"In the fields of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind."
(Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)
With the World Cup underway, preparation is on full display. The best teams do not show up hoping for a lucky bounce. They study the field, make a plan, adjust when conditions change, and use every available tool to make better decisions once the match begins.
That same idea applies surprisingly well to CT. A successful scan is rarely the result of one perfect setting. More often, it comes from understanding the sample, making thoughtful choices, and knowing when to adjust. Decisions like kV, filtration, exposure, voxel size, and scan strategy all shape the quality of the final reconstruction long before the first projection image appears on screen.
This month, we are focusing on tools and resources that can help with that preparation: a new blog article on choosing kV and filters for micro-CT, an attenuation calculator shared by Francesco Iacoviello, and a few book recommendations for anyone looking to build a stronger foundation in industrial CT.
In other words, before the scan kicks off, it helps to have a game plan.
- Angela
New blog article: “How to Choose kV and Filter for your MicroCT Experiment”
I recently completed a blog articlethat walks through one of the most common questions in micro-CT setup:
The short answer is that there is no universal setting. The right choice depends on sample composition, density, thickness, the contrast you need, and the artifacts you are trying to avoid. The article introduces a practical workflow:
Identify the materials in the sample.
Estimate attenuation and transmission at several energies.
Choose a starting kV that gives enough penetration through the full sample diameter.
Add a filter to reduce low-energy photons that contribute to beam hardening.
Run short test scans at a few kV/filter combinations.
Compare results using image quality criteria such as SNR, CNR, artifact severity, and ease of segmentation.
Select the condition that best supports the analysis goal.
The main point is simple: kV and filter selection should be treated as an experimental design decision, not just an instrument setting. Too little energy can cause beam hardening, photon starvation, and streak artifacts. Too much energy can reduce contrast, especially when imaging low-density or low-Z materials. Filters help by removing low-energy photons and hardening the beam, but they also reduce intensity, which may require longer exposure or scan time.
A few minutes of planning can save hours of troubleshooting later.
Francesco is active in the X-ray imaging and CT community and often shares practical tools, examples, and technical discussions related to imaging workflows. From his post, it seems he is also a MuCalc user and wanted to create a tool that provides similar attenuation calculations in a simpler, more accessible format.
Since his first post about the Attenuation Calculator, Francesco has added new features to the tool. It is worth it to downloading the tool and trying it for yourself, especially if you regularly make kV and filter decisions for unfamiliar samples. I plan to spend more time testing it, but my first impression is that it is exactly the kind of tool CT users benefit from. It’s simple enough to support quick scan-planning decisions, but grounded in the physics that matters. Instead of relying only on intuition or inherited scan recipes, users can compare how different materials attenuate X-rays, estimate transmission, and think more deliberately about which energy range is likely to work.
That does not mean a calculator replaces test scans. Real samples have geometry, heterogeneity, detector response, source spectra, scatter, and practical instrument constraints. But attenuation tools are excellent for narrowing the search space before you begin. They help answer better first questions:
• Is my sample likely to be under-penetrated? • Am I choosing an energy that gives enough contrast between phases? • Do I need to compromise between penetration and contrast?
That is the useful role of tools like MuCalc and Francesco’s Attenuation Calculator. They do not remove the need for judgment. They make the judgment better informed.
To be efficient, inspired, and informed.
Tip of the Month: Books and references for learning industrial CT
If you are looking to build a stronger foundation in industrial CT, here are a few references worth considering:
Edited by Simone Carmignato, Wim Dewulf, and Richard Leach
A strong reference for readers who want a broad, application-focused understanding of industrial CT. This book covers CT system design, dimensional metrology, calibration, performance verification, traceability, image processing, artifacts, and practical applications. This is a good choice for users who want an all-around technical reference that connects CT principles with real industrial measurement and inspection challenges.
A detailed reference for readers who want to better understand how CT systems work from acquisition through analysis. This book covers CT hardware, imaging geometry, reconstruction, image processing, and related software techniques for scientific and industrial applications. This is a good choice for users who want a deeper look at the technical choices that shape CT data quality and interpretation.
Per Christian Hansen, Jakob Sauer Jørgensen, William R. B. Lionheart
A strong reference for readers who want to better understand the reconstruction side of CT. This book focuses on the algorithms behind image formation, including filtered back-projection, iterative reconstruction, regularization, limited-data problems, and the effects of noise. This is a good choice for users who want to move beyond acquisition settings and develop a deeper understanding of how projection data becomes a reconstructed volume.
Real Scientists, Not Actors
A collection of priceless and embarrassing moments curated by Sam Robles.
Louis Pasteur (1822 – 1895) was a 19th-century French chemist and microbiologist whose work helped establish the germ theory of disease and transformed fields ranging from medicine to food safety. He is best known for developing pasteurization, advancing the understanding of fermentation and microorganisms, and contributing to early vaccines for diseases such as anthrax and rabies. Pasteur’s quote, “In the fields of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind,” is a fitting reminder that discovery often depends not just on luck, but on preparation, careful observation, and the ability to recognize what the data are telling us.
"In the fields of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind."
That's a wrap. Please let us know how we can help you learn more about X-ray CT. We love to hear from you!
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