https://github.com/afm-spm/afmreader
A library for loading various atomic force microscopy file formats.
https://github.com/afm-spm/afmreader
afm atomic-force-microscopy io
Last synced: 3 months ago
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A library for loading various atomic force microscopy file formats.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/afm-spm/afmreader
- Owner: AFM-SPM
- License: gpl-3.0
- Created: 2023-09-19T23:00:51.000Z (over 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2025-09-22T21:26:10.000Z (4 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-09-22T23:30:25.263Z (4 months ago)
- Topics: afm, atomic-force-microscopy, io
- Language: Python
- Homepage: https://afm-spm.github.io/AFMReader/
- Size: 68.1 MB
- Stars: 17
- Watchers: 3
- Forks: 2
- Open Issues: 12
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Contributing: docs/contributing.md
- License: COPYING
- Code of conduct: CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
- Citation: CITATION.cff
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# AFMReader
[](https://badge.fury.io/py/AFMReader)
[](https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff)
[](https://github.com/psf/black)
[](https://github.com/psf/flake8)
[](https://results.pre-commit.ci/latest/github/AFM-SPM/AFMReader/main)
[](https://fair-software.eu)
[](https://pepy.tech/project/afmreader)
[](https://pepy.tech/project/afmreader)
[](https://pepy.tech/project/afmreader)
A library for loading various Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) file formats into Python. This library is primarily intended
for use with [TopoStats](https://github.com/AFM-SPM/TopoStats).
Supported file formats
| File format | Description |
|-----------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| `.asd` | High-speed AFM |
| `.gwy` | [Gwydion]() |
| `.h5-jpk` | [Bruker](https://www.bruker.com/) |
| `.ibw` | [WaveMetrics](https://www.wavemetrics.com/) |
| `.jpk-qi-image` | [Bruker](https://www.bruker.com/) |
| `.jpk` | [Bruker](https://www.bruker.com/) |
| `.spm` | [Bruker's Format](https://www.bruker.com/) |
| `.stp` | [WSXM AFM software files](http://www.wsxm.eu) |
| `.top` | `.stp` variant |
| `.topostats` | [TopoStats](https://github.com/AFM-SPM/TopoStats) |
Support for the following additional formats is planned. Some of these are already supported in TopoStats and are
awaiting refactoring to move their functionality into AFMReader these are denoted in bold below.
| File format | Description | Status |
|-------------|---------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| `.nhf` | [Nanosurf](https://www.nanosurf.com/en/) | To Be Implemented. |
| `.aris` | [Imaris Oxford Instruments](https://imaris.oxinst.com/) | To Be Implemented. |
| `.tiff` | [Park Systems](https://www.parksystems.com/) | To Be Implemented. |
## Usage
If you wish to process AFM images supported by `AFMReader` it is recommend you use
[TopoStats](https://github.com/AFM-SPM/TopoStats) to do so, however the library can be used on its own.
### .topostats
You can open `.topostats` files using the `load_topostats` function. Just pass in the path to the file.
```python
from AFMReader.topostats import load_topostats
image, pixel_to_nanometre_scaling_factor, metadata = load_topostats(file_path="./my_topostats_file.topostats")
```
### .spm
You can open `.spm` files using the `load_spm` function. Just pass in the path to the file and the
channel name that you want to use. (If in doubt use one of the following: "Height", "ZSensor",
"Height Sensor").
```python
from AFMReader.spm import load_spm
image, pixel_to_nanometre_scaling_factor = load_spm(file_path="./my_spm_file.spm", channel="Height")
```
### .gwy
You can open `.gwy` files using the `load_gwy` function. Just pass in the path to the file and the
channel name that you want to use. (If in doubt use one one of the following: "Height", "ZSensor",
"Height Sensor").
```python
from AFMReader.gwy import load_gwy
image, pixel_to_nanometre_scaling_factor = load_gwy(file_path="./my_gwy_file.gwy", channel="Height")
```
### .asd
You can open `.asd` files using the `load_asd` function. Just pass in the path to the file and the channel name that you
want to use. (If in doubt use the `"TP"` topography channel).
Note: For `.asd` files, there seem to only ever be two channels in one file. `"TP"` (topography) is the main one you
will want to use unless you know you specifically want something else.
Other channels: `"ER"` - Error, `"PH"` - Phase
```python
from AFMReader.asd import load_asd
frames, pixel_to_nanometre_scaling_factor, metadata = load_asd(file_path="./my_asd_file.asd", channel="TP")
```
### .ibw
You can open `.ibw` files using the `load_ibw` function. Just pass in the path to the file
and the channel name that you want to use. (If in doubt, use `HeightTracee` (yes, with the
extra 'e'), `ZSensorTrace`, or `ZSensor`).
```python
from AFMReader.ibw import load_ibw
image, pixel_to_nanometre_scaling_factor = load_ibw(file_path="./my_ibw_file.ibw", channel="HeightTracee")
```
### .jpk
You can open `.jpk` files using the `load_jpk` function. Just pass in the path
to the file and the channel name you want to use. (If in doubt, use `height_trace` or `measuredHeight_trace`).
```python
from AFMReader.jpk import load_jpk
image, pixel_to_nanometre_scaling_factor = load_jpk(file_path="./my_jpk_file.jpk", channel="height_trace")
```
### .h5-jpk
You can open `.h5-jpk` files using the `load_h5jpk` function. Just pass in the path
to the file and the channel name you want to use.
(If in doubt, use `height_trace` or `measuredHeight_trace`).
Note: Since `.h5-jpk` stores timeseries AFM data a dictionary of timestamps for each frame is also returned.
```python
from AFMReader.h5_jpk import load_h5jpk
frames, pixel_to_nanometre_scaling_factor, timestamp_dict = load_h5jpk(file_path="./my_jpk_file.jpk", channel="height_trace")
```
### .stp
You can open `.stp` files using the `load_stp` function. Just pass in the path
to the file you want to use.
```python
from AFMReader.stp import load_stp
image, pixel_to_nanometre_scaling_factor = load_stp(file_path="./my_stp_file.stp")
```
### .top
You can open `.top` files using the `load_top` function. Just pass in the path
to the file you want to use.
```python
from AFMReader.top import load_top
image, pixel_to_nanometre_scaling_factor = load_top(file_path="./my_top_file.top")
```
## Contributing
Bug reports and feature requests are welcome. Please search for existing issues, if none relating to your bug/feature
are found then feel free to create a new [issue](https://github.com/AFM-SPM/AFMReader/issues/new) detailing what
went wrong or the feature you would like to see implemented.
Pull requests are also welcome, please note that we have a [Code of
Conduct](https://github.com/AFM-SPM/AFMReader/blob/main/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md).
### Setup
We use [pre-commit](https://pre-commit.com) to apply linting via [ruff](https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff) and
[pylint](https://pylint.pycqa.org/en/latest/index.html) pre-commit hooks and use the
[Black](https://github.com/psf/black) and [Flake8](https://github.com/psf/flake8) code styles. To set yourself up for
contributing after cloning the package and creating a Python virtual environment you should install the development
dependencies and `pre-commit` as shown below.
``` bash
# Activate your virtual environment, this will depend on which system you use e.g. conda or virtualenvwrapper
# Clone the repository
git clone git@github.com:AFM-SPM/AFMReader.git
# Change directories into the newly cloned directory
cd AFMReader
# Install the package along with the optional development (dev) dependencies
pip install -e .[dev]
# Install pre-commit
pre-commit install
```
This will ensure that any commits and pull requests you make will pass the [Pre-commit Continuous
Integration](https://pre-commit.ci). Where possible `ruff` will correct the changes it can, but it may require you to
address some issues manually, before adding any changes and attempting to commit again.
## Citing
If you use or depend on AFMReader in your software please consider citing it in any derivative work that is
published. Citation details can be found in the [CITATION.cff](CITATION.cff) file in this repository.
Also, please let us know if you use AFMReader in your software. You can either make a Pull Request to add it to the list
below or you can email us at [topostats@sheffield.ac.uk](mailto:topostats@sheffield.ac.uk) with details of your package.
### Used By
AFMReader is a dependency of the following packages.
- [pNanoLocz](https://github.com/Heath-AFM-Lab/pNanoLocz/)
- [TopoStats](https://github.com/AFM-SPM/TopoStats/)