Before you can analyze data, you’ll need to configure and start your first job in Discovery. This process defines which plates to image, what analyses to run, and how often to capture images and data.
Prefer to watch? Check out our Reshape 101 video below – or keep reading for the step-by-step written guide.
Begin the job configuration by selecting the tray type (which what type of plates) you are running in your assay. Each comes pre-calibrated for optimal imaging and analysis. The tray preview shows available plate positions so you can see exactly where your samples will sit.
Note: In Reshape, tray and microtiter plate layouts use numbers for rows and letters for columns. For example, instead of starting at A1 in the top-left corner, a 96-well plate in Reshape begins at H12.
Next, toggle on the plates you plan to image and analyze. Plates are off by default, preventing accidental imaging of empty slots. Once a plate is enabled, you can add or scan a barcode to label it.
Click Scan in the top-right corner, if you use barcodes, to fill in barcodes automatically, or enter them manually. If your setup is integrated through the Reshape API, plate labels can even be populated automatically.
Under Details, give your job a name, link it to a project, and choose an analysis type. The selected analysis defines what data points will be generated — for example, colony counts, color metrics, or object segmentation.
The Lighting section lets you decide how your plates are illuminated:
Bottom light is best for translucent samples like agar plates.
Top light enhances surface detail and color
Fluorescence allows imaging of GFP or RFP signals.
You can combine multiple light modes and switch between when viewing the job.
Then, configure your capture settings. Choose between a single end-point image or a timelapse. If doing starting a time-lapsed job, adjust the interval between captures, and set the total duration. Shorter intervals create finer growth timelines, while longer ones reduce data size – balance according to your experiment.
Finally, set your temperature. You can keep it ambient or define a target value (up to 40 °C).
Once everything looks right, click Start Job and that's it!
Reshape will automatically begin imaging and analyzing your job, letting you do other tasks while your data is captured and processed.
Once configured, you’re ready to move on to the next step — viewing and analyzing your job results in Discovery.
👉 Next: [Viewing and analyzing a job →]