How you work with the software
This guide walks you through the typical flow of a darkfield session with darkfield.ch — from start to finished PDF report. The software is deliberately kept lean: you should be operating the microscope, not the computer.
The typical session flow
Pick a client
From the list or create a new entry. Name, date of birth, optional case notes — that is all the app needs to index the session.
Start the session
One click on „New session". The date is set, a structured folder is prepared. No more filename wrangling.
Record
The microscope live view appears in the app. Single image via the camera button, video via the record button. Files land in the current session automatically.
Label patterns
The app suggests interesting regions and shows similar cases from your earlier sessions next to them. Confirm with ✓, dismiss with ✗, or correct the label.
Add notes
Free-text entry for overall impression, remarks, recommendations. A quality hint warns you if exposure or focus would limit the interpretation.
Export the report
PDF with the most important shots, markers and your report text. Directly printable or as a file for the client file.
Pattern recognition: how it learns
The software starts with a neutral pattern recogniser (the DINOv2 model). The more often you confirm, correct or dismiss, the sharper suggestions get on your device. Local learning:
- only happens when you set a label,
- stays entirely local — no uploads,
- is reversible: individual feedback entries can be corrected or deleted later.
If you also take part in the community exchange, the app combines your local knowledge with the distilled experience of the participating practitioners — more: Community.
Keeping recording quality high
The app checks every recording for basic quality criteria and warns you when:
- the image is over- or underexposed,
- focus is off,
- contrast is too low for reliable pattern recognition,
- likely preparation artefacts dominate the image.
These hints do not replace your judgement — they complement it. You can redo a shot at any time, or document an image despite a warning if it carries meaning for you.
Export and archival
Every session sits on your device as a structured folder: raw images, videos, metadata, PDF report. For practice archival that means:
External backup
Copy the data folder to an external drive or NAS regularly. Takes seconds.
Per-client export
Export a single client record as a ZIP — for a practice handover or for review.
Switching language
The interface supports German and English. Pick your preferred language in the settings — patient data is unaffected.