frequently asked questions

How to calibrate and why is it important?
Calibration is a procedure that allows you to “tell” the program the number of pixels between two points of the image. When you click on the button “Calibrate” our program will then ask you to click on two separate points of the image and then to provide the distance between said points. This is done so that the image you have uploaded is calibrated to its actual size and the lineal measurements are exact.

If you scan your x-ray in a scanner with transparency adapter, we recommend to do it at 144 ppp (144 dpi) resolution, in 8 bit Grayscale and save it in (.jpg, .png, .jpeg) format and select medium compression (6 in a 1 to 10 scale). At the time of loading of the X-ray imaging must correctly enter the data of the image resolution and thus you do not need to calibrate. If you obtain the image directly from a digital cephalometric x-ray machine, we recommend to calibrate using the “ruler” that these systems add on to the image. If your image doesn’t have this “ruler” and you have the physical x-ray, we recommend the following procedure:

a- Measure the distance between the points Sella and Nasion in millimetres directly on the x-ray (e.g. 58 mm). You could use other points but we recommend these two because the distance is usually greater than 50mm and this way the calibration is more accurate.

b- Calibrate clicking on the “Calibrate” button. The program will then ask you to click on the first point and then on the second point and to provide the distance between them in millimetres, then click on “Ok”. You will then see a number appear in the “Resolution” field which will indicate the number of pixels between those two points (resolution). You’re image should now be calibrated. Click on “Digitize Points” and then provide the points and lines required.

The lineal measurements results from my analyses are very incongruous (inconsistent), why is that?
This is because your image comes from a different source than a personal scanner, most probably from a digital x-ray machine (system) and calibration has not been carried out. Calibrate using one of the methods described in the answer to the first question (above) to solve the problem.
I have provided all the points and lines but forgot to calibrate, do I have to repeat the entire process?
No, you can calibrate after you’ve provided all the points and even after you’ve selected the analysis of your preference. Click on “Calibrate” and follow the calibration process. Once it’s done you’ll see how the lineal cephalometric values change automatically and correspond to the actual size. You must, however, generate the templates again if you had done it already.
What happens if I don’t calibrate the image correctly?
If the calibration was necessary because your image came from a digital x-ray machine and not a personal scanner then it’s very likely that the angular measurements of your analysis are correct but not the lineal measurements.
The analysis of my preferences isn’t amongst the ones you offer.
EasyCheph© will be adding new analyses as needs demand. We encourage you to get in touch with us through the “Contact” section and share your thoughts and that way you’ll be helping us keep a record of your requirements so that we can meet your needs
When will the bill be debited from my account (for a finished job)?
When you generate your first cephalometric analysis of the current status, one (1) quota will be deducted
Will it cost twice as much to have both lateral and frontal analyses done per patient?
No, you can have frontal and lateral analyses per patient for the same price, all you need to do is upload both images in the “Upload” section before you click on the “Trace” button. This will open two separate digitalizing windows corresponding to each image to be traced (lateral and frontal) and you will only be charged for one case (patient).
Are the measurements generated by easyceph® reliable?
The results easyceph® has generated have been tested in multiple essays and have been proved to be at least as reliable as those obtained manually, as long as the calibration process has been done correctly when calibration has been needed. Obviously nothing is inerrable, if there is ever a case in which you notice inconsistencies we would appreciate notification to study such problem, determine in which conditions it presents itself and correct it to improve the application’s performance.
Which scanner of the ones available in the market do you recommend?
We recommend the Epson© Perfection V700 Photo Scanner (USB 2.0/FireWire) or the previous models: Epson© Perfection 4990 Photo and Epson© Expression 1680 professional. (Epson© registered trademarks), we also recommend Microtek© scanner models with transparency adapter.
What are the recommended parameters for scanning x-rays?
We recommend that x-rays be scanned at 144 ppp (144 dpi) in an 8 bit Grayscale, (.jpg, .png, .jpeg) format and medium compression (6 in a 1 to 10 sacle). this will provide a very sharp and light image that will be easily uploaded to our server.
Can I use easyceph® for images obtained through direct photographs on a light box?
You can use the program with a digital photograph of the x-ray so long as you know the distance between two points for the calibration (e.g. distance Sella-Nasion), however it is not the most exact method. You can also calibrate by taking the picture with a ruler on the x-ray to use in the calibration process.
Is there a method to obtain a digital cephalometric trace with easyceph® if I don’t have a transparencies scanner or a digital camera?
If all you have is a normal scanner you can still enjoy the benefits of having a reliable digital cephalometric trace using the following procedure: Place an acetate sheet over the x-ray and over a light box copy onto it the anatomic regions required. Place a white sheet of paper over the acetate sheet, scan and save the image in a (.jpg, .png, .jpeg) format. You can use the software with the resulting image.
Are the generated templates in actual size?
The #1 and #3 templates are in actual size. The #2 template is reduced in size to be able to show all the diagnostic information it contains: patient measurements, sex, race and age norms, clinical deviations according to the norm and interpretation of each measurement as a diagnostic aid.
Is there a scanning service available in case most x-rays aren’t available in digital format?
There are places you can go that provide an x-ray scanning service. For best results, remember to ask them to use the parameters recommended by us: a resolution of 144 dpi in an 8 bit Grayscale.
What do I need to start using easyceph?
Before you start working with easyceph®, please check the System Requirements .