Net-Base

netScope is a German software company that develops the netScope® Viewer, a whole slide imaging (WSI) viewer application for microscopy slides. The software is designed for use in digital pathology contexts including histopathology, veterinary pathology, and fish pathology, and is available as a desktop application for Microsoft Windows as well as a browser-based cloud version. The product was originally developed in response to requests from ZEISS Axio Scan users and continues to be shaped by ongoing customer input.

The core philosophy behind netScope® is to open microscopic files directly with all channels, without requiring prior conversion. The software handles image pyramid (downsampling) formats common across different scanner manufacturers and supports a wide range of proprietary and open file formats used in spatial biology and highly multiplexed microscopy.

Supported File Formats

• CZI – originally developed and optimised for ZEISS Axio Scan data; all CZI variants are supported
• MRXS – ZEISS/Mirax legacy format
• QPTIFF – Perkin-Elmer Vectra / Akoya Biosciences, with full channel support
• DICOM – standard medical imaging format
• Big-TIFF / Philips TIFF – large tile-based TIFF slides
• NDPI – Hamamatsu NanoZoomer format
• SVS / AFI – Aperio formats
• SCN – Leica format
• BIF – Roche Ventana format
• SVSLIDE – Sakura Virtual Slide format
• VMS / VMU – NanoZoomer formats
• IBL – provisionally implemented; additional sample data required

Viewer Capabilities and Tools

• Fluorescence histogram tools and histogram modification
• T-Stack and Z-Stack viewing functions
• Flexible zoom functionality
• Slide rotation without loading delays
• Annotation and measurement tools
• Coupling of multiple slides for simultaneous viewing and editing
• Management of display settings

Slide Management Features

• Folder-based slide navigation similar to Windows Explorer
• Zoomable thumbnail previews
• Toggle between list view and thumbnail view
• Quick search and filtering of slides
• Rating and categorisation of slides

Export Functionality

• High-quality image export in multiple formats
• Export triggerable via keyboard shortcut
• Save and export of all viewer settings
• User-defined resolution output
• Selective inclusion or exclusion of viewer tools in exports
• Snapshot function for extracting specific image regions
• Dedicated fluorescence export option

Deployment and Sharing Options

• Desktop application for Microsoft Windows (single-user and multi-user licensing)
• netScope® Server – self-hosted option allowing organisations to keep data within their own infrastructure
• netScope® Cloud – browser-based web viewer hosted by Net-Base, which has over 35 years of hosting experience
• Both options support sharing of whole slide imaging data with colleagues or externally

Licensing Options (Windows Desktop)

• netScope® Viewer Student – free single-user licence available with proof of enrolment
• netScope® Viewer Pro (single seat) – €349 for the first year (including VAT), €99 per subsequent year
• netScope® Viewer Pro (10-seat pack) – €2,999 for the first year (including VAT), €899 per subsequent year
• All paid licences include one year of updates and support; payment via SEPA direct debit, with PayPal and Visa available on request

netScope® serves customers across research and clinical settings working with spatial biology and digital pathology data, and supports scanner formats from manufacturers including ZEISS, Mirax, Aperio, Akoya Biosciences, Leica, Roche, Philips, Perkin-Elmer, Hamamatsu, Sakura, and NanoZoomer.