Advanced SEC-SAXS processing – Baseline correction ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Sometimes SEC data shows a baseline drift. This can be due either to instrumental changes (such as beam drift), or changes in the measured system, such as capillary fouling. RAW provides the ability to correct for these forms of baseline drift using either a linear or integral baseline method. The linear baseline method is best for instrumental drifts, while the integral baseline method is best for capillary fouling. Both baseline methods apply a distinct correction for each *q* value. A video version of this tutorial is available: .. raw:: html
The written version of the tutorial follows. Linear Baseline Correction ***************************** #. Clear all of the data in RAW. Load the **xylanase.hdf5** SEC data in the **sec_data** folder. #. When it loads in, you will see there is a distinct constant upward slope in the integrated intensity. This usually happens due to instrumental drift, and can often be mostly corrected for. |baseline_series_plot_png| #. Open the LC Series analysis panel. Set a buffer range ('Auto' is fine). You'll still see the slope in the subtracted integrated intensity plot. * *Note:* To baseline correct data, you should only have buffer regions selected before the peak. #. Use the triangle to expand the Baseline Correction section. * *Note:* On windows it will look like a button with '>>' after the name. |lc_analysis_baseline_expand_png| #. Set baseline correction to 'Linear'. You should see the start and end controls become active, and two blue regions representing your selected start and end regions appear on the 'Subtracted' plot. * *Note:* This should automatically show the 'Subtracted' plot tab. If it doesn't, select the 'Subtracted' plot tab. |lc_analysis_baseline_linear_png| #. If you look closely, it looks like the baseline may level off a little bit at the start of the series curve. So we will select a start range closer to the peak. Clik the 'Pick' button for the baseline correction start region and select a start region about halfway to the peak. Roughly 30-50 frames is a good length for the start and end regions. |lc_analysis_baseline_linear_pick_png| #. Expand the end range to be 50 frames long. |lc_analysis_baseline_linear_range_png| #. Click 'Set baseline and calculate'. You may see a warning, click 'Continue'. * *Note:* The warning simply informs you that the slope of the linear correction is not the same in the start and end region at all q values. This is usually the case, and mostly can be ignored. |lc_analysis_baseline_linear_warning_png| #. The 'Baseline Corrected' plot should automatically show after you set the baseline region and calculate. If not, change to that plot tab. You can see that the upward drift is essentially gone. |lc_analysis_baseline_linear_corrected_png| #. Switch back to the subtracted plot. You'll see the calculated baseline shown in orange. |lc_analysis_baseline_linear_baseline_png| #. Switch back to displaying the total intensity and the Baseline Corrected plot. #. Remove any existing sample region and find a new sample region using the 'Auto' button. Send that region to the Profiles plot. #. You can remove the baseline correction by changing the 'Baseline correction' selection from 'Linear' to 'None'. Do this, then send the sample region to the Profiles plot again. #. Change the 'Baseline correction' selection back to 'Linear'. Click 'Set Baseline and calculate' to redo the linear correction. Click 'OK' to exit the LC Series Analysis window. Now if you save series or reopen the window you will see your baseline correction. #. Switch to the profiles plot. Put the subtracted plot on a Log-Log scale. You can see a difference in the profiles due to the baseline correction at low q. |baseline_linear_profiles_png| Integral Baseline Correction ****************************** Integral baseline correction proceeds very similarly to linear baseline correction. Here we provide detail only where the proceedures are different. #. Clear all of the data in RAW. Load the **baseline.hdf5** SEC data in the **sec_data** folder. * *Note:* This is the same as what you :ref:`previously saved