.. index:: ICS (Image Cytometry Standard)
.. index:: .ics, .ids

ICS (Image Cytometry Standard)
===============================================================================

Extensions: .ics, .ids

Developer: P. Dean et al.


**Support**


BSD-licensed: |yes|

Export: |yes|

Officially Supported Versions: 1.0, 2.0

Reader: ICSReader (:bsd-reader:`Source Code <ICSReader.java>`, :doc:`Supported Metadata Fields </metadata/ICSReader>`)

Writer: ICSWriter (:bsd-writer:`Source Code <ICSWriter.java>`)

Freely Available Software:

- `Libics (ICS reference library) <https://svi-opensource.github.io/libics/>`_ 
- `ICS Opener plugin for ImageJ <https://valelab4.ucsf.edu/~nstuurman/IJplugins/Ics_Opener.html>`_ 
- `IrfanView <https://www.irfanview.com/>`_


We currently have:

* numerous ICS datasets
* `public sample images <https://downloads.openmicroscopy.org/images/ICS/>`__



**Ratings**


Pixels: |Outstanding|

Metadata: |Outstanding|

Openness: |Outstanding|

Presence: |Very good|

Utility: |Very good|

**Additional Information**


* ICS version 1.0 datasets have two files - an .ics file that contains 
  all of the metadata in plain-text format, and an .ids file that 
  contains all of the pixel data. 
* ICS version 2.0 datasets are a single .ics file that contains both 
  pixels and metadata. 

Commercial applications that can support ICS include: 

* `Bitplane Imaris <http://www.bitplane.com/>`_ 
* `SVI Huygens <https://svi.nl/>`_
