SimFCS: fluorescence image analysis, visualization, simulation, and acquisition.
  • Globals for Airyscan: Image correlation analysis for the ZEISS™ LSM 880 Airyscan detector.
  • Globals for Spectroscopy: analysis of data from time and frequency domain fluorometry, stopped flow kinetics, photon migration, and anisotropy decay.

Download Installers

The installers for Globals Software include tutorials and help files.

Please read the requirements and compatibility notes.

Refer to the latest tutorials for additional documentation.

Download Archive

These files are still available for specific purposes.

Python Modules

SimFCS relies on Python scripts for the conversion of some file formats. To run those scripts, install Python 3.9 64-bit and the required libraries via the command line "py -m pip install -U simfcs"

The lfdfiles library for Python can be used to read and write many of the proprietary file formats used to store experimental data and metadata at the LFD.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements for Globals for Images · SimFCS 4, Globals for Airyscan, and Globals for Spectroscopy (64-bit)

  • Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 Professional 64-bit operating system
  • Latest Windows updates incl. the Universal C Runtime (KB2999226)
  • Intel Core 2 Duo CPU (dual-core)
  • 8 GB RAM
  • 1280x1024 pixels display
  • OpenGL 1.2 compatible graphics card and latest display driver
  • Administrator rights for installation and registration

Recommended for image analysis with Globals for Images · SimFCS 4

  • Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit operating system
  • Intel Core i7 4th generation "Haswell" CPU (quad-core with AVX, AVX2, FMA) or better
  • 16 GB RAM or more
  • 512 GB solid-state disk (SSD) or larger
  • 1920x1200 pixels display
  • Intel HD Graphics or NVIDIA GeForce graphics card with latest drivers

Minimum Requirements for Globals for Images · SimFCS 3

  • Microsoft Windows XP Pro SP3 32-bit operating system
  • Intel Core 2 Duo CPU (dual-core)
  • 4 GB RAM
  • 1280x1024 pixels display
  • OpenGL 1.2 compatible graphics card and latest display driver
  • Administrator rights for installation and registration

Minimum Requirements for Globals for Images · SimFCS 2

  • Microsoft Windows XP Pro SP3 32-bit operating system
  • Intel Pentium 4 HT CPU
  • 2 GB RAM
  • 1280x1024 pixels display
  • OpenGL 1.2 compatible graphics card and latest display driver
  • Administrator rights for installation

Minimum Requirements for Globals for Spectroscopy (32-bit)

  • Windows XP Pro SP3 operating system
  • Intel Pentium IV CPU
  • 1 GB RAM
  • 1024x768 pixels display
  • Administrator rights for installation

Miscellaneous Notes

Globals for Images · SimFCS Notes

  • SimFCS 4 · License key no longer required
    As of version June 24, 2020, SimFCS 4 no longer requires registration with a license key.
  • SimFCS 4 · 64-bit support
    Version 4 of the software was released on April 29, 2015. It requires 64-bit Windows. This is a free upgrade for licensed users of version 3. All new developments will be included in this version only.
  • SimFCS 3 · New licenses
    Version 3 of the software was released on May 10, 2013. It uses a new licensing scheme and requires registration with a new serial number.
  • Registration requirements for SimFCS 3 and SimFCS 4 < 6/24/2020:
    • The software can be used for 30 days without registration. To continue using the software beyond the 30-day trial period, the software must be registered with a software license key.
    • To register the software, open the "SimFCS Registration" program from the "SimFCS #" folder in the Windows start menu. Enter your name (in the "licensee name" field) and the software license key (in the "serial number" field), and then press the "Register" button. Registration requires administrator privileges and a working Internet connection. Once registered, the software can be used without internet connection or administrator privileges.
    • During the registration process, the hardware of the computer on which the software is installed is bound to the license. The registration cannot be undone and the license cannot be transferred to another computer. Therefore, use the 30-day trial period to test the software before registering. Do not register again with another license key if the software is already registered.
    • On multi-user computers, only evaluate the software in one user account and register the computer using the same user account before other users can use the software.
    • Customers who purchased Globals for Images · SimFCS licenses for $2000 before May 10, 2013 directly from the Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics can request a new license key for version 3 and 4 at lfd@uci.eduat no additional cost. Proof of purchase is required. The new serial number can be used to register up to 8 computers. When 8 computers are registered with the new serial number, a new license is required to register additional computers.
  • The installer programs require administrator privileges. The installers will automatically prompt for administrator credentials.
  • Non-administrator users must be granted "modify" permissions to the program directory (usually "C:\Program Files\SimFCS#"). The installers will automatically try to change those permissions on the installation directory. If that fails, in Windows Explorer, right click on the installation directory and select "Properties" and then the "Security" tab. Select the "Users" group and check the "Allow Modify" permission. This requires administrator privileges.
  • Make sure no instances of SimFCS software are running before running the installer program.
  • Windows Home and Tablet editions are not recommended or supported.
  • The software does not yet fully support non-English language systems. The operating system must use US decimal symbol (".") and digit grouping (","). These can be set in the "Regional and Language Options" control panel.
  • It is recommended to use the "Windows Classic" theme with default scale font size (96 dpi). These can be set in the "Display" respectively "Personalization" control panels.
  • In order to use version 3 in data acquisition mode, devcon.exe must be executed once with administrator privileges. Installation of additional drivers for data acquisition hardware such as Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy), Becker Hickl TCSPC, ISS cards, and PixeLink might be required. Depending on the type of acquisition hardware, one or more of the following dummy DLL files need to be deleted from the installation directory: nidaq32.dll, PimMegaApi.dll, and spcm32.dll.
  • In case Windows' Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is turned on for all programs and services, the simfcs.exe file must be explicitly excluded from DEP.
  • Globals software has been reported to run in analysis and simulation mode under the Wine compatibility layer under Linux, as well as Windows 7 running under VirtualPC, VMware Workstation, and the Parallels Desktop for MacOS X. These configurations are not supported and cannot be used for data acquisition.

Globals for Spectroscopy Notes

  • License key no longer required
    As of version August 27, 2020, Globals for Spectroscopy no longer requires registration with a license key.
  • 64-bit support
    A 64-bit version of the software was released on April 29, 2015. It requires 64-bit Windows. All new developments will be included in this version only.
  • The software does not yet fully support non-English language systems or working with non-administrator privileges.
  • Windows Home and Tablet editions are not recommended or supported.
  • The installer program, globals-setup.exe, must be run with administrator privileges. Either log on as a local administrator before installation or right click the downloaded installer executable and select "Run as" providing administrator credentials.
  • If the software is to be used by non-administrator users, those users must be granted "modify" permissions to the program directory (usually "C:\Program Files\Globals"). In Windows Explorer, right click on the installation directory and select "Properties" and then the "Security" tab. Select the "Users" group and check the "Allow Modify" permission. This requires administrator privileges.
  • The operating system must use US decimal symbol (".") and digit grouping (","). These can be set in the "Regional and Language Options" control panel.
  • It is recommended to use the "Windows Classic" theme with default scale font size (96 dpi). These can be set in the "Display" respectively "Personalization" control panels.