- bump bioformats to 8.3.0

- rust: command line binary, save as mp4, save as tiff, ome metadata, more methods for View, bugfixes, less unsafe code
- python: ome as dict

Cargo.toml

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 [package]
 name = "ndbioimage"
-version = "2025.4.1"
-edition = "2021"
-rust-version = "1.78.0"
+version = "2025.8.0"
+edition = "2024"
+rust-version = "1.85.1"
 authors = ["Wim Pomp <w.pomp@nki.nl>"]
 license = "MIT"
 description = "Read bio image formats using the bio-formats java package."
@@ -19,20 +19,28 @@ name = "ndbioimage"
 crate-type = ["cdylib", "rlib"]
 
 [dependencies]
-anyhow = "1.0.98"
+anyhow = { version = "1.0.99", features = ["backtrace"] }
+clap = { version = "4.5.45", features = ["derive"] }
+ffmpeg-sidecar = { version = "2.1.0", optional = true }
 itertools = "0.14.0"
-indexmap = {  version = "2.9.0", features = ["serde"] }
+indexmap = { version = "2.0.0", features = ["serde"] }
+indicatif = { version = "0.18.0", features = ["rayon"], optional = true }
 j4rs = "0.22.0"
-ndarray = {  version = "0.16.1", features = ["serde"] }
+ndarray = { version = "0.16.1", features = ["serde"] }
 num = "0.4.3"
-numpy = { version = "0.24.0", optional = true }
+numpy = { version = "0.25.0", optional = true }
+ordered-float = "5.0.0"
+rayon = { version = "1.11.0", optional = true }
 serde = { version = "1.0.219", features = ["rc"] }
-serde_json = { version = "1.0.140", optional = true }
+serde_json = { version = "1.0.143", optional = true }
 serde_with = "3.12.0"
-thread_local = "1.1.8"
+tiffwrite = { version = "2025.5.0", optional = true}
+thread_local = "1.1.9"
+ome-metadata = "0.2.2"
+lazy_static = "1.5.0"
 
 [dependencies.pyo3]
-version = "0.24.2"
+version = "0.25.1"
 features = ["extension-module", "abi3-py310", "generate-import-lib", "anyhow"]
 optional = true
 
@@ -40,10 +48,17 @@ optional = true
 rayon = "1.10.0"
 
 [build-dependencies]
-anyhow = "1.0.98"
+anyhow = "1.0.99"
 j4rs = "0.22.0"
+ffmpeg-sidecar = "2.1.0"
 retry = "2.1.0"
 
 [features]
-python = ["dep:pyo3", "dep:numpy", "dep:serde_json"]
+# Enables formats for which code in bioformats with a GPL license is needed
 gpl-formats = []
+# Enables python ffi using pyO3
+python = ["dep:pyo3", "dep:numpy", "dep:serde_json"]
+# Enables writing as tiff
+tiff = ["dep:tiffwrite", "dep:indicatif", "dep:rayon"]
+# Enables writing as mp4 using ffmpeg
+movie = ["dep:ffmpeg-sidecar"]

build.rs

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #[cfg(not(feature = "python"))]
-use j4rs::{errors::J4RsError, JvmBuilder, MavenArtifact, MavenArtifactRepo, MavenSettings};
+use j4rs::{JvmBuilder, MavenArtifact, MavenArtifactRepo, MavenSettings, errors::J4RsError};
 
 #[cfg(not(feature = "python"))]
 use retry::{delay, delay::Exponential, retry};
@@ -7,44 +7,50 @@ use retry::{delay, delay::Exponential, retry};
 #[cfg(feature = "python")]
 use j4rs::Jvm;
 
+#[cfg(feature = "movie")]
+use ffmpeg_sidecar::download::auto_download;
+
 fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     println!("cargo::rerun-if-changed=build.rs");
 
-    #[cfg(not(feature = "python"))]
     if std::env::var("DOCS_RS").is_err() {
+        #[cfg(feature = "movie")]
+        auto_download()?;
+
+        #[cfg(not(feature = "python"))]
         retry(
             Exponential::from_millis(1000).map(delay::jitter).take(4),
             deploy_java_artifacts,
-        )?
-    }
+        )?;
 
-    #[cfg(feature = "python")]
-    {
-        let py_src_path = std::env::current_dir()?.join("py").join("ndbioimage");
-        let py_jassets_path = py_src_path.join("jassets");
-        let py_deps_path = py_src_path.join("deps");
-        if py_jassets_path.exists() {
-            std::fs::remove_dir_all(&py_jassets_path)?;
-        }
-        if py_deps_path.exists() {
-            std::fs::remove_dir_all(&py_deps_path)?;
-        }
-
-        Jvm::copy_j4rs_libs_under(py_src_path.to_str().unwrap())?;
-
-        // rename else maturin will ignore them
-        for file in std::fs::read_dir(&py_deps_path)? {
-            let f = file?.path().to_str().unwrap().to_string();
-            if !f.ends_with("_") {
-                std::fs::rename(&f, std::format!("{f}_"))?;
+        #[cfg(feature = "python")]
+        {
+            let py_src_path = std::env::current_dir()?.join("py").join("ndbioimage");
+            let py_jassets_path = py_src_path.join("jassets");
+            let py_deps_path = py_src_path.join("deps");
+            if py_jassets_path.exists() {
+                std::fs::remove_dir_all(&py_jassets_path)?;
+            }
+            if py_deps_path.exists() {
+                std::fs::remove_dir_all(&py_deps_path)?;
             }
-        }
 
-        // remove so we don't include too much accidentally
-        for file in std::fs::read_dir(&py_jassets_path)? {
-            let f = file?.path();
-            if !f.file_name().unwrap().to_str().unwrap().starts_with("j4rs") {
-                std::fs::remove_file(&f)?;
+            Jvm::copy_j4rs_libs_under(py_src_path.to_str().unwrap())?;
+
+            // rename else maturin will ignore them
+            for file in std::fs::read_dir(&py_deps_path)? {
+                let f = file?.path().to_str().unwrap().to_string();
+                if !f.ends_with("_") {
+                    std::fs::rename(&f, std::format!("{f}_"))?;
+                }
+            }
+
+            // remove so we don't include too much accidentally
+            for file in std::fs::read_dir(&py_jassets_path)? {
+                let f = file?.path();
+                if !f.file_name().unwrap().to_str().unwrap().starts_with("j4rs") {
+                    std::fs::remove_file(&f)?;
+                }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -55,15 +61,16 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 #[cfg(not(feature = "python"))]
 fn deploy_java_artifacts() -> Result<(), J4RsError> {
     let jvm = JvmBuilder::new()
+        .skip_setting_native_lib()
         .with_maven_settings(MavenSettings::new(vec![MavenArtifactRepo::from(
             "openmicroscopy::https://artifacts.openmicroscopy.org/artifactory/ome.releases",
         )]))
         .build()?;
 
-    jvm.deploy_artifact(&MavenArtifact::from("ome:bioformats_package:8.1.0"))?;
+    jvm.deploy_artifact(&MavenArtifact::from("ome:bioformats_package:8.3.0"))?;
 
     #[cfg(feature = "gpl-formats")]
-    jvm.deploy_artifact(&MavenArtifact::from("ome:formats-gpl:8.1.0"))?;
+    jvm.deploy_artifact(&MavenArtifact::from("ome:formats-gpl:8.3.0"))?;
 
     Ok(())
 }

py/ndbioimage/ome.py

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from ome_metadata import ome_metadata_rs as rs  # noqa
+from collections import UserDict, UserList
+
+
+class Ome(UserDict):
+    @staticmethod
+    def from_xml(xml: str) -> Ome:
+        """Create the OME structure from an XML string"""
+        new = Ome()
+        new.update(rs.ome(str(xml)))
+        return new
+
+    def __dir__(self) -> list[str]:
+        return list(self.keys()) + list(super().__dir__())
+
+    def __getattr__(self, key: str) -> Ome | OmeList | int | float | str:
+        try:
+            new = self.__getitem__(key)
+        except KeyError:
+            raise AttributeError(f"'Ome' object has no attribute '{key}'")
+        if isinstance(new, dict):
+            return Ome(**new)
+        elif isinstance(new, list):
+            return OmeList(new)
+        else:
+            return new
+
+
+class OmeList(UserList):
+    def __getitem__(self, item: int) -> Ome | OmeList | int | float | str:
+        new = super().__getitem__(item)
+        if isinstance(new, dict):
+            return Ome(**new)
+        elif isinstance(new, list):
+            return OmeList(new)
+        else:
+            return new

pyproject.toml

@@ -27,16 +27,9 @@ classifiers = [
 dynamic = ["version"]
 dependencies = [
     "numpy",
-    "pandas",
     "tiffwrite",
-    "ome-types",
-    "pint",
+    "ome-metadata >= 0.2.1",
     "tqdm",
-    "lxml",
-    "pyyaml",
-    "parfor",
-    "SimpleITK-SimpleElastix",
-    "scikit-image",
 ]
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]

src/axes.rs

@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 use crate::stats::MinMax;
-use anyhow::{anyhow, Error, Result};
+use anyhow::{Error, Result, anyhow};
 use ndarray::{Array, Dimension, Ix2, SliceInfo, SliceInfoElem};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize, Serializer};
 use serde_with::{DeserializeAs, SerializeAs};
+use std::fmt::{Display, Formatter};
 use std::hash::{Hash, Hasher};
 use std::str::FromStr;
 
@@ -51,6 +52,20 @@ impl FromStr for Axis {
     }
 }
 
+impl Display for Axis {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        let s = match self {
+            Axis::C => "C",
+            Axis::Z => "Z",
+            Axis::T => "T",
+            Axis::Y => "Y",
+            Axis::X => "X",
+            Axis::New => "N",
+        };
+        write!(f, "{}", s)
+    }
+}
+
 impl Ax for Axis {
     fn n(&self) -> usize {
         *self as usize
@@ -60,7 +75,10 @@ impl Ax for Axis {
         if let Some(pos) = axes.iter().position(|a| a == self) {
             Ok(pos)
         } else {
-            Err(Error::msg("Axis not found in axes"))
+            Err(Error::msg(format!(
+                "Axis {:?} not found in axes {:?}",
+                self, axes
+            )))
         }
     }
 
@@ -96,7 +114,7 @@ impl Ax for usize {
                 }
             })
             .collect();
-        assert!(*self < idx.len(), "self: {}, idx: {:?}", self, idx);
+        debug_assert!(*self < idx.len(), "self: {}, idx: {:?}", self, idx);
         Ok(idx[*self])
     }
 }

src/bioformats.rs

@@ -21,9 +21,21 @@ fn jvm() -> Rc<Jvm> {
                 .unwrap()
                 .to_path_buf();
 
-            let class_path = path.parent().unwrap();
+            let class_path = if path.join("jassets").exists() {
+                path.as_path()
+            } else {
+                path.parent().unwrap()
+            };
+            if !class_path.join("jassets").exists() {
+                panic!(
+                    "jassets directory does not exist in {}",
+                    class_path.display()
+                );
+            }
+
             Rc::new(
                 JvmBuilder::new()
+                    .skip_setting_native_lib()
                     .with_base_path(class_path.to_str().unwrap())
                     .build()
                     .expect("Failed to build JVM"),
@@ -33,11 +45,25 @@ fn jvm() -> Rc<Jvm> {
     })
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "python")]
-pub(crate) fn download_bioformats(gpl_formats: bool) -> Result<()> {
-    let path = crate::py::ndbioimage_file().unwrap();
+pub fn download_bioformats(gpl_formats: bool) -> Result<()> {
+    #[cfg(feature = "python")]
+    let path = crate::py::ndbioimage_file()?;
+
+    #[cfg(not(feature = "python"))]
+    let path = std::env::current_exe()
+        .unwrap()
+        .parent()
+        .unwrap()
+        .to_path_buf();
+
     let class_path = path.parent().unwrap();
+    let jassets = class_path.join("jassets");
+    if !jassets.exists() {
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(jassets)?;
+    }
+    println!("installing jassets in {}", class_path.display());
     let jvm = JvmBuilder::new()
+        .skip_setting_native_lib()
         .with_base_path(class_path.to_str().unwrap())
         .with_maven_settings(j4rs::MavenSettings::new(vec![
             j4rs::MavenArtifactRepo::from(
@@ -46,10 +72,10 @@ pub(crate) fn download_bioformats(gpl_formats: bool) -> Result<()> {
         ]))
         .build()?;
 
-    jvm.deploy_artifact(&j4rs::MavenArtifact::from("ome:bioformats_package:8.1.0"))?;
+    jvm.deploy_artifact(&j4rs::MavenArtifact::from("ome:bioformats_package:8.3.0"))?;
 
     if gpl_formats {
-        jvm.deploy_artifact(&j4rs::MavenArtifact::from("ome:formats-gpl:8.1.0"))?;
+        jvm.deploy_artifact(&j4rs::MavenArtifact::from("ome:formats-gpl:8.3.0"))?;
     }
 
     Ok(())

src/colors.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,207 @@
+use anyhow::{Error, Result};
+use lazy_static::lazy_static;
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::fmt::Display;
+use std::str::FromStr;
+
+lazy_static! {
+    static ref COLORS: HashMap<String, String> = {
+        HashMap::from([
+            ("b".to_string(), "#0000FF".to_string()),
+            ("g".to_string(), "#008000".to_string()),
+            ("r".to_string(), "#FF0000".to_string()),
+            ("c".to_string(), "#00BFBF".to_string()),
+            ("m".to_string(), "#BF00BF".to_string()),
+            ("y".to_string(), "#BFBF00".to_string()),
+            ("k".to_string(), "#000000".to_string()),
+            ("w".to_string(), "#FFFFFF".to_string()),
+            ("aliceblue".to_string(), "#F0F8FF".to_string()),
+            ("antiquewhite".to_string(), "#FAEBD7".to_string()),
+            ("aqua".to_string(), "#00FFFF".to_string()),
+            ("aquamarine".to_string(), "#7FFFD4".to_string()),
+            ("azure".to_string(), "#F0FFFF".to_string()),
+            ("beige".to_string(), "#F5F5DC".to_string()),
+            ("bisque".to_string(), "#FFE4C4".to_string()),
+            ("black".to_string(), "#000000".to_string()),
+            ("blanchedalmond".to_string(), "#FFEBCD".to_string()),
+            ("blue".to_string(), "#0000FF".to_string()),
+            ("blueviolet".to_string(), "#8A2BE2".to_string()),
+            ("brown".to_string(), "#A52A2A".to_string()),
+            ("burlywood".to_string(), "#DEB887".to_string()),
+            ("cadetblue".to_string(), "#5F9EA0".to_string()),
+            ("chartreuse".to_string(), "#7FFF00".to_string()),
+            ("chocolate".to_string(), "#D2691E".to_string()),
+            ("coral".to_string(), "#FF7F50".to_string()),
+            ("cornflowerblue".to_string(), "#6495ED".to_string()),
+            ("cornsilk".to_string(), "#FFF8DC".to_string()),
+            ("crimson".to_string(), "#DC143C".to_string()),
+            ("cyan".to_string(), "#00FFFF".to_string()),
+            ("darkblue".to_string(), "#00008B".to_string()),
+            ("darkcyan".to_string(), "#008B8B".to_string()),
+            ("darkgoldenrod".to_string(), "#B8860B".to_string()),
+            ("darkgray".to_string(), "#A9A9A9".to_string()),
+            ("darkgreen".to_string(), "#006400".to_string()),
+            ("darkgrey".to_string(), "#A9A9A9".to_string()),
+            ("darkkhaki".to_string(), "#BDB76B".to_string()),
+            ("darkmagenta".to_string(), "#8B008B".to_string()),
+            ("darkolivegreen".to_string(), "#556B2F".to_string()),
+            ("darkorange".to_string(), "#FF8C00".to_string()),
+            ("darkorchid".to_string(), "#9932CC".to_string()),
+            ("darkred".to_string(), "#8B0000".to_string()),
+            ("darksalmon".to_string(), "#E9967A".to_string()),
+            ("darkseagreen".to_string(), "#8FBC8F".to_string()),
+            ("darkslateblue".to_string(), "#483D8B".to_string()),
+            ("darkslategray".to_string(), "#2F4F4F".to_string()),
+            ("darkslategrey".to_string(), "#2F4F4F".to_string()),
+            ("darkturquoise".to_string(), "#00CED1".to_string()),
+            ("darkviolet".to_string(), "#9400D3".to_string()),
+            ("deeppink".to_string(), "#FF1493".to_string()),
+            ("deepskyblue".to_string(), "#00BFFF".to_string()),
+            ("dimgray".to_string(), "#696969".to_string()),
+            ("dimgrey".to_string(), "#696969".to_string()),
+            ("dodgerblue".to_string(), "#1E90FF".to_string()),
+            ("firebrick".to_string(), "#B22222".to_string()),
+            ("floralwhite".to_string(), "#FFFAF0".to_string()),
+            ("forestgreen".to_string(), "#228B22".to_string()),
+            ("fuchsia".to_string(), "#FF00FF".to_string()),
+            ("gainsboro".to_string(), "#DCDCDC".to_string()),
+            ("ghostwhite".to_string(), "#F8F8FF".to_string()),
+            ("gold".to_string(), "#FFD700".to_string()),
+            ("goldenrod".to_string(), "#DAA520".to_string()),
+            ("gray".to_string(), "#808080".to_string()),
+            ("green".to_string(), "#008000".to_string()),
+            ("greenyellow".to_string(), "#ADFF2F".to_string()),
+            ("grey".to_string(), "#808080".to_string()),
+            ("honeydew".to_string(), "#F0FFF0".to_string()),
+            ("hotpink".to_string(), "#FF69B4".to_string()),
+            ("indianred".to_string(), "#CD5C5C".to_string()),
+            ("indigo".to_string(), "#4B0082".to_string()),
+            ("ivory".to_string(), "#FFFFF0".to_string()),
+            ("khaki".to_string(), "#F0E68C".to_string()),
+            ("lavender".to_string(), "#E6E6FA".to_string()),
+            ("lavenderblush".to_string(), "#FFF0F5".to_string()),
+            ("lawngreen".to_string(), "#7CFC00".to_string()),
+            ("lemonchiffon".to_string(), "#FFFACD".to_string()),
+            ("lightblue".to_string(), "#ADD8E6".to_string()),
+            ("lightcoral".to_string(), "#F08080".to_string()),
+            ("lightcyan".to_string(), "#E0FFFF".to_string()),
+            ("lightgoldenrodyellow".to_string(), "#FAFAD2".to_string()),
+            ("lightgray".to_string(), "#D3D3D3".to_string()),
+            ("lightgreen".to_string(), "#90EE90".to_string()),
+            ("lightgrey".to_string(), "#D3D3D3".to_string()),
+            ("lightpink".to_string(), "#FFB6C1".to_string()),
+            ("lightsalmon".to_string(), "#FFA07A".to_string()),
+            ("lightseagreen".to_string(), "#20B2AA".to_string()),
+            ("lightskyblue".to_string(), "#87CEFA".to_string()),
+            ("lightslategray".to_string(), "#778899".to_string()),
+            ("lightslategrey".to_string(), "#778899".to_string()),
+            ("lightsteelblue".to_string(), "#B0C4DE".to_string()),
+            ("lightyellow".to_string(), "#FFFFE0".to_string()),
+            ("lime".to_string(), "#00FF00".to_string()),
+            ("limegreen".to_string(), "#32CD32".to_string()),
+            ("linen".to_string(), "#FAF0E6".to_string()),
+            ("magenta".to_string(), "#FF00FF".to_string()),
+            ("maroon".to_string(), "#800000".to_string()),
+            ("mediumaquamarine".to_string(), "#66CDAA".to_string()),
+            ("mediumblue".to_string(), "#0000CD".to_string()),
+            ("mediumorchid".to_string(), "#BA55D3".to_string()),
+            ("mediumpurple".to_string(), "#9370DB".to_string()),
+            ("mediumseagreen".to_string(), "#3CB371".to_string()),
+            ("mediumslateblue".to_string(), "#7B68EE".to_string()),
+            ("mediumspringgreen".to_string(), "#00FA9A".to_string()),
+            ("mediumturquoise".to_string(), "#48D1CC".to_string()),
+            ("mediumvioletred".to_string(), "#C71585".to_string()),
+            ("midnightblue".to_string(), "#191970".to_string()),
+            ("mintcream".to_string(), "#F5FFFA".to_string()),
+            ("mistyrose".to_string(), "#FFE4E1".to_string()),
+            ("moccasin".to_string(), "#FFE4B5".to_string()),
+            ("navajowhite".to_string(), "#FFDEAD".to_string()),
+            ("navy".to_string(), "#000080".to_string()),
+            ("oldlace".to_string(), "#FDF5E6".to_string()),
+            ("olive".to_string(), "#808000".to_string()),
+            ("olivedrab".to_string(), "#6B8E23".to_string()),
+            ("orange".to_string(), "#FFA500".to_string()),
+            ("orangered".to_string(), "#FF4500".to_string()),
+            ("orchid".to_string(), "#DA70D6".to_string()),
+            ("palegoldenrod".to_string(), "#EEE8AA".to_string()),
+            ("palegreen".to_string(), "#98FB98".to_string()),
+            ("paleturquoise".to_string(), "#AFEEEE".to_string()),
+            ("palevioletred".to_string(), "#DB7093".to_string()),
+            ("papayawhip".to_string(), "#FFEFD5".to_string()),
+            ("peachpuff".to_string(), "#FFDAB9".to_string()),
+            ("peru".to_string(), "#CD853F".to_string()),
+            ("pink".to_string(), "#FFC0CB".to_string()),
+            ("plum".to_string(), "#DDA0DD".to_string()),
+            ("powderblue".to_string(), "#B0E0E6".to_string()),
+            ("purple".to_string(), "#800080".to_string()),
+            ("rebeccapurple".to_string(), "#663399".to_string()),
+            ("red".to_string(), "#FF0000".to_string()),
+            ("rosybrown".to_string(), "#BC8F8F".to_string()),
+            ("royalblue".to_string(), "#4169E1".to_string()),
+            ("saddlebrown".to_string(), "#8B4513".to_string()),
+            ("salmon".to_string(), "#FA8072".to_string()),
+            ("sandybrown".to_string(), "#F4A460".to_string()),
+            ("seagreen".to_string(), "#2E8B57".to_string()),
+            ("seashell".to_string(), "#FFF5EE".to_string()),
+            ("sienna".to_string(), "#A0522D".to_string()),
+            ("silver".to_string(), "#C0C0C0".to_string()),
+            ("skyblue".to_string(), "#87CEEB".to_string()),
+            ("slateblue".to_string(), "#6A5ACD".to_string()),
+            ("slategray".to_string(), "#708090".to_string()),
+            ("slategrey".to_string(), "#708090".to_string()),
+            ("snow".to_string(), "#FFFAFA".to_string()),
+            ("springgreen".to_string(), "#00FF7F".to_string()),
+            ("steelblue".to_string(), "#4682B4".to_string()),
+            ("tan".to_string(), "#D2B48C".to_string()),
+            ("teal".to_string(), "#008080".to_string()),
+            ("thistle".to_string(), "#D8BFD8".to_string()),
+            ("tomato".to_string(), "#FF6347".to_string()),
+            ("turquoise".to_string(), "#40E0D0".to_string()),
+            ("violet".to_string(), "#EE82EE".to_string()),
+            ("wheat".to_string(), "#F5DEB3".to_string()),
+            ("white".to_string(), "#FFFFFF".to_string()),
+            ("whitesmoke".to_string(), "#F5F5F5".to_string()),
+            ("yellow".to_string(), "#FFFF00".to_string()),
+            ("yellowgreen".to_string(), "#9ACD32".to_string()),
+        ])
+    };
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct Color {
+    r: u8,
+    g: u8,
+    b: u8,
+}
+
+impl FromStr for Color {
+    type Err = Error;
+
+    fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<Self> {
+        let s = if !s.starts_with("#") {
+            if let Some(s) = COLORS.get(s) {
+                s
+            } else {
+                return Err(Error::msg(format!("invalid color: {}", s)));
+            }
+        } else {
+            s
+        };
+        let r = u8::from_str_radix(&s[1..3], 16)?;
+        let g = u8::from_str_radix(&s[3..5], 16)?;
+        let b = u8::from_str_radix(&s[5..], 16)?;
+        Ok(Self { r, g, b })
+    }
+}
+
+impl Display for Color {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        write!(f, "#{:02X}{:02X}{:02X}", self.r, self.g, self.b)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Color {
+    pub fn to_rgb(&self) -> Vec<u8> {
+        vec![self.r, self.g, self.b]
+    }
+}

src/lib.rs

@@ -1,22 +1,31 @@
 mod bioformats;
 
 pub mod axes;
+pub mod metadata;
 #[cfg(feature = "python")]
 mod py;
 pub mod reader;
 pub mod stats;
 pub mod view;
 
+pub mod colors;
+#[cfg(feature = "movie")]
+pub mod movie;
+#[cfg(feature = "tiff")]
+pub mod tiff;
+
+pub use bioformats::download_bioformats;
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use crate::stats::MinMax;
-    use ndarray::{Array, Array4, Array5, NewAxis};
-    use rayon::prelude::*;
-
     use crate::axes::Axis;
     use crate::reader::{Frame, Reader};
+    use crate::stats::MinMax;
+    use crate::view::Item;
     use anyhow::Result;
-    use ndarray::{s, Array2};
+    use ndarray::{Array, Array4, Array5, NewAxis};
+    use ndarray::{Array2, s};
+    use rayon::prelude::*;
 
     fn open(file: &str) -> Result<Reader> {
         let path = std::env::current_dir()?
@@ -137,7 +146,6 @@ mod tests {
         let a = a.slice(s![0, ..5, 0, NewAxis, 100..200, ..]);
         let v = view.slice(s![0, ..5, 0, NewAxis, 100..200, ..])?;
         assert_eq!(v.shape(), a.shape());
-        println!("\nshape: {:?}", v.shape());
         let a = a.slice(s![NewAxis, .., .., NewAxis, .., .., NewAxis]);
         let v = v.slice(s![NewAxis, .., .., NewAxis, .., .., NewAxis])?;
         assert_eq!(v.shape(), a.shape());
@@ -160,10 +168,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(view.shape(), a.shape());
         let b: Array5<usize> = view.clone().try_into()?;
         assert_eq!(b.shape(), a.shape());
-
-        println!("{:?}", view.axes());
         let view = view.permute_axes(&[Axis::X, Axis::Z, Axis::Y])?;
-        println!("{:?}", view.axes());
         let a = a.permuted_axes([4, 1, 2, 0, 3]);
         assert_eq!(view.shape(), a.shape());
         let b: Array5<usize> = view.clone().try_into()?;
@@ -259,4 +264,107 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(d.shape(), [1024, 1024]);
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn item() -> Result<()> {
+        let file = "1xp53-01-AP1.czi";
+        let reader = open(file)?;
+        let view = reader.view();
+        let a = view.slice(s![.., 0, 0, 0, 0])?;
+        let b = a.slice(s![0])?;
+        let item = b.item::<usize>()?;
+        assert_eq!(item, 2);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn slice_cztyx() -> Result<()> {
+        let file = "1xp53-01-AP1.czi";
+        let reader = open(file)?;
+        let view = reader.view().max_proj(Axis::Z)?.into_dyn();
+        println!("view.axes: {:?}", view.get_axes());
+        println!("view.slice: {:?}", view.get_slice());
+        let r = view.reset_axes()?;
+        println!("r.axes: {:?}", r.get_axes());
+        println!("r.slice: {:?}", r.get_slice());
+        let a = view.slice_cztyx(s![0, 0, 0, .., ..])?;
+        println!("a.axes: {:?}", a.get_axes());
+        println!("a.slice: {:?}", a.get_slice());
+        assert_eq!(a.axes(), [Axis::Y, Axis::X]);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn reset_axes() -> Result<()> {
+        let file = "1xp53-01-AP1.czi";
+        let reader = open(file)?;
+        let view = reader.view().max_proj(Axis::Z)?;
+        let view = view.reset_axes()?;
+        assert_eq!(view.axes(), [Axis::C, Axis::New, Axis::T, Axis::Y, Axis::X]);
+        let a = view.as_array::<f64>()?;
+        assert_eq!(a.ndim(), 5);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn reset_axes2() -> Result<()> {
+        let file = "Experiment-2029.czi";
+        let reader = open(file)?;
+        let view = reader.view().squeeze()?;
+        let a = view.reset_axes()?;
+        assert_eq!(a.axes(), [Axis::C, Axis::Z, Axis::T, Axis::Y, Axis::X]);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn reset_axes3() -> Result<()> {
+        let file = "Experiment-2029.czi";
+        let reader = open(file)?;
+        let view4 = reader.view().squeeze()?;
+        let view = view4.max_proj(Axis::Z)?.into_dyn();
+        let slice = view.slice_cztyx(s![0, .., .., .., ..])?.into_dyn();
+        let a = slice.as_array::<u16>()?;
+        assert_eq!(slice.shape(), [1, 10, 1280, 1280]);
+        assert_eq!(a.shape(), [1, 10, 1280, 1280]);
+        let r = slice.reset_axes()?;
+        let b = r.as_array::<u16>()?;
+        assert_eq!(r.shape(), [1, 1, 10, 1280, 1280]);
+        assert_eq!(b.shape(), [1, 1, 10, 1280, 1280]);
+        let q = slice.max_proj(Axis::C)?.max_proj(Axis::T)?;
+        let c = q.as_array::<f64>()?;
+        assert_eq!(q.shape(), [1, 1280, 1280]);
+        assert_eq!(c.shape(), [1, 1280, 1280]);
+        let p = q.reset_axes()?;
+        let d = p.as_array::<u16>()?;
+        println!("axes: {:?}", p.get_axes());
+        println!("operations: {:?}", p.get_operations());
+        println!("slice: {:?}", p.get_slice());
+        assert_eq!(p.shape(), [1, 1, 1, 1280, 1280]);
+        assert_eq!(d.shape(), [1, 1, 1, 1280, 1280]);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn max() -> Result<()> {
+        let file = "Experiment-2029.czi";
+        let reader = open(file)?;
+        let view = reader.view();
+        let m = view.max_proj(Axis::T)?;
+        let a = m.as_array::<u16>()?;
+        assert_eq!(m.shape(), [2, 1, 1280, 1280]);
+        assert_eq!(a.shape(), [2, 1, 1280, 1280]);
+        let mc = view.max_proj(Axis::C)?;
+        let a = mc.as_array::<u16>()?;
+        assert_eq!(mc.shape(), [1, 10, 1280, 1280]);
+        assert_eq!(a.shape(), [1, 10, 1280, 1280]);
+        let mz = mc.max_proj(Axis::Z)?;
+        let a = mz.as_array::<u16>()?;
+        assert_eq!(mz.shape(), [10, 1280, 1280]);
+        assert_eq!(a.shape(), [10, 1280, 1280]);
+        let mt = mz.max_proj(Axis::T)?;
+        let a = mt.as_array::<u16>()?;
+        assert_eq!(mt.shape(), [1280, 1280]);
+        assert_eq!(a.shape(), [1280, 1280]);
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }

src/main.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+use anyhow::Result;
+use clap::{Parser, Subcommand};
+#[cfg(feature = "movie")]
+use ndbioimage::movie::MovieOptions;
+use ndbioimage::reader::split_path_and_series;
+#[cfg(feature = "tiff")]
+use ndbioimage::tiff::TiffOptions;
+use ndbioimage::view::View;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+#[derive(Parser)]
+#[command(arg_required_else_help = true, version, about, long_about = None, propagate_version = true)]
+struct Cli {
+    #[command(subcommand)]
+    command: Commands,
+}
+
+#[derive(Subcommand)]
+enum Commands {
+    /// Print some metadata
+    Info {
+        #[arg(value_name = "FILE", num_args(1..))]
+        file: Vec<PathBuf>,
+    },
+    /// Save the image as tiff file
+    #[cfg(feature = "tiff")]
+    Tiff {
+        #[arg(value_name = "FILE", num_args(1..))]
+        file: Vec<PathBuf>,
+        #[arg(short, long, value_name = "COLOR", num_args(1..))]
+        colors: Vec<String>,
+        #[arg(short, long, value_name = "OVERWRITE")]
+        overwrite: bool,
+    },
+    /// Save the image as mp4 file
+    #[cfg(feature = "movie")]
+    Movie {
+        #[arg(value_name = "FILE", num_args(1..))]
+        file: Vec<PathBuf>,
+        #[arg(short, long, value_name = "Velocity", default_value = "3.6")]
+        velocity: f64,
+        #[arg(short, long, value_name = "BRIGHTNESS")]
+        brightness: Vec<f64>,
+        #[arg(short, long, value_name = "SCALE", default_value = "1.0")]
+        scale: f64,
+        #[arg(short, long, value_name = "COLOR", num_args(1..))]
+        colors: Vec<String>,
+        #[arg(short, long, value_name = "OVERWRITE")]
+        overwrite: bool,
+    },
+    /// Download the BioFormats jar into the correct folder
+    DownloadBioFormats {
+        #[arg(short, long, value_name = "GPL_FORMATS")]
+        gpl_formats: bool,
+    },
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn main() -> Result<()> {
+    let cli = Cli::parse();
+    match &cli.command {
+        Commands::Info { file } => {
+            for f in file {
+                let (path, series) = split_path_and_series(f)?;
+                let view = View::from_path(path, series.unwrap_or(0))?.squeeze()?;
+                println!("{}", view.summary()?);
+            }
+        }
+        #[cfg(feature = "tiff")]
+        Commands::Tiff {
+            file,
+            colors,
+            overwrite,
+        } => {
+            let mut options = TiffOptions::new(true, None, colors.clone(), *overwrite)?;
+            options.enable_bar()?;
+            for f in file {
+                let (path, series) = split_path_and_series(f)?;
+                let view = View::from_path(path, series.unwrap_or(0))?;
+                view.save_as_tiff(f.with_extension("tiff"), &options)?;
+            }
+        }
+        #[cfg(feature = "movie")]
+        Commands::Movie {
+            file,
+            velocity: speed,
+            brightness,
+            scale,
+            colors,
+            overwrite,
+        } => {
+            let options = MovieOptions::new(
+                *speed,
+                brightness.to_vec(),
+                *scale,
+                colors.to_vec(),
+                *overwrite,
+            )?;
+            for f in file {
+                let (path, series) = split_path_and_series(f)?;
+                let view = View::from_path(path, series.unwrap_or(0))?;
+                view.save_as_movie(f.with_extension("mp4"), &options)?;
+            }
+        }
+        Commands::DownloadBioFormats { gpl_formats } => {
+            ndbioimage::download_bioformats(*gpl_formats)?
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}

src/metadata.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,372 @@
+use anyhow::{Result, anyhow};
+use itertools::Itertools;
+use ome_metadata::Ome;
+use ome_metadata::ome::{
+    BinningType, Convert, Image, Instrument, Objective, Pixels, UnitsLength, UnitsTime,
+};
+
+impl Metadata for Ome {
+    fn get_instrument(&self) -> Option<&Instrument> {
+        let instrument_id = self.get_image()?.instrument_ref.as_ref()?.id.clone();
+        self.instrument
+            .as_ref()?
+            .iter()
+            .find(|i| i.id == instrument_id)
+    }
+
+    fn get_image(&self) -> Option<&Image> {
+        if let Some(image) = &self.image {
+            if !image.is_empty() {
+                Some(&image[0])
+            } else {
+                None
+            }
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub trait Metadata {
+    fn get_instrument(&self) -> Option<&Instrument>;
+    fn get_image(&self) -> Option<&Image>;
+
+    fn get_pixels(&self) -> Option<&Pixels> {
+        if let Some(image) = self.get_image() {
+            Some(&image.pixels)
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn get_objective(&self) -> Option<&Objective> {
+        let objective_id = self.get_image()?.objective_settings.as_ref()?.id.clone();
+        self.get_instrument()?
+            .objective
+            .iter()
+            .find(|o| o.id == objective_id)
+    }
+
+    fn get_tube_lens(&self) -> Option<Objective> {
+        Some(Objective {
+            manufacturer: None,
+            model: Some("Unknown".to_string()),
+            serial_number: None,
+            lot_number: None,
+            id: "TubeLens:1".to_string(),
+            correction: None,
+            immersion: None,
+            lens_na: None,
+            nominal_magnification: Some(1.0),
+            calibrated_magnification: None,
+            working_distance: None,
+            working_distance_unit: UnitsLength::um,
+            iris: None,
+            annotation_ref: vec![],
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// shape of the data along cztyx axes
+    fn shape(&self) -> Result<(usize, usize, usize, usize, usize)> {
+        if let Some(pixels) = self.get_pixels() {
+            Ok((
+                pixels.size_c as usize,
+                pixels.size_z as usize,
+                pixels.size_t as usize,
+                pixels.size_y as usize,
+                pixels.size_x as usize,
+            ))
+        } else {
+            Err(anyhow!("No image or pixels found"))
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// pixel size in nm
+    fn pixel_size(&self) -> Result<Option<f64>> {
+        if let Some(pixels) = self.get_pixels() {
+            match (pixels.physical_size_x, pixels.physical_size_y) {
+                (Some(x), Some(y)) => Ok(Some(
+                    (pixels
+                        .physical_size_x_unit
+                        .convert(&UnitsLength::nm, x as f64)?
+                        + pixels
+                            .physical_size_y_unit
+                            .convert(&UnitsLength::nm, y as f64)?)
+                        / 2f64,
+                )),
+                (Some(x), None) => Ok(Some(
+                    pixels
+                        .physical_size_x_unit
+                        .convert(&UnitsLength::nm, x as f64)?
+                        .powi(2),
+                )),
+                (None, Some(y)) => Ok(Some(
+                    pixels
+                        .physical_size_y_unit
+                        .convert(&UnitsLength::nm, y as f64)?
+                        .powi(2),
+                )),
+                _ => Ok(None),
+            }
+        } else {
+            Ok(None)
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// distance between planes in z-stack in nm
+    fn delta_z(&self) -> Result<Option<f64>> {
+        if let Some(pixels) = self.get_pixels() {
+            if let Some(z) = pixels.physical_size_z {
+                return Ok(Some(
+                    pixels
+                        .physical_size_z_unit
+                        .convert(&UnitsLength::nm, z as f64)?,
+                ));
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(None)
+    }
+
+    /// time interval in seconds for time-lapse images
+    fn time_interval(&self) -> Result<Option<f64>> {
+        if let Some(pixels) = self.get_pixels() {
+            if let Some(plane) = &pixels.plane {
+                if let Some(t) = plane.iter().map(|p| p.the_t).max() {
+                    if t > 0 {
+                        let plane_a = plane
+                            .iter()
+                            .find(|p| (p.the_c == 0) && (p.the_z == 0) && (p.the_t == 0));
+                        let plane_b = plane
+                            .iter()
+                            .find(|p| (p.the_c == 0) && (p.the_z == 0) && (p.the_t == t));
+                        if let (Some(a), Some(b)) = (plane_a, plane_b) {
+                            if let (Some(a_t), Some(b_t)) = (a.delta_t, b.delta_t) {
+                                return Ok(Some(
+                                    (b.delta_t_unit.convert(&UnitsTime::s, b_t as f64)?
+                                        - a.delta_t_unit.convert(&UnitsTime::s, a_t as f64)?)
+                                    .abs()
+                                        / (t as f64),
+                                ));
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(None)
+    }
+
+    /// exposure time for channel, z=0 and t=0
+    fn exposure_time(&self, channel: usize) -> Result<Option<f64>> {
+        let c = channel as i32;
+        if let Some(pixels) = self.get_pixels() {
+            if let Some(plane) = &pixels.plane {
+                if let Some(p) = plane
+                    .iter()
+                    .find(|p| (p.the_c == c) && (p.the_z == 0) && (p.the_t == 0))
+                {
+                    if let Some(t) = p.exposure_time {
+                        return Ok(Some(p.exposure_time_unit.convert(&UnitsTime::s, t as f64)?));
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(None)
+    }
+
+    fn binning(&self, channel: usize) -> Option<usize> {
+        match self
+            .get_pixels()?
+            .channel
+            .get(channel)?
+            .detector_settings
+            .as_ref()?
+            .binning
+            .as_ref()?
+        {
+            BinningType::_1X1 => Some(1),
+            BinningType::_2X2 => Some(2),
+            BinningType::_4X4 => Some(4),
+            BinningType::_8X8 => Some(8),
+            BinningType::Other => None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn laser_wavelengths(&self, channel: usize) -> Result<Option<f64>> {
+        if let Some(pixels) = self.get_pixels() {
+            if let Some(channel) = pixels.channel.get(channel) {
+                if let Some(w) = channel.excitation_wavelength {
+                    return Ok(Some(
+                        channel
+                            .excitation_wavelength_unit
+                            .convert(&UnitsLength::nm, w as f64)?,
+                    ));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(None)
+    }
+
+    fn laser_powers(&self, channel: usize) -> Result<Option<f64>> {
+        if let Some(pixels) = self.get_pixels() {
+            if let Some(channel) = pixels.channel.get(channel) {
+                if let Some(ls) = &channel.light_source_settings {
+                    if let Some(a) = ls.attenuation {
+                        return if (0. ..=1.).contains(&a) {
+                            Ok(Some(1f64 - (a as f64)))
+                        } else {
+                            Err(anyhow!("Invalid attenuation value"))
+                        };
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(None)
+    }
+
+    fn objective_name(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        Some(self.get_objective()?.model.as_ref()?.clone())
+    }
+
+    fn magnification(&self) -> Option<f64> {
+        Some(
+            (self.get_objective()?.nominal_magnification? as f64)
+                * (self.get_tube_lens()?.nominal_magnification? as f64),
+        )
+    }
+
+    fn tube_lens_name(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        self.get_tube_lens()?.model.clone()
+    }
+
+    fn filter_set_name(&self, channel: usize) -> Option<String> {
+        let filter_set_id = self
+            .get_pixels()?
+            .channel
+            .get(channel)?
+            .filter_set_ref
+            .as_ref()?
+            .id
+            .clone();
+        self.get_instrument()
+            .as_ref()?
+            .filter_set
+            .iter()
+            .find(|f| f.id == filter_set_id)?
+            .model
+            .clone()
+    }
+
+    fn gain(&self, channel: usize) -> Option<f64> {
+        if let Some(pixels) = self.get_pixels() {
+            Some(
+                *pixels
+                    .channel
+                    .get(channel)?
+                    .detector_settings
+                    .as_ref()?
+                    .gain
+                    .as_ref()? as f64,
+            )
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn summary(&self) -> Result<String> {
+        let size_c = if let Some(pixels) = self.get_pixels() {
+            pixels.channel.len()
+        } else {
+            0
+        };
+        let mut s = "".to_string();
+        if let Ok(Some(pixel_size)) = self.pixel_size() {
+            s.push_str(&format!("pixel size:    {pixel_size:.2} nm\n"));
+        }
+        if let Ok(Some(delta_z)) = self.delta_z() {
+            s.push_str(&format!("z-interval:    {delta_z:.2} nm\n"))
+        }
+        if let Ok(Some(time_interval)) = self.time_interval() {
+            s.push_str(&format!("time interval: {time_interval:.2} s\n"))
+        }
+        let exposure_time = (0..size_c)
+            .map(|c| self.exposure_time(c))
+            .collect::<Result<Vec<_>>>()?
+            .into_iter()
+            .flatten()
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        if !exposure_time.is_empty() {
+            s.push_str(&format!(
+                "exposure time: {}\n",
+                exposure_time.into_iter().join(" | ")
+            ));
+        }
+        if let Some(magnification) = self.magnification() {
+            s.push_str(&format!("magnification: {magnification}x\n"))
+        }
+        if let Some(objective_name) = self.objective_name() {
+            s.push_str(&format!("objective:     {objective_name}\n"))
+        }
+        if let Some(tube_lens_name) = self.tube_lens_name() {
+            s.push_str(&format!("tube lens:     {tube_lens_name}\n"))
+        }
+        let filter_set_name = (0..size_c)
+            .map(|c| self.filter_set_name(c))
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+            .into_iter()
+            .flatten()
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        if !filter_set_name.is_empty() {
+            s.push_str(&format!(
+                "filter set:    {}\n",
+                filter_set_name.into_iter().join(" | ")
+            ));
+        }
+        let gain = (0..size_c)
+            .map(|c| self.gain(c))
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+            .into_iter()
+            .flatten()
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        if !gain.is_empty() {
+            s.push_str(&format!("gain:          {}\n", gain.into_iter().join(" ")));
+        }
+        let laser_wavelengths = (0..size_c)
+            .map(|c| self.laser_wavelengths(c))
+            .collect::<Result<Vec<_>>>()?
+            .into_iter()
+            .flatten()
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        if !laser_wavelengths.is_empty() {
+            s.push_str(&format!(
+                "laser colors:  {} nm\n",
+                laser_wavelengths.into_iter().join(" | ")
+            ));
+        }
+        let laser_powers = (0..size_c)
+            .map(|c| self.laser_powers(c))
+            .collect::<Result<Vec<_>>>()?
+            .into_iter()
+            .flatten()
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        if !laser_powers.is_empty() {
+            s.push_str(&format!(
+                "laser powers:   {}\n",
+                laser_powers.into_iter().join(" | ")
+            ));
+        }
+        let binning = (0..size_c)
+            .map(|c| self.binning(c))
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+            .into_iter()
+            .flatten()
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        if !binning.is_empty() {
+            s.push_str(&format!(
+                "binning:       {}\n",
+                binning.into_iter().join(" | ")
+            ));
+        }
+        Ok(s.to_string())
+    }
+}

src/movie.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,258 @@
+use crate::axes::Axis;
+use crate::colors::Color;
+use crate::view::View;
+use anyhow::{Result, anyhow};
+use ffmpeg_sidecar::command::FfmpegCommand;
+use ffmpeg_sidecar::download::auto_download;
+use ffmpeg_sidecar::event::{FfmpegEvent, LogLevel};
+use itertools::Itertools;
+use ndarray::{Array2, Array3, Dimension, IxDyn, s, stack};
+use ordered_float::OrderedFloat;
+use std::io::Write;
+use std::path::Path;
+use std::thread;
+
+pub struct MovieOptions {
+    velocity: f64,
+    brightness: Vec<f64>,
+    scale: f64,
+    colors: Option<Vec<Vec<u8>>>,
+    overwrite: bool,
+}
+
+impl Default for MovieOptions {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            velocity: 3.6,
+            brightness: Vec::new(),
+            scale: 1.0,
+            colors: None,
+            overwrite: false,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl MovieOptions {
+    pub fn new(
+        velocity: f64,
+        brightness: Vec<f64>,
+        scale: f64,
+        colors: Vec<String>,
+        overwrite: bool,
+    ) -> Result<Self> {
+        let colors = if colors.is_empty() {
+            None
+        } else {
+            let colors = colors
+                .iter()
+                .map(|c| c.parse::<Color>())
+                .collect::<Result<Vec<_>>>()?;
+            Some(colors.into_iter().map(|c| c.to_rgb()).collect())
+        };
+        Ok(Self {
+            velocity,
+            brightness,
+            scale,
+            colors,
+            overwrite,
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_velocity(&mut self, velocity: f64) {
+        self.velocity = velocity;
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_brightness(&mut self, brightness: Vec<f64>) {
+        self.brightness = brightness;
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_scale(&mut self, scale: f64) {
+        self.scale = scale;
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_colors(&mut self, colors: &[String]) -> Result<()> {
+        let colors = colors
+            .iter()
+            .map(|c| c.parse::<Color>())
+            .collect::<Result<Vec<_>>>()?;
+        self.colors = Some(colors.into_iter().map(|c| c.to_rgb()).collect());
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_overwrite(&mut self, overwrite: bool) {
+        self.overwrite = overwrite;
+    }
+}
+
+fn get_ab(tyx: View<IxDyn>) -> Result<(f64, f64)> {
+    let s = tyx
+        .as_array::<f64>()?
+        .iter()
+        .filter_map(|&i| {
+            if i == 0.0 || !i.is_finite() {
+                None
+            } else {
+                Some(OrderedFloat::from(i))
+            }
+        })
+        .sorted_unstable()
+        .map(f64::from)
+        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+
+    let n = s.len();
+    let mut a = s[n / 100];
+    let mut b = s[n - n / 100 - 1];
+    if a == b {
+        a = s[0];
+        b = s[n - 1];
+    }
+    if a == b {
+        a = 1.0;
+        b = 1.0;
+    }
+    Ok((a, b))
+}
+
+fn cframe(frame: Array2<f64>, color: &[u8], a: f64, b: f64) -> Array3<f64> {
+    let frame = (frame - a) / (b - a);
+    let color = color
+        .iter()
+        .map(|&c| (c as f64) / 255.0)
+        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+    let frame = color
+        .iter()
+        .map(|&c| (c * &frame).to_owned())
+        .collect::<Vec<Array2<f64>>>();
+    let view = frame.iter().map(|c| c.view()).collect::<Vec<_>>();
+    stack(ndarray::Axis(0), &view).unwrap()
+}
+
+impl<D> View<D>
+where
+    D: Dimension,
+{
+    pub fn save_as_movie<P>(&self, path: P, options: &MovieOptions) -> Result<()>
+    where
+        P: AsRef<Path>,
+    {
+        let path = path.as_ref().to_path_buf();
+        if path.exists() {
+            if options.overwrite {
+                std::fs::remove_file(&path)?;
+            } else {
+                return Err(anyhow!("File {} already exists", path.display()));
+            }
+        }
+        let view = self.max_proj(Axis::Z)?.reset_axes()?;
+        let velocity = options.velocity;
+        let mut brightness = options.brightness.clone();
+        let scale = options.scale;
+        let shape = view.shape();
+        let size_c = shape[0];
+        let size_t = shape[2];
+        let size_x = shape[3];
+        let size_y = shape[4];
+        let shape_x = 2 * (((size_x as f64 * scale) / 2.).round() as usize);
+        let shape_y = 2 * (((size_y as f64 * scale) / 2.).round() as usize);
+
+        while brightness.len() < size_c {
+            brightness.push(1.0);
+        }
+        let mut colors = if let Some(colors) = options.colors.as_ref() {
+            colors.to_vec()
+        } else {
+            Vec::new()
+        };
+        while colors.len() < size_c {
+            colors.push(vec![255, 255, 255]);
+        }
+
+        auto_download()?;
+        let mut movie = FfmpegCommand::new()
+            .args([
+                "-f",
+                "rawvideo",
+                "-pix_fmt",
+                "gray",
+                "-s",
+                &format!("{}x{}", size_x, size_y),
+            ])
+            .input("-")
+            .args([
+                "-vcodec",
+                "libx264",
+                "-preset",
+                "veryslow",
+                "-pix_fmt",
+                "yuv420p",
+                "-r",
+                "7",
+                "-vf",
+                &format!("setpts={velocity}*PTS,scale={shape_x}:{shape_y}:flags=neighbor"),
+            ])
+            .output(path.to_str().expect("path cannot be converted to string"))
+            .spawn()?;
+        let mut stdin = movie.take_stdin().unwrap();
+
+        let ab = (0..size_c)
+            .map(|c| match view.slice(s![c, .., .., .., ..]) {
+                Ok(slice) => get_ab(slice.into_dyn()),
+                Err(e) => Err(e),
+            })
+            .collect::<Result<Vec<_>>>()?;
+
+        thread::spawn(move || {
+            for t in 0..size_t {
+                let mut frame = Array3::<f64>::zeros((3, size_y, size_y));
+                for c in 0..size_c {
+                    frame = frame
+                        + cframe(
+                            view.get_frame(c, 0, t).unwrap(),
+                            &colors[c],
+                            ab[c].0,
+                            ab[c].1 / brightness[c],
+                        );
+                }
+                let frame = frame.mapv(|i| {
+                    if i < 0.0 {
+                        0
+                    } else if i > 1.0 {
+                        1
+                    } else {
+                        (255.0 * i).round() as u8
+                    }
+                });
+                let bytes: Vec<_> = frame.flatten().into_iter().collect();
+                stdin.write_all(&bytes).unwrap();
+            }
+        });
+
+        movie.iter()?.for_each(|e| match e {
+            FfmpegEvent::Log(LogLevel::Error, e) => println!("Error: {}", e),
+            FfmpegEvent::Progress(p) => println!("Progress: {} / 00:00:15", p.time),
+            _ => {}
+        });
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::reader::Reader;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn movie() -> Result<()> {
+        let file = "1xp53-01-AP1.czi";
+        let path = std::env::current_dir()?
+            .join("tests")
+            .join("files")
+            .join(file);
+        let reader = Reader::new(&path, 0)?;
+        let view = reader.view();
+        let mut options = MovieOptions::default();
+        options.set_overwrite(true);
+        view.save_as_movie("/home/wim/tmp/movie.mp4", &options)?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}

src/py.rs

@@ -1,16 +1,21 @@
 use crate::axes::Axis;
 use crate::bioformats::download_bioformats;
+use crate::metadata::Metadata;
 use crate::reader::{PixelType, Reader};
 use crate::view::{Item, View};
-use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
+use anyhow::{Result, anyhow};
+use itertools::Itertools;
 use ndarray::{Ix0, IxDyn, SliceInfoElem};
 use numpy::IntoPyArray;
+use ome_metadata::Ome;
+use pyo3::IntoPyObjectExt;
+use pyo3::exceptions::PyNotImplementedError;
 use pyo3::prelude::*;
 use pyo3::types::{PyEllipsis, PyInt, PyList, PySlice, PySliceMethods, PyString, PyTuple};
-use pyo3::IntoPyObjectExt;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use serde_json::{from_str, to_string};
 use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::sync::Arc;
 
 #[pyclass(module = "ndbioimage.ndbioimage_rs")]
 struct ViewConstructor;
@@ -22,12 +27,10 @@ impl ViewConstructor {
         Self
     }
 
-    fn __getstate__(&self) -> (u8,) {
-        (0,)
+    fn __getnewargs__<'py>(&self, py: Python<'py>) -> Bound<'py, PyTuple> {
+        PyTuple::empty(py)
     }
 
-    fn __setstate__(&self, _state: (u8,)) {}
-
     #[staticmethod]
     fn __call__(state: String) -> PyResult<PyView> {
         if let Ok(new) = from_str(&state) {
@@ -40,32 +43,122 @@ impl ViewConstructor {
 
 #[pyclass(subclass, module = "ndbioimage.ndbioimage_rs")]
 #[pyo3(name = "View")]
-#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 struct PyView {
     view: View<IxDyn>,
     dtype: PixelType,
+    ome: Arc<Ome>,
 }
 
 #[pymethods]
 impl PyView {
-    #[new]
-    #[pyo3(signature = (path, series = 0, dtype = "uint16"))]
     /// new view on a file at path, open series #, open as dtype: (u)int(8/16/32) or float(32/64)
-    fn new(path: &str, series: usize, dtype: &str) -> PyResult<Self> {
-        let mut path = PathBuf::from(path);
-        if path.is_dir() {
-            for file in path.read_dir()?.flatten() {
-                let p = file.path();
-                if file.path().is_file() & (p.extension() == Some("tif".as_ref())) {
-                    path = p;
-                    break;
+    #[new]
+    #[pyo3(signature = (path, series = 0, dtype = "uint16", axes = "cztyx"))]
+    fn new(path: Bound<'_, PyAny>, series: usize, dtype: &str, axes: &str) -> PyResult<Self> {
+        if path.is_instance_of::<Self>() {
+            Ok(path.downcast_into::<Self>()?.extract::<Self>()?)
+        } else {
+            let mut path = PathBuf::from(path.downcast_into::<PyString>()?.extract::<String>()?);
+            if path.is_dir() {
+                for file in path.read_dir()?.flatten() {
+                    let p = file.path();
+                    if file.path().is_file() && (p.extension() == Some("tif".as_ref())) {
+                        path = p;
+                        break;
+                    }
                 }
             }
+            let axes = axes
+                .chars()
+                .map(|a| a.to_string().parse())
+                .collect::<Result<Vec<Axis>>>()?;
+            let reader = Reader::new(&path, series)?;
+            let view = View::new_with_axes(Arc::new(reader), axes)?;
+            let dtype = dtype.parse()?;
+            let ome = Arc::new(view.get_ome()?);
+            Ok(Self { view, dtype, ome })
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn squeeze<'py>(&self, py: Python<'py>) -> PyResult<Bound<'py, PyAny>> {
+        let view = self.view.squeeze()?;
+        if view.ndim() == 0 {
+            Ok(match self.dtype {
+                PixelType::I8 => view
+                    .into_dimensionality::<Ix0>()?
+                    .item::<i8>()?
+                    .into_pyobject(py)?
+                    .into_any(),
+                PixelType::U8 => view
+                    .into_dimensionality::<Ix0>()?
+                    .item::<u8>()?
+                    .into_pyobject(py)?
+                    .into_any(),
+                PixelType::I16 => view
+                    .into_dimensionality::<Ix0>()?
+                    .item::<i16>()?
+                    .into_pyobject(py)?
+                    .into_any(),
+                PixelType::U16 => view
+                    .into_dimensionality::<Ix0>()?
+                    .item::<u16>()?
+                    .into_pyobject(py)?
+                    .into_any(),
+                PixelType::I32 => view
+                    .into_dimensionality::<Ix0>()?
+                    .item::<i32>()?
+                    .into_pyobject(py)?
+                    .into_any(),
+                PixelType::U32 => view
+                    .into_dimensionality::<Ix0>()?
+                    .item::<u32>()?
+                    .into_pyobject(py)?
+                    .into_any(),
+                PixelType::I64 => view
+                    .into_dimensionality::<Ix0>()?
+                    .item::<i64>()?
+                    .into_pyobject(py)?
+                    .into_any(),
+                PixelType::U64 => view
+                    .into_dimensionality::<Ix0>()?
+                    .item::<u64>()?
+                    .into_pyobject(py)?
+                    .into_any(),
+                PixelType::I128 => view
+                    .into_dimensionality::<Ix0>()?
+                    .item::<i64>()?
+                    .into_pyobject(py)?
+                    .into_any(),
+                PixelType::U128 => view
+                    .into_dimensionality::<Ix0>()?
+                    .item::<u64>()?
+                    .into_pyobject(py)?
+                    .into_any(),
+                PixelType::F32 => view
+                    .into_dimensionality::<Ix0>()?
+                    .item::<f32>()?
+                    .into_pyobject(py)?
+                    .into_any(),
+                PixelType::F64 => view
+                    .into_dimensionality::<Ix0>()?
+                    .item::<f64>()?
+                    .into_pyobject(py)?
+                    .into_any(),
+                PixelType::F128 => view
+                    .into_dimensionality::<Ix0>()?
+                    .item::<f64>()?
+                    .into_pyobject(py)?
+                    .into_any(),
+            })
+        } else {
+            PyView {
+                view,
+                dtype: self.dtype.clone(),
+                ome: self.ome.clone(),
+            }
+            .into_bound_py_any(py)
         }
-        Ok(Self {
-            view: Reader::new(&path, series as i32)?.view().into_dyn(),
-            dtype: dtype.parse()?,
-        })
     }
 
     /// close the file: does nothing as this is handled automatically
@@ -73,11 +166,18 @@ impl PyView {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn copy(&self) -> PyView {
-        PyView {
+    /// change the data type of the view: (u)int(8/16/32) or float(32/64)
+    fn as_type(&self, dtype: &str) -> PyResult<PyView> {
+        Ok(PyView {
             view: self.view.clone(),
-            dtype: self.dtype.clone(),
-        }
+            dtype: dtype.parse()?,
+            ome: self.ome.clone(),
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// change the data type of the view: (u)int(8/16/32) or float(32/64)
+    fn astype(&self, dtype: &str) -> PyResult<PyView> {
+        self.as_type(dtype)
     }
 
     /// slice the view and return a new view or a single number
@@ -216,11 +316,33 @@ impl PyView {
             PyView {
                 view,
                 dtype: self.dtype.clone(),
+                ome: self.ome.clone(),
             }
             .into_bound_py_any(py)
         }
     }
 
+    #[pyo3(signature = (dtype = None))]
+    fn __array__<'py>(&self, py: Python<'py>, dtype: Option<&str>) -> PyResult<Bound<'py, PyAny>> {
+        if let Some(dtype) = dtype {
+            self.as_type(dtype)?.as_array(py)
+        } else {
+            self.as_array(py)
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn __contains__(&self, _item: Bound<'_, PyAny>) -> PyResult<bool> {
+        Err(PyNotImplementedError::new_err("contains not implemented"))
+    }
+
+    fn __enter__<'p>(slf: PyRef<'p, Self>, _py: Python<'p>) -> PyResult<PyRef<'p, Self>> {
+        Ok(slf)
+    }
+
+    fn __exit__(&self) -> PyResult<()> {
+        self.close()
+    }
+
     fn __reduce__(&self) -> PyResult<(ViewConstructor, (String,))> {
         if let Ok(s) = to_string(self) {
             Ok((ViewConstructor, (s,)))
@@ -229,6 +351,34 @@ impl PyView {
         }
     }
 
+    fn __copy__(&self) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            view: self.view.clone(),
+            dtype: self.dtype.clone(),
+            ome: self.ome.clone(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn copy(&self) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            view: self.view.clone(),
+            dtype: self.dtype.clone(),
+            ome: self.ome.clone(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn __len__(&self) -> PyResult<usize> {
+        Ok(self.view.len())
+    }
+
+    fn __repr__(&self) -> PyResult<String> {
+        Ok(self.view.summary()?)
+    }
+
+    fn __str__(&self) -> PyResult<String> {
+        Ok(self.view.path.display().to_string())
+    }
+
     /// retrieve a single frame at czt, sliced accordingly
     fn get_frame<'py>(
         &self,
@@ -240,73 +390,113 @@ impl PyView {
         Ok(match self.dtype {
             PixelType::I8 => self
                 .view
-                .get_frame::<i8>(c, z, t)?
+                .get_frame::<i8, _>(c, z, t)?
                 .into_pyarray(py)
                 .into_any(),
             PixelType::U8 => self
                 .view
-                .get_frame::<u8>(c, z, t)?
+                .get_frame::<u8, _>(c, z, t)?
                 .into_pyarray(py)
                 .into_any(),
             PixelType::I16 => self
                 .view
-                .get_frame::<i16>(c, z, t)?
+                .get_frame::<i16, _>(c, z, t)?
                 .into_pyarray(py)
                 .into_any(),
             PixelType::U16 => self
                 .view
-                .get_frame::<u16>(c, z, t)?
+                .get_frame::<u16, _>(c, z, t)?
                 .into_pyarray(py)
                 .into_any(),
             PixelType::I32 => self
                 .view
-                .get_frame::<i32>(c, z, t)?
+                .get_frame::<i32, _>(c, z, t)?
                 .into_pyarray(py)
                 .into_any(),
             PixelType::U32 => self
                 .view
-                .get_frame::<u32>(c, z, t)?
+                .get_frame::<u32, _>(c, z, t)?
                 .into_pyarray(py)
                 .into_any(),
             PixelType::F32 => self
                 .view
-                .get_frame::<f32>(c, z, t)?
+                .get_frame::<f32, _>(c, z, t)?
                 .into_pyarray(py)
                 .into_any(),
             PixelType::F64 => self
                 .view
-                .get_frame::<f64>(c, z, t)?
+                .get_frame::<f64, _>(c, z, t)?
                 .into_pyarray(py)
                 .into_any(),
             PixelType::I64 => self
                 .view
-                .get_frame::<i64>(c, z, t)?
+                .get_frame::<i64, _>(c, z, t)?
                 .into_pyarray(py)
                 .into_any(),
             PixelType::U64 => self
                 .view
-                .get_frame::<u64>(c, z, t)?
+                .get_frame::<u64, _>(c, z, t)?
                 .into_pyarray(py)
                 .into_any(),
             PixelType::I128 => self
                 .view
-                .get_frame::<i64>(c, z, t)?
+                .get_frame::<i64, _>(c, z, t)?
                 .into_pyarray(py)
                 .into_any(),
             PixelType::U128 => self
                 .view
-                .get_frame::<u64>(c, z, t)?
+                .get_frame::<u64, _>(c, z, t)?
                 .into_pyarray(py)
                 .into_any(),
             PixelType::F128 => self
                 .view
-                .get_frame::<f64>(c, z, t)?
+                .get_frame::<f64, _>(c, z, t)?
                 .into_pyarray(py)
                 .into_any(),
         })
     }
 
-    /// retrieve the ome metadata as an xml string
+    fn flatten<'py>(&self, py: Python<'py>) -> PyResult<Bound<'py, PyAny>> {
+        Ok(match self.dtype {
+            PixelType::I8 => self.view.flatten::<i8>()?.into_pyarray(py).into_any(),
+            PixelType::U8 => self.view.flatten::<u8>()?.into_pyarray(py).into_any(),
+            PixelType::I16 => self.view.flatten::<i16>()?.into_pyarray(py).into_any(),
+            PixelType::U16 => self.view.flatten::<u16>()?.into_pyarray(py).into_any(),
+            PixelType::I32 => self.view.flatten::<i32>()?.into_pyarray(py).into_any(),
+            PixelType::U32 => self.view.flatten::<u32>()?.into_pyarray(py).into_any(),
+            PixelType::F32 => self.view.flatten::<f32>()?.into_pyarray(py).into_any(),
+            PixelType::F64 => self.view.flatten::<f64>()?.into_pyarray(py).into_any(),
+            PixelType::I64 => self.view.flatten::<i64>()?.into_pyarray(py).into_any(),
+            PixelType::U64 => self.view.flatten::<u64>()?.into_pyarray(py).into_any(),
+            PixelType::I128 => self.view.flatten::<i64>()?.into_pyarray(py).into_any(),
+            PixelType::U128 => self.view.flatten::<u64>()?.into_pyarray(py).into_any(),
+            PixelType::F128 => self.view.flatten::<f64>()?.into_pyarray(py).into_any(),
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn to_bytes(&self) -> PyResult<Vec<u8>> {
+        Ok(match self.dtype {
+            PixelType::I8 => self.view.to_bytes::<i8>()?,
+            PixelType::U8 => self.view.to_bytes::<u8>()?,
+            PixelType::I16 => self.view.to_bytes::<i16>()?,
+            PixelType::U16 => self.view.to_bytes::<u16>()?,
+            PixelType::I32 => self.view.to_bytes::<i32>()?,
+            PixelType::U32 => self.view.to_bytes::<u32>()?,
+            PixelType::F32 => self.view.to_bytes::<f32>()?,
+            PixelType::F64 => self.view.to_bytes::<f64>()?,
+            PixelType::I64 => self.view.to_bytes::<i64>()?,
+            PixelType::U64 => self.view.to_bytes::<u64>()?,
+            PixelType::I128 => self.view.to_bytes::<i64>()?,
+            PixelType::U128 => self.view.to_bytes::<u64>()?,
+            PixelType::F128 => self.view.to_bytes::<f64>()?,
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn tobytes(&self) -> PyResult<Vec<u8>> {
+        self.to_bytes()
+    }
+
+    /// retrieve the ome metadata as an XML string
     fn get_ome_xml(&self) -> PyResult<String> {
         Ok(self.view.get_ome_xml()?)
     }
@@ -319,18 +509,14 @@ impl PyView {
 
     /// the series in the file
     #[getter]
-    fn series(&self) -> PyResult<i32> {
+    fn series(&self) -> PyResult<usize> {
         Ok(self.view.series)
     }
 
     /// the axes in the view
     #[getter]
-    fn axes(&self) -> Vec<String> {
-        self.view
-            .axes()
-            .iter()
-            .map(|a| format!("{:?}", a))
-            .collect()
+    fn axes(&self) -> String {
+        self.view.axes().iter().map(|a| format!("{:?}", a)).join("")
     }
 
     /// the shape of the view
@@ -391,6 +577,7 @@ impl PyView {
         Ok(PyView {
             view,
             dtype: self.dtype.clone(),
+            ome: self.ome.clone(),
         })
     }
 
@@ -409,9 +596,16 @@ impl PyView {
         Ok(PyView {
             view,
             dtype: self.dtype.clone(),
+            ome: self.ome.clone(),
         })
     }
 
+    #[allow(non_snake_case)]
+    #[getter]
+    fn T(&self) -> PyResult<Self> {
+        self.transpose(None)
+    }
+
     /// collect data into a numpy array
     fn as_array<'py>(&self, py: Python<'py>) -> PyResult<Bound<'py, PyAny>> {
         Ok(match self.dtype {
@@ -431,14 +625,6 @@ impl PyView {
         })
     }
 
-    /// change the data type of the view: (u)int(8/16/32) or float(32/64)
-    fn as_type(&self, dtype: String) -> PyResult<Self> {
-        Ok(PyView {
-            view: self.view.clone(),
-            dtype: dtype.parse()?,
-        })
-    }
-
     #[getter]
     fn get_dtype(&self) -> PyResult<&str> {
         Ok(match self.dtype {
@@ -475,6 +661,7 @@ impl PyView {
             PyView {
                 dtype: self.dtype.clone(),
                 view: self.view.max_proj(self.get_ax(axis)?)?,
+                ome: self.ome.clone(),
             }
             .into_bound_py_any(py)
         } else {
@@ -507,6 +694,7 @@ impl PyView {
             PyView {
                 dtype: self.dtype.clone(),
                 view: self.view.min_proj(self.get_ax(axis)?)?,
+                ome: self.ome.clone(),
             }
             .into_bound_py_any(py)
         } else {
@@ -544,6 +732,7 @@ impl PyView {
             PyView {
                 dtype,
                 view: self.view.mean_proj(self.get_ax(axis)?)?,
+                ome: self.ome.clone(),
             }
             .into_bound_py_any(py)
         } else {
@@ -580,6 +769,7 @@ impl PyView {
             PyView {
                 dtype,
                 view: self.view.sum_proj(self.get_ax(axis)?)?,
+                ome: self.ome.clone(),
             }
             .into_bound_py_any(py)
         } else {
@@ -595,6 +785,83 @@ impl PyView {
             })
         }
     }
+
+    #[getter]
+    fn z_stack(&self) -> PyResult<bool> {
+        if let Some(s) = self.view.size_ax(Axis::Z) {
+            Ok(s > 1)
+        } else {
+            Ok(false)
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[getter]
+    fn time_series(&self) -> PyResult<bool> {
+        if let Some(s) = self.view.size_ax(Axis::T) {
+            Ok(s > 1)
+        } else {
+            Ok(false)
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[getter]
+    fn pixel_size(&self) -> PyResult<Option<f64>> {
+        Ok(self.ome.pixel_size()?)
+    }
+
+    #[getter]
+    fn delta_z(&self) -> PyResult<Option<f64>> {
+        Ok(self.ome.delta_z()?)
+    }
+
+    #[getter]
+    fn time_interval(&self) -> PyResult<Option<f64>> {
+        Ok(self.ome.time_interval()?)
+    }
+
+    fn exposure_time(&self, channel: usize) -> PyResult<Option<f64>> {
+        Ok(self.ome.exposure_time(channel)?)
+    }
+
+    fn binning(&self, channel: usize) -> Option<usize> {
+        self.ome.binning(channel)
+    }
+
+    fn laser_wavelengths(&self, channel: usize) -> PyResult<Option<f64>> {
+        Ok(self.ome.laser_wavelengths(channel)?)
+    }
+
+    fn laser_power(&self, channel: usize) -> PyResult<Option<f64>> {
+        Ok(self.ome.laser_powers(channel)?)
+    }
+
+    #[getter]
+    fn objective_name(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        self.ome.objective_name()
+    }
+
+    #[getter]
+    fn magnification(&self) -> Option<f64> {
+        self.ome.magnification()
+    }
+
+    #[getter]
+    fn tube_lens_name(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        self.ome.tube_lens_name()
+    }
+
+    fn filter_set_name(&self, channel: usize) -> Option<String> {
+        self.ome.filter_set_name(channel)
+    }
+
+    fn gain(&self, channel: usize) -> Option<f64> {
+        self.ome.gain(channel)
+    }
+
+    /// gives a helpful summary of the recorded experiment
+    fn summary(&self) -> PyResult<String> {
+        Ok(self.view.summary()?)
+    }
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn ndbioimage_file() -> anyhow::Result<PathBuf> {

src/reader.rs

@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@ use crate::axes::Axis;
 use crate::bioformats;
 use crate::bioformats::{DebugTools, ImageReader, MetadataTools};
 use crate::view::View;
-use anyhow::{anyhow, Error, Result};
-use ndarray::{s, Array2, Ix5};
+use anyhow::{Error, Result, anyhow};
+use ndarray::{Array2, Ix5, s};
 use num::{FromPrimitive, Zero};
+use ome_metadata::Ome;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::any::type_name;
 use std::fmt::Debug;
@@ -14,6 +15,26 @@ use std::str::FromStr;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use thread_local::ThreadLocal;
 
+pub fn split_path_and_series<P>(path: P) -> Result<(PathBuf, Option<usize>)>
+where
+    P: Into<PathBuf>,
+{
+    let path = path.into();
+    let file_name = path
+        .file_name()
+        .ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("No file name"))?
+        .to_str()
+        .ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("No file name"))?;
+    if file_name.to_lowercase().starts_with("pos") {
+        if let Some(series) = file_name.get(3..) {
+            if let Ok(series) = series.parse::<usize>() {
+                return Ok((path, Some(series)));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    Ok((path, None))
+}
+
 /// Pixel types (u)int(8/16/32) or float(32/64), (u/i)(64/128) are not included in bioformats
 #[allow(clippy::upper_case_acronyms)]
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -228,7 +249,7 @@ pub struct Reader {
     /// path to file
     pub path: PathBuf,
     /// which (if more than 1) of the series in the file to open
-    pub series: i32,
+    pub series: usize,
     /// size x (horizontal)
     pub size_x: usize,
     /// size y (vertical)
@@ -254,7 +275,7 @@ impl Deref for Reader {
             let ome_meta = meta_data_tools.create_ome_xml_metadata().unwrap();
             reader.set_metadata_store(ome_meta).unwrap();
             reader.set_id(self.path.to_str().unwrap()).unwrap();
-            reader.set_series(self.series).unwrap();
+            reader.set_series(self.series as i32).unwrap();
             reader
         })
     }
@@ -284,11 +305,14 @@ impl Debug for Reader {
 
 impl Reader {
     /// Create a new reader for the image file at a path, and open series #.
-    pub fn new(path: &Path, series: i32) -> Result<Self> {
+    pub fn new<P>(path: P, series: usize) -> Result<Self>
+    where
+        P: AsRef<Path>,
+    {
         DebugTools::set_root_level("ERROR")?;
         let mut reader = Reader {
             image_reader: ThreadLocal::default(),
-            path: PathBuf::from(path),
+            path: path.as_ref().to_path_buf(),
             series,
             size_x: 0,
             size_y: 0,
@@ -308,6 +332,17 @@ impl Reader {
         Ok(reader)
     }
 
+    /// Get ome metadata as ome structure
+    pub fn get_ome(&self) -> Result<Ome> {
+        let mut ome = self.ome_xml()?.parse::<Ome>()?;
+        if let Some(image) = ome.image.as_ref() {
+            if image.len() > 1 {
+                ome.image = Some(vec![image[self.series].clone()]);
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(ome)
+    }
+
     /// Get ome metadata as xml string
     pub fn get_ome_xml(&self) -> Result<String> {
         self.ome_xml()
@@ -339,7 +374,7 @@ impl Reader {
 
     /// Retrieve fame at channel c, slize z and time t.
     pub fn get_frame(&self, c: usize, z: usize, t: usize) -> Result<Frame> {
-        let bytes = if self.is_rgb()? & self.is_interleaved()? {
+        let bytes = if self.is_rgb()? && self.is_interleaved()? {
             let index = self.get_index(z as i32, 0, t as i32)?;
             self.deinterleave(self.open_bytes(index)?, c)?
         } else if self.get_rgb_channel_count()? > 1 {
@@ -418,7 +453,7 @@ impl Reader {
         }
     }
 
-    /// get a slicable view on the image file
+    /// get a sliceable view on the image file
     pub fn view(&self) -> View<Ix5> {
         let slice = s![
             0..self.size_c,

src/stats.rs

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
+use anyhow::{Result, anyhow};
 use ndarray::{Array, ArrayD, ArrayView, Axis, Dimension, RemoveAxis};
 
 /// a trait to define the min, max, sum and mean operations along an axis
@@ -196,6 +196,10 @@ macro_rules! impl_frame_stats_int {
 }
 
 impl_frame_stats_float_view!(f32, f64);
-impl_frame_stats_int_view!(u8, i8, u16, i16, u32, i32, u64, i64, u128, i128, usize, isize);
+impl_frame_stats_int_view!(
+    u8, i8, u16, i16, u32, i32, u64, i64, u128, i128, usize, isize
+);
 impl_frame_stats_float!(f32, f64);
-impl_frame_stats_int!(u8, i8, u16, i16, u32, i32, u64, i64, u128, i128, usize, isize);
+impl_frame_stats_int!(
+    u8, i8, u16, i16, u32, i32, u64, i64, u128, i128, usize, isize
+);

src/tiff.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,193 @@
+use crate::colors::Color;
+use crate::metadata::Metadata;
+use crate::reader::PixelType;
+use crate::stats::MinMax;
+use crate::view::{Number, View};
+use anyhow::{Result, anyhow};
+use indicatif::{ProgressBar, ProgressStyle};
+use itertools::iproduct;
+use ndarray::{Array0, Array1, Array2, ArrayD, Dimension};
+use rayon::prelude::*;
+use std::path::Path;
+use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+use tiffwrite::{Bytes, Colors, Compression, IJTiffFile};
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct TiffOptions {
+    bar: Option<ProgressStyle>,
+    compression: Compression,
+    colors: Option<Vec<Vec<u8>>>,
+    overwrite: bool,
+}
+
+impl Default for TiffOptions {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            bar: None,
+            compression: Compression::Zstd(10),
+            colors: None,
+            overwrite: false,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl TiffOptions {
+    pub fn new(
+        bar: bool,
+        compression: Option<Compression>,
+        colors: Vec<String>,
+        overwrite: bool,
+    ) -> Result<Self> {
+        let mut options = Self {
+            bar: None,
+            compression: compression.unwrap_or(Compression::Zstd(10)),
+            colors: None,
+            overwrite,
+        };
+        if bar {
+            options.enable_bar()?;
+        }
+        if !colors.is_empty() {
+            options.set_colors(&colors)?;
+        }
+        Ok(options)
+    }
+
+    /// show a progress bar while saving tiff
+    pub fn enable_bar(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
+        self.bar = Some(ProgressStyle::with_template(
+            "{spinner:.green} [{elapsed_precise}, {percent}%] [{wide_bar:.green/lime}] {pos:>7}/{len:7} ({eta_precise}, {per_sec:<5})",
+        )?.progress_chars("▰▱▱"));
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// do not show a progress bar while saving tiff
+    pub fn disable_bar(&mut self) {
+        self.bar = None;
+    }
+
+    /// save tiff with zstd compression (default)
+    pub fn set_zstd_compression(&mut self) {
+        self.compression = Compression::Zstd(10)
+    }
+
+    /// save tiff with zstd compression, choose a level between 7..=22
+    pub fn set_zstd_compression_level(&mut self, level: i32) {
+        self.compression = Compression::Zstd(level)
+    }
+
+    /// save tiff with deflate compression
+    pub fn set_deflate_compression(&mut self) {
+        self.compression = Compression::Deflate
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_colors(&mut self, colors: &[String]) -> Result<()> {
+        let colors = colors
+            .iter()
+            .map(|c| c.parse::<Color>())
+            .collect::<Result<Vec<_>>>()?;
+        self.colors = Some(colors.into_iter().map(|c| c.to_rgb()).collect());
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_overwrite(&mut self, overwrite: bool) {
+        self.overwrite = overwrite;
+    }
+}
+
+impl<D> View<D>
+where
+    D: Dimension,
+{
+    /// save as tiff with a certain type
+    pub fn save_as_tiff_with_type<T, P>(&self, path: P, options: &TiffOptions) -> Result<()>
+    where
+        P: AsRef<Path>,
+        T: Bytes + Number + Send + Sync,
+        ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+        Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+        Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
+    {
+        let path = path.as_ref().to_path_buf();
+        if path.exists() {
+            if options.overwrite {
+                std::fs::remove_file(&path)?;
+            } else {
+                return Err(anyhow!("File {} already exists", path.display()));
+            }
+        }
+        let size_c = self.size_c();
+        let size_z = self.size_z();
+        let size_t = self.size_t();
+        let mut tiff = IJTiffFile::new(path)?;
+        tiff.set_compression(options.compression.clone());
+        let ome = self.get_ome()?;
+        tiff.px_size = ome.pixel_size()?.map(|i| i / 1e3);
+        tiff.time_interval = ome.time_interval()?.map(|i| i / 1e3);
+        tiff.delta_z = ome.delta_z()?.map(|i| i / 1e3);
+        tiff.comment = Some(self.ome_xml()?);
+        if let Some(mut colors) = options.colors.clone() {
+            while colors.len() < self.size_c {
+                colors.push(vec![255, 255, 255]);
+            }
+            tiff.colors = Colors::Colors(colors);
+        }
+        let tiff = Arc::new(Mutex::new(tiff));
+        if let Some(style) = &options.bar {
+            let bar = ProgressBar::new((size_c as u64) * (size_z as u64) * (size_t as u64))
+                .with_style(style.clone());
+            iproduct!(0..size_c, 0..size_z, 0..size_t)
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                .into_par_iter()
+                .map(|(c, z, t)| {
+                    if let Ok(mut tiff) = tiff.lock() {
+                        tiff.save(&self.get_frame::<T, _>(c, z, t)?, c, z, t)?;
+                        bar.inc(1);
+                        Ok(())
+                    } else {
+                        Err(anyhow::anyhow!("tiff is locked"))
+                    }
+                })
+                .collect::<Result<()>>()?;
+            bar.finish();
+        } else {
+            iproduct!(0..size_c, 0..size_z, 0..size_t)
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                .into_par_iter()
+                .map(|(c, z, t)| {
+                    if let Ok(mut tiff) = tiff.lock() {
+                        tiff.save(&self.get_frame::<T, _>(c, z, t)?, c, z, t)?;
+                        Ok(())
+                    } else {
+                        Err(anyhow::anyhow!("tiff is locked"))
+                    }
+                })
+                .collect::<Result<()>>()?;
+        };
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// save as tiff with whatever pixel type the view has
+    pub fn save_as_tiff<P>(&self, path: P, options: &TiffOptions) -> Result<()>
+    where
+        P: AsRef<Path>,
+    {
+        match self.pixel_type {
+            PixelType::I8 => self.save_as_tiff_with_type::<i8, P>(path, options)?,
+            PixelType::U8 => self.save_as_tiff_with_type::<u8, P>(path, options)?,
+            PixelType::I16 => self.save_as_tiff_with_type::<i16, P>(path, options)?,
+            PixelType::U16 => self.save_as_tiff_with_type::<u16, P>(path, options)?,
+            PixelType::I32 => self.save_as_tiff_with_type::<i32, P>(path, options)?,
+            PixelType::U32 => self.save_as_tiff_with_type::<u32, P>(path, options)?,
+            PixelType::F32 => self.save_as_tiff_with_type::<f32, P>(path, options)?,
+            PixelType::F64 => self.save_as_tiff_with_type::<f64, P>(path, options)?,
+            PixelType::I64 => self.save_as_tiff_with_type::<i64, P>(path, options)?,
+            PixelType::U64 => self.save_as_tiff_with_type::<u64, P>(path, options)?,
+            PixelType::I128 => self.save_as_tiff_with_type::<i64, P>(path, options)?,
+            PixelType::U128 => self.save_as_tiff_with_type::<u64, P>(path, options)?,
+            PixelType::F128 => self.save_as_tiff_with_type::<f64, P>(path, options)?,
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}

src/view.rs

@@ -1,23 +1,25 @@
-use crate::axes::{slice_info, Ax, Axis, Operation, Slice, SliceInfoElemDef};
+use crate::axes::{Ax, Axis, Operation, Slice, SliceInfoElemDef, slice_info};
+use crate::metadata::Metadata;
 use crate::reader::Reader;
 use crate::stats::MinMax;
-use anyhow::{anyhow, Error, Result};
+use anyhow::{Error, Result, anyhow};
 use indexmap::IndexMap;
-use itertools::iproduct;
+use itertools::{Itertools, iproduct};
 use ndarray::{
-    s, Array, Array0, Array1, Array2, ArrayD, Dimension, IntoDimension, Ix0, Ix1, Ix2, Ix5, IxDyn,
-    SliceArg, SliceInfoElem,
+    Array, Array0, Array1, Array2, ArrayD, Dimension, IntoDimension, Ix0, Ix1, Ix2, Ix5, IxDyn,
+    SliceArg, SliceInfoElem, s,
 };
-use num::{Bounded, FromPrimitive, Zero};
+use num::traits::ToBytes;
+use num::{Bounded, FromPrimitive, ToPrimitive, Zero};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use serde_with::serde_as;
 use std::any::type_name;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::fmt::{Display, Formatter};
 use std::iter::Sum;
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
-use std::mem::{transmute, transmute_copy};
 use std::ops::{AddAssign, Deref, Div};
-use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 fn idx_bnd(idx: isize, bnd: isize) -> Result<isize> {
@@ -65,8 +67,10 @@ impl<T> Number for T where
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct View<D: Dimension> {
     reader: Arc<Reader>,
+    /// same order as axes
     #[serde_as(as = "Vec<SliceInfoElemDef>")]
     slice: Vec<SliceInfoElem>,
+    /// always has all of cztyx with possibly some new axes added
     axes: Vec<Axis>,
     operations: IndexMap<Axis, Operation>,
     dimensionality: PhantomData<D>,
@@ -83,13 +87,79 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
         }
     }
 
+    #[allow(dead_code)]
+    pub(crate) fn new_with_axes(reader: Arc<Reader>, axes: Vec<Axis>) -> Result<Self> {
+        let mut slice = Vec::new();
+        for axis in axes.iter() {
+            match axis {
+                Axis::C => slice.push(SliceInfoElem::Slice {
+                    start: 0,
+                    end: Some(reader.size_c as isize),
+                    step: 1,
+                }),
+                Axis::Z => slice.push(SliceInfoElem::Slice {
+                    start: 0,
+                    end: Some(reader.size_z as isize),
+                    step: 1,
+                }),
+                Axis::T => slice.push(SliceInfoElem::Slice {
+                    start: 0,
+                    end: Some(reader.size_t as isize),
+                    step: 1,
+                }),
+                Axis::Y => slice.push(SliceInfoElem::Slice {
+                    start: 0,
+                    end: Some(reader.size_y as isize),
+                    step: 1,
+                }),
+                Axis::X => slice.push(SliceInfoElem::Slice {
+                    start: 0,
+                    end: Some(reader.size_x as isize),
+                    step: 1,
+                }),
+                Axis::New => {
+                    slice.push(SliceInfoElem::NewAxis);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        let mut axes = axes.clone();
+        for axis in [Axis::C, Axis::Z, Axis::T, Axis::Y, Axis::X] {
+            if !axes.contains(&axis) {
+                let size = match axis {
+                    Axis::C => reader.size_c,
+                    Axis::Z => reader.size_z,
+                    Axis::T => reader.size_t,
+                    Axis::Y => reader.size_y,
+                    Axis::X => reader.size_x,
+                    Axis::New => 1,
+                };
+                if size > 1 {
+                    return Err(anyhow!(
+                        "Axis {:?} has length {}, but was not included",
+                        axis,
+                        size
+                    ));
+                }
+                slice.push(SliceInfoElem::Index(0));
+                axes.push(axis);
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(Self {
+            reader,
+            slice,
+            axes,
+            operations: IndexMap::new(),
+            dimensionality: PhantomData,
+        })
+    }
+
     /// the file path
     pub fn path(&self) -> &PathBuf {
         &self.reader.path
     }
 
     /// the series in the file
-    pub fn series(&self) -> i32 {
+    pub fn series(&self) -> usize {
         self.reader.series
     }
 
@@ -139,6 +209,11 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
         &self.axes
     }
 
+    #[allow(dead_code)]
+    pub(crate) fn get_operations(&self) -> &IndexMap<Axis, Operation> {
+        &self.operations
+    }
+
     /// the slice defining the view
     pub fn get_slice(&self) -> &[SliceInfoElem] {
         &self.slice
@@ -159,6 +234,27 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
             .collect()
     }
 
+    /// remove axes of size 1
+    pub fn squeeze(&self) -> Result<View<IxDyn>> {
+        let view = self.clone().into_dyn();
+        let slice: Vec<_> = self
+            .shape()
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|s| {
+                if s == 1 {
+                    SliceInfoElem::Index(0)
+                } else {
+                    SliceInfoElem::Slice {
+                        start: 0,
+                        end: None,
+                        step: 1,
+                    }
+                }
+            })
+            .collect();
+        view.slice(slice.as_slice())
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn op_axes(&self) -> Vec<Axis> {
         self.operations.keys().cloned().collect()
     }
@@ -172,11 +268,27 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
         }
     }
 
+    /// the number of pixels in the first dimension
+    pub fn len(&self) -> usize {
+        self.shape()[0]
+    }
+
+    pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.shape()[0] == 0
+    }
+
     /// the number of pixels in the view
     pub fn size(&self) -> usize {
         self.shape().into_iter().product()
     }
 
+    pub fn size_ax(&self, ax: Axis) -> Option<usize> {
+        self.axes()
+            .iter()
+            .position(|a| *a == ax)
+            .map(|i| self.shape()[i])
+    }
+
     /// the shape of the view
     pub fn shape(&self) -> Vec<usize> {
         let mut shape = Vec::<usize>::new();
@@ -202,6 +314,43 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
         shape
     }
 
+    pub fn size_of(&self, axis: Axis) -> usize {
+        if let Some(axis_position) = self.axes.iter().position(|a| *a == axis) {
+            match self.slice[axis_position] {
+                SliceInfoElem::Slice { start, end, step } => {
+                    if let Some(e) = end {
+                        ((e - start).max(0) / step) as usize
+                    } else {
+                        panic!("slice has no end")
+                    }
+                }
+                _ => 1,
+            }
+        } else {
+            1
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn size_c(&self) -> usize {
+        self.size_of(Axis::C)
+    }
+
+    pub fn size_z(&self) -> usize {
+        self.size_of(Axis::Z)
+    }
+
+    pub fn size_t(&self) -> usize {
+        self.size_of(Axis::T)
+    }
+
+    pub fn size_y(&self) -> usize {
+        self.size_of(Axis::Y)
+    }
+
+    pub fn size_x(&self) -> usize {
+        self.size_of(Axis::X)
+    }
+
     fn shape_all(&self) -> Vec<usize> {
         let mut shape = Vec::<usize>::new();
         for s in self.slice.iter() {
@@ -227,7 +376,7 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
         slice.swap(idx0, idx1);
         let mut axes = self.axes.clone();
         axes.swap(idx0, idx1);
-        Ok(View::new(self.reader.clone(), slice, axes))
+        Ok(View::new(self.reader.clone(), slice, axes).with_operations(self.operations.clone()))
     }
 
     /// subset of gives axes will be reordered in given order
@@ -244,7 +393,7 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
             slice[j] = self.slice[i];
             axes[j] = self.axes[i];
         }
-        Ok(View::new(self.reader.clone(), slice, axes))
+        Ok(View::new(self.reader.clone(), slice, axes).with_operations(self.operations.clone()))
     }
 
     /// reverse the order of the axes
@@ -253,17 +402,35 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
             self.reader.clone(),
             self.slice.iter().rev().cloned().collect(),
             self.axes.iter().rev().cloned().collect(),
-        ))
+        )
+        .with_operations(self.operations.clone()))
     }
 
     fn operate<A: Ax>(&self, axis: A, operation: Operation) -> Result<View<D::Smaller>> {
         let pos = axis.pos_op(&self.axes, &self.slice, &self.op_axes())?;
-        let mut operations = self.operations.clone();
-        operations.insert(self.axes[pos], operation);
-        Ok(
-            View::new(self.reader.clone(), self.slice.clone(), self.axes.clone())
-                .with_operations(operations),
-        )
+        let ax = self.axes[pos];
+        let (axes, slice, operations) = if Axis::New == ax {
+            let mut axes = self.axes.clone();
+            let mut slice = self.slice.clone();
+            axes.remove(pos);
+            slice.remove(pos);
+            (axes, slice, self.operations.clone())
+        } else if self.operations.contains_key(&ax) {
+            if D::NDIM.is_none() {
+                (
+                    self.axes.clone(),
+                    self.slice.clone(),
+                    self.operations.clone(),
+                )
+            } else {
+                return Err(anyhow!("axis {}: {} is already operated on!", pos, ax));
+            }
+        } else {
+            let mut operations = self.operations.clone();
+            operations.insert(ax, operation);
+            (self.axes.clone(), self.slice.clone(), operations)
+        };
+        Ok(View::new(self.reader.clone(), slice, axes).with_operations(operations))
     }
 
     /// maximum along axis
@@ -300,51 +467,88 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
         let mut new_slice = Vec::new();
         let mut new_axes = Vec::new();
         let reader_slice = self.slice.as_slice();
-        while (r_idx < reader_slice.len()) & (n_idx < info.len()) {
-            let n = &info[n_idx];
-            let r = &reader_slice[r_idx];
-            let a = &self.axes[r_idx];
-            if self.operations.contains_key(a) {
-                new_slice.push(*r);
-                new_axes.push(*a);
-                r_idx += 1;
-            } else {
-                match (n, r) {
+        while (r_idx < reader_slice.len()) | (n_idx < info.len()) {
+            let n = info.get(n_idx);
+            let r = reader_slice.get(r_idx);
+            let a = self.axes.get(r_idx);
+            match a {
+                Some(i) if self.operations.contains_key(i) => {
+                    new_slice.push(*r.expect("slice should exist for axes under operation"));
+                    new_axes.push(*i);
+                    r_idx += 1;
+                }
+                _ => match (n, r) {
                     (
-                        SliceInfoElem::Slice {
+                        Some(SliceInfoElem::Slice {
                             start: info_start,
                             end: info_end,
                             step: info_step,
-                        },
-                        SliceInfoElem::Slice { start, end, step },
+                        }),
+                        Some(SliceInfoElem::Slice { start, end, step }),
                     ) => {
                         let new_start = start + info_start;
-                        let new_end = match (info_end, end) {
-                            (Some(m), Some(n)) => *n.min(&(start + info_step * m)),
-                            (None, Some(n)) => *n,
-                            _ => panic!("slice has no end"),
+                        let end = end.expect("slice has no end");
+                        let new_end = if let Some(m) = info_end {
+                            end.min(start + info_step * m)
+                        } else {
+                            end
                         };
                         let new_step = (step * info_step).abs();
+                        if new_start > end {
+                            return Err(anyhow!(
+                                "Index {} out of bounds {}",
+                                info_start,
+                                (end - start) / step
+                            ));
+                        }
                         new_slice.push(SliceInfoElem::Slice {
                             start: new_start,
                             end: Some(new_end),
                             step: new_step,
                         });
-                        new_axes.push(*a);
+                        new_axes.push(*a.expect("axis should exist when slice exists"));
                         n_idx += 1;
                         r_idx += 1;
                     }
-                    (SliceInfoElem::Index(k), SliceInfoElem::Slice { start, end, step }) => {
-                        if *k < 0 {
-                            new_slice.push(SliceInfoElem::Index(end.unwrap_or(0) + step.abs() * k))
+                    (
+                        Some(SliceInfoElem::Index(k)),
+                        Some(SliceInfoElem::Slice { start, end, step }),
+                    ) => {
+                        let i = if *k < 0 {
+                            end.unwrap_or(0) + step.abs() * k
                         } else {
-                            new_slice.push(SliceInfoElem::Index(start + step.abs() * k));
+                            start + step.abs() * k
+                        };
+                        let end = end.expect("slice has no end");
+                        if i >= end {
+                            return Err(anyhow!(
+                                "Index {} out of bounds {}",
+                                i,
+                                (end - start) / step
+                            ));
                         }
-                        new_axes.push(*a);
+                        new_slice.push(SliceInfoElem::Index(i));
+                        new_axes.push(*a.expect("axis should exist when slice exists"));
                         n_idx += 1;
                         r_idx += 1;
                     }
-                    (SliceInfoElem::NewAxis, SliceInfoElem::NewAxis) => {
+                    (Some(SliceInfoElem::Slice { start, .. }), Some(SliceInfoElem::NewAxis)) => {
+                        if *start != 0 {
+                            return Err(anyhow!("Index {} out of bounds 1", start));
+                        }
+                        new_slice.push(SliceInfoElem::NewAxis);
+                        new_axes.push(Axis::New);
+                        n_idx += 1;
+                        r_idx += 1;
+                    }
+                    (Some(SliceInfoElem::Index(k)), Some(SliceInfoElem::NewAxis)) => {
+                        if *k != 0 {
+                            return Err(anyhow!("Index {} out of bounds 1", k));
+                        }
+                        n_idx += 1;
+                        r_idx += 1;
+                    }
+                    (Some(SliceInfoElem::NewAxis), Some(SliceInfoElem::NewAxis)) => {
                         new_slice.push(SliceInfoElem::NewAxis);
                         new_slice.push(SliceInfoElem::NewAxis);
                         new_axes.push(Axis::New);
@@ -352,23 +556,22 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
                         n_idx += 1;
                         r_idx += 1;
                     }
-                    (_, SliceInfoElem::NewAxis) => {
-                        new_slice.push(SliceInfoElem::NewAxis);
-                        new_axes.push(Axis::New);
-                        n_idx += 1;
-                        r_idx += 1;
-                    }
-                    (SliceInfoElem::NewAxis, _) => {
+                    (Some(SliceInfoElem::NewAxis), _) => {
                         new_slice.push(SliceInfoElem::NewAxis);
                         new_axes.push(Axis::New);
                         n_idx += 1;
                     }
-                    (_, SliceInfoElem::Index(k)) => {
+                    (_, Some(SliceInfoElem::Index(k))) => {
                         new_slice.push(SliceInfoElem::Index(*k));
-                        new_axes.push(*a);
+                        new_axes.push(*a.expect("axis should exist when slice exists"));
                         r_idx += 1;
                     }
-                }
+                    _ => {
+                        panic!("unreachable");
+                        // n_idx += 1;
+                        // r_idx += 1;
+                    }
+                },
             }
         }
         debug_assert_eq!(r_idx, reader_slice.len());
@@ -382,37 +585,50 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
             .with_operations(self.operations.clone()))
     }
 
+    /// resets axes to cztyx order, with all 5 axes present,
+    /// inserts new axes in place of axes under operation (max_proj etc.)
+    pub fn reset_axes(&self) -> Result<View<Ix5>> {
+        let mut axes = Vec::new();
+        let mut slice = Vec::new();
+
+        for ax in [Axis::C, Axis::Z, Axis::T, Axis::Y, Axis::X] {
+            axes.push(ax);
+            let s = self.slice[ax.pos(&self.axes, &self.slice)?];
+            match s {
+                SliceInfoElem::Slice { .. } => slice.push(s),
+                SliceInfoElem::Index(i) => slice.push(SliceInfoElem::Slice {
+                    start: i,
+                    end: Some(i + 1),
+                    step: 1,
+                }),
+                SliceInfoElem::NewAxis => {
+                    panic!("slice should not be NewAxis when axis is one of cztyx")
+                }
+            }
+            if self.operations.contains_key(&ax) {
+                axes.push(Axis::New);
+                slice.push(SliceInfoElem::NewAxis)
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(View::new(self.reader.clone(), slice, axes).with_operations(self.operations.clone()))
+    }
+
     /// slice, but slice elements are in cztyx order, all cztyx must be given,
     /// but axes not present in view will be ignored, view axes are reordered in cztyx order
     pub fn slice_cztyx<I>(&self, info: I) -> Result<View<I::OutDim>>
     where
         I: SliceArg<Ix5>,
     {
-        let axes = self.axes();
-        let slice: Vec<_> = info
-            .as_ref()
-            .iter()
-            .zip(self.axes.iter())
-            .filter_map(|(&s, ax)| if axes.contains(ax) { Some(s) } else { None })
-            .collect();
-        let new_axes: Vec<_> = [Axis::C, Axis::Z, Axis::T, Axis::Y, Axis::X]
-            .into_iter()
-            .filter(|ax| axes.contains(ax))
-            .collect();
-        self.clone()
-            .into_dyn()
-            .permute_axes(&new_axes)?
-            .slice(slice.as_slice())?
-            .into_dimensionality()
+        self.reset_axes()?.slice(info)?.into_dimensionality()
     }
 
     /// the pixel intensity at a given index
     pub fn item_at<T>(&self, index: &[isize]) -> Result<T>
     where
         T: Number,
-        ArrayD<T>: MinMax,
-        Array1<T>: MinMax,
-        Array2<T>: MinMax,
+        ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+        Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+        Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
     {
         let slice: Vec<_> = index.iter().map(|s| SliceInfoElem::Index(*s)).collect();
         let view = self.clone().into_dyn().slice(slice.as_slice())?;
@@ -424,9 +640,9 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
     pub fn as_array<T>(&self) -> Result<Array<T, D>>
     where
         T: Number,
-        ArrayD<T>: MinMax,
-        Array1<T>: MinMax,
-        Array2<T>: MinMax,
+        ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+        Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+        Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
     {
         Ok(self.as_array_dyn()?.into_dimensionality()?)
     }
@@ -435,9 +651,9 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
     pub fn as_array_dyn<T>(&self) -> Result<ArrayD<T>>
     where
         T: Number,
-        ArrayD<T>: MinMax,
-        Array1<T>: MinMax,
-        Array2<T>: MinMax,
+        ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+        Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+        Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
     {
         let mut op_xy = IndexMap::new();
         if let Some((&ax, op)) = self.operations.first() {
@@ -461,18 +677,15 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
         for (s, a) in self.slice.iter().zip(&self.axes) {
             match s {
                 SliceInfoElem::Slice { start, end, step } => {
-                    if let Some(e) = end {
-                        if !op_xy.contains_key(a) && !op_czt.contains_key(a) {
-                            shape_out.push(((e - start).max(0) / step) as usize);
-                            slice.push(SliceInfoElem::Slice {
-                                start: 0,
-                                end: None,
-                                step: 1,
-                            });
-                            ax_out.push(*a);
-                        }
-                    } else {
-                        panic!("slice has no end")
+                    let end = end.expect("slice has no end");
+                    if !op_xy.contains_key(a) && !op_czt.contains_key(a) {
+                        shape_out.push(((end - start).max(0) / step) as usize);
+                        slice.push(SliceInfoElem::Slice {
+                            start: 0,
+                            end: None,
+                            step: 1,
+                        });
+                        ax_out.push(*a);
                     }
                 }
                 SliceInfoElem::Index(_) => {}
@@ -542,7 +755,9 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
 
         let mut axes_out_idx = [None; 5];
         for (i, ax) in ax_out.iter().enumerate() {
-            axes_out_idx[*ax as usize] = Some(i);
+            if *ax < Axis::New {
+                axes_out_idx[*ax as usize] = Some(i);
+            }
         }
 
         for (c, z, t) in iproduct!(&slice_reader[0], &slice_reader[1], &slice_reader[2]) {
@@ -570,17 +785,14 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
                         let (&ax1, op1) = op_xy.get_index(1).unwrap();
                         let a = arr_frame.slice(xys).to_owned();
                         let b = op0.operate(a, ax0 as usize - 3)?;
-                        let c: &Array1<T> = unsafe { transmute(&b) };
-                        let d = op1.operate(c.to_owned(), ax1 as usize - 3)?;
-                        let e: &Array0<T> = unsafe { transmute(&d) };
-                        e.to_owned().into_dyn()
+                        let c = op1.operate(b.to_owned(), ax1 as usize - 3)?;
+                        c.to_owned().into_dyn()
                     } else if op_xy.contains_key(&Axis::X) || op_xy.contains_key(&Axis::Y) {
                         let xys = slice_info::<Ix1>(&xy)?;
                         let (&ax, op) = op_xy.first().unwrap();
                         let a = arr_frame.slice(xys).to_owned();
                         let b = op.operate(a, ax as usize - 3)?;
-                        let c: &Array0<T> = unsafe { transmute(&b) };
-                        c.to_owned().into_dyn()
+                        b.to_owned().into_dyn()
                     } else {
                         let xys = slice_info::<Ix0>(&xy)?;
                         arr_frame.slice(xys).to_owned().into_dyn()
@@ -592,8 +804,7 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
                         let (&ax, op) = op_xy.first().unwrap();
                         let a = arr_frame.slice(xys).to_owned();
                         let b = op.operate(a, ax as usize - 3)?;
-                        let c: &Array1<T> = unsafe { transmute(&b) };
-                        c.to_owned().into_dyn()
+                        b.to_owned().into_dyn()
                     } else {
                         let xys = slice_info::<Ix1>(&xy)?;
                         arr_frame.slice(xys).to_owned().into_dyn()
@@ -643,15 +854,21 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
             }
         }
         let mut out = Some(array);
-        let ax_out: HashMap<Axis, usize> = ax_out
+        let mut ax_out: HashMap<Axis, usize> = ax_out
             .into_iter()
             .enumerate()
             .map(|(i, a)| (a, i))
             .collect();
         for (ax, op) in self.operations.iter().skip(op_xy.len() + op_czt.len()) {
-            if let Some(&idx) = ax_out.get(ax) {
+            if let Some(idx) = ax_out.remove(ax) {
+                for (_, i) in ax_out.iter_mut() {
+                    if *i > idx {
+                        *i -= 1;
+                    }
+                }
                 let arr = out.take().unwrap();
-                let _ = out.insert(unsafe { transmute_copy(&op.operate(arr, idx)?) });
+                let a = op.operate(arr, idx)?;
+                let _ = out.insert(a);
             }
         }
         let mut n = 1;
@@ -671,23 +888,59 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
         Ok(array)
     }
 
-    /// retrieve a single frame at czt, sliced accordingly
-    pub fn get_frame<T>(&self, c: isize, z: isize, t: isize) -> Result<Array2<T>>
+    /// turn the view into a 1d array
+    pub fn flatten<T>(&self) -> Result<Array1<T>>
     where
         T: Number,
-        ArrayD<T>: MinMax,
-        Array1<T>: MinMax,
-        Array2<T>: MinMax,
+        ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+        Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+        Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
     {
+        Ok(Array1::from_iter(self.as_array()?.iter().cloned()))
+    }
+
+    /// turn the data into a byte vector
+    pub fn to_bytes<T>(&self) -> Result<Vec<u8>>
+    where
+        T: Number + ToBytesVec,
+        ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+        Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+        Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
+    {
+        Ok(self
+            .as_array()?
+            .iter()
+            .flat_map(|i| i.to_bytes_vec())
+            .collect())
+    }
+
+    /// retrieve a single frame at czt, sliced accordingly
+    pub fn get_frame<T, N>(&self, c: N, z: N, t: N) -> Result<Array2<T>>
+    where
+        T: Number,
+        ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+        Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+        Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
+        N: Display + ToPrimitive,
+    {
+        let c = c
+            .to_isize()
+            .ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("cannot convert {} into isize", c))?;
+        let z = z
+            .to_isize()
+            .ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("cannot convert {} into isize", z))?;
+        let t = t
+            .to_isize()
+            .ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("cannot convert {} into isize", t))?;
         self.slice_cztyx(s![c, z, t, .., ..])?.as_array()
     }
 
     fn get_stat<T>(&self, operation: Operation) -> Result<T>
     where
         T: Number + Sum,
-        ArrayD<T>: MinMax,
-        Array1<T>: MinMax,
-        Array2<T>: MinMax,
+        ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+        Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+        Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
     {
         let arr: ArrayD<T> = self.as_array_dyn()?;
         Ok(match operation {
@@ -715,9 +968,9 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
     pub fn max<T>(&self) -> Result<T>
     where
         T: Number + Sum,
-        ArrayD<T>: MinMax,
-        Array1<T>: MinMax,
-        Array2<T>: MinMax,
+        ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+        Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+        Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
     {
         self.get_stat(Operation::Max)
     }
@@ -726,9 +979,9 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
     pub fn min<T>(&self) -> Result<T>
     where
         T: Number + Sum,
-        ArrayD<T>: MinMax,
-        Array1<T>: MinMax,
-        Array2<T>: MinMax,
+        ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+        Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+        Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
     {
         self.get_stat(Operation::Min)
     }
@@ -737,9 +990,9 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
     pub fn sum<T>(&self) -> Result<T>
     where
         T: Number + Sum,
-        ArrayD<T>: MinMax,
-        Array1<T>: MinMax,
-        Array2<T>: MinMax,
+        ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+        Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+        Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
     {
         self.get_stat(Operation::Sum)
     }
@@ -748,12 +1001,35 @@ impl<D: Dimension> View<D> {
     pub fn mean<T>(&self) -> Result<T>
     where
         T: Number + Sum,
-        ArrayD<T>: MinMax,
-        Array1<T>: MinMax,
-        Array2<T>: MinMax,
+        ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+        Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+        Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
     {
         self.get_stat(Operation::Mean)
     }
+
+    /// gives a helpful summary of the recorded experiment
+    pub fn summary(&self) -> Result<String> {
+        let mut s = "".to_string();
+        s.push_str(&format!("path/filename: {}\n", self.path.display()));
+        s.push_str(&format!("series/pos:    {}\n", self.series));
+        s.push_str(&format!("dtype:         {:?}\n", self.pixel_type));
+        let axes = self
+            .axes()
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|ax| format!("{}", ax))
+            .join("")
+            .to_lowercase();
+        let shape = self
+            .shape()
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|s| format!("{}", s))
+            .join(" x ");
+        let space = " ".repeat(6usize.saturating_sub(axes.len()));
+        s.push_str(&format!("shape ({}):{}{}\n", axes, space, shape));
+        s.push_str(&self.get_ome()?.summary()?);
+        Ok(s)
+    }
 }
 
 impl<D: Dimension> Deref for View<D> {
@@ -768,9 +1044,9 @@ impl<T, D> TryFrom<View<D>> for Array<T, D>
 where
     T: Number,
     D: Dimension,
-    ArrayD<T>: MinMax,
-    Array1<T>: MinMax,
-    Array2<T>: MinMax,
+    ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+    Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+    Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
 {
     type Error = Error;
 
@@ -783,9 +1059,9 @@ impl<T, D> TryFrom<&View<D>> for Array<T, D>
 where
     T: Number,
     D: Dimension,
-    ArrayD<T>: MinMax,
-    Array1<T>: MinMax,
-    Array2<T>: MinMax,
+    ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+    Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+    Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
 {
     type Error = Error;
 
@@ -799,18 +1075,37 @@ pub trait Item {
     fn item<T>(&self) -> Result<T>
     where
         T: Number,
-        ArrayD<T>: MinMax,
-        Array1<T>: MinMax,
-        Array2<T>: MinMax;
+        ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+        Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+        Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>;
+}
+
+impl View<Ix5> {
+    pub fn from_path<P>(path: P, series: usize) -> Result<Self>
+    where
+        P: AsRef<Path>,
+    {
+        let mut path = path.as_ref().to_path_buf();
+        if path.is_dir() {
+            for file in path.read_dir()?.flatten() {
+                let p = file.path();
+                if file.path().is_file() && (p.extension() == Some("tif".as_ref())) {
+                    path = p;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(Reader::new(path, series)?.view())
+    }
 }
 
 impl Item for View<Ix0> {
     fn item<T>(&self) -> Result<T>
     where
         T: Number,
-        ArrayD<T>: MinMax,
-        Array1<T>: MinMax,
-        Array2<T>: MinMax,
+        ArrayD<T>: MinMax<Output = ArrayD<T>>,
+        Array1<T>: MinMax<Output = Array0<T>>,
+        Array2<T>: MinMax<Output = Array1<T>>,
     {
         Ok(self
             .as_array()?
@@ -819,3 +1114,36 @@ impl Item for View<Ix0> {
             .clone())
     }
 }
+
+impl<D: Dimension> Display for View<D> {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        if let Ok(summary) = self.summary() {
+            write!(f, "{}", summary)
+        } else {
+            write!(f, "{}", self.path.display())
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// trait to convert numbers to bytes
+pub trait ToBytesVec {
+    fn to_bytes_vec(&self) -> Vec<u8>;
+}
+
+macro_rules! to_bytes_vec_impl {
+    ($($t:ty $(,)?)*) => {
+        $(
+            impl ToBytesVec for $t {
+
+                #[inline]
+                fn to_bytes_vec(&self) -> Vec<u8> {
+                    self.to_ne_bytes().to_vec()
+                }
+            }
+        )*
+    };
+}
+
+to_bytes_vec_impl!(
+    u8, u16, u32, u64, u128, usize, i8, i16, i32, i64, i128, isize, f32, f64
+);