1- Prep the workspace

1. Gather the kit: get the slide out of the storage box, have the latest version of Daybook 4 software installed on the workstation (internet connection required). Have your Daybook 4 account created, and license entered (the license code ships with the slide https://argolight.com/products/daybook-4/).
2. Clean the glass surface and your objective with a lens tissue lightly soaked with a cleaning solvent (ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, etc.).
3. Power on the microscope and warm-up the light source for at least one hour (especially for confocal).

2- Load & align the slide

1. Select a low‑magnification objective (5x recommended) first so you can locate the patterns quickly without hunting with a high‑NA lens. Use the DAPI channel (350‑405 nm). The pattern shines brighter in the DAPI.
2. Place the Argoslide on the stage, face up (for upright microscopes).
3. Turn on the camera. Select the auto-exposure option in your acquisition software.
4. Coarse‑align the slide center with the camera’s field of view using the XY and Z translation knobs.
5. Select the pattern of interest for your quality control (the 3D stairs for the Stage Drift during Z-stacking analysis). Go to the center of the pattern of interest.
6. Focus into the glass until the fluorescent patterns pop into view.

E.g. of a Stairs pattern from an Argoslide.

3- Switch to the relevant acquisition settings

We’ll now switch to the acquisition settings of interest.

1. Switch to the working objective.
2. Switch to your channel of interest, usually GFP (488nm).
3. Fine-align the focal plane.

Tip: For confocal especially, avoid as much as possible to zoom into the pattern (to avoid risks)

1. Position yourself in the center of the camera and in the center of the Z-pattern so that you can capture the entire pattern during the Z-stack.