HOW TO USE MEDISCAN
Mediscan is a photographic agency specialising in medical, health,
scientific and natural history images, managed by Medical-On-Line Ltd. Mediscan licenses
media for a wide range of uses, such as magazine and book publications, websites and TV
productions. Our archives consist of over 1 million images and in excess of 2,000 hours of
broadcast quality film footage. As we represent additional collections this figure is
always growing. Our online content represents a selection of this archive and we are
continually digitising images from our archives and adding them to the Mediscan website,
so if you cannot find the image you require on our website, contact us and we will source
the material. All images are available as high resolution files, although only a percentage
are available online. We only send out digital files; we do not supply transparencies.
Searching our database
Filtering search results
Lightbox facility
Calculating licence fees
Completing your purchase
Downloading your images
Searching Our Database
You are able to search our database of images or videos using keywords. Just enter your
desired keyword(s) in either the image search box or the video search box.
Single word
This will return images using a single keyword. For instance, if you enter 'doctor'
all images that contain doctor as one of our keywords will be returned.
Multiple words
If you search using multiple keywords the search facility will automatically insert an
'And' between the keywords i.e. it defaults to the 'All of the words' function.
For example, if you enter 'doctor nurse' and choose the default search match of
'All of the words', all images that contain both doctor and nurse as keywords will be
returned.
If you choose the 'Any of the words' function it will search using an 'Or' between the
keywords. For example, entering 'doctor nurse' and choosing the search match of
'Any of the words', will return all images containing the keyword doctor along with all
images containing the keyword nurse.
If you choose the 'Phrase' search match, then only images with that exact combination of
words will be returned.
Searches can also be made using keywords separated by the words 'And', 'Or', or 'Not'
(but not &). For instance, if you enter 'doctor and nurse' all images that contain
both doctor and nurse as keywords will be returned. Entering 'doctor or nurse' will return
all images containing the keyword doctor along with all images containing the keyword nurse.
Entering 'doctor not nurse' will return all images
containing the keyword doctor but exclude those also containing the keyword nurse.
Using multiple words is a good way to narrow down your search. Any number of words can be
used to target a specific image. For instance, doctor AND nurse AND day will return images
of a day ward containing a doctor and a nurse.
The following is suggested to improve your search:
- Does your word generally use a hyphen? Use x-ray instead of xray or x ray
- Make sure there are no spelling mistakes
- Try more general keywords. If you are searching for a particular disease
try typing in the body part e.g. for pre-auricular abscess try 'ear'
- Single words are more effective than plurals e.g. 'bone' instead of 'bones'
Results Page
After searching, you will be returned thumbnails relating to your search criteria, 24
images to a page. A page menu, with previous and next buttons is available to navigate
through the thumbnails. Below each thumbnail are a series of icons, explained here:
For images:
 Clicking on this
icon allows you to calculate a price for your desired usage of the image. You must be
logged in to use this facility. If you are not logged in, clicking on this icon will
take you to the login screen with a link to the registration screen if you are not a
registered user. After login you will be redirected to the price calculation screen.
 Clicking on this icon
displays a larger, watermarked image in a new window.
 Clicking on this icon
allows you to add the image to your lightbox. You must be logged in to use this facility.
If you are not logged in, clicking on this icon will take you to the login screen with a
link to the registration screen if you are not a registered user. After login you will be
redirected to the lightbox screen. You can read more about lightboxes
here.
 Clicking on this icon gives
further details about the image, including the image ID number, title, description and
associated keywords that are hyperlinked - clicking on one of the associated keywords
generates a new search. Clicking directly on the thumbnail also displays this information.
All images are available on-line at standard resolution for immediate download. A
percentage of images are available online as a high-resolution file.
 This icon indicates that
this image is available on-line as a high-resolution file for immediate download.
For videos:
Clicking on this icon will
redirect you to a page to send a request to our researchers for further information and
pricing It is not possible to calculate a price for videos online.
Clicking on this icon
displays a number of images depicting the content of the video. You are able to view
samples of our videos by clicking on the view sample video links; these are Quicktime
movies and Quicktime 5 movie player will need to be installed on your machine to view
these. An e-mail link is provided to contact us for further information or to view the
video prior to licensing.
Clicking on this icon
allows you to add the video to your lightbox. You must be logged in to use this facility.
If you are not logged in, clicking on this icon will take you to the login screen with a
link to the registration screen if you are not a registered user. After login you will
be redirected to the lightbox screen. You can read more about lightboxes
here.
Clicking on this icon gives
further details of the video, including ID number and title, description, the length of
the production, the production date and associated keywords that are hyperlinked -
clicking on one of the keywords generates a new search. Clicking directly on the
thumbnail also displays this information.
Filtering the results
Filter by media type
From the results page you can filter the results using the drop down menu at the top
left-hand of the page. Choosing an option will return only the images denoted with that
media type. For instance, if you are looking for an x-ray of the chest, search chest
from the homepage and then filter the results to display x-rays only. Likewise, if you
are looking for a scanning electron micrograph of bacteria, search bacteria from the
homepage and then choose SEM from the filter menu to only return scanning electron
micrographs.
Filter for high resolution
You are also able to filter the results to see only images that are available online
at high resolution for immediate download. For instance, if you are looking for an
image of a nurse that you want to license immediately, search nurse from the homepage
and then filter the results, by choosing HIGH RESOLUTION from the menu, to view only
the high resolution files available online.
Using two filters
You are able to use two filters. For instance, if you are looking for a scanning
electron micrograph of bacteria that you want to license immediately, search bacteria
from the homepage and then choose SEM from the filter menu to only return scanning
electron micrographs. Then choose HIGH RESOLUTION from the filter menu, to view only
the high resolution files available online.
Unfiltered results
By choosing ALL from the drop down menu you will be returned unfiltered results again.
Likewise, choosing ALL RESOLUTIONS will return unfiltered results.
Lightboxes
You must be logged in to use this facility. Our lightbox facility enables you to create
separate, named lightboxes to collate chosen images for different subject matter. When
searching click on the
icon to add to your lightbox and you will have a choice of which lightbox to add to or
to create a new lightbox, up to a maximum of 6. You can delete images from a single
lightbox by clicking on the 
icon or you can delete an entire lightbox. There is a link to your lightbox on the menu
at the top of every page.
To proceed from your lightbox to order you are required to calculate a price for the
image based on your requirements.
Calculating Licence Fees
When you buy an image from Mediscan, you purchase the right to use that image in a
particular way. This is called a licence. All Mediscan images are copyrighted and must
be licensed for use. The licence to use an image will appear on your invoice and will
spell out exactly how the image can be used.
The fee for licensing an image is dependant on your resolution requirement for the
image and how much exposure the image will get. To ascertain the fee you enter the
details of how the image will be used and an online price calculator calculates the fee.
There is a link to the price calculator at the top and bottom of the watermarked image
pop-up page. If you would rather communicate with our sales staff please email or
telephone +44 (0)20 8530 7589 or fax +44 (0) 20 8989 7795.
Choose the resolution of image you require. You will then have additional choices of
the use of the image. Make your choice from the drop down menu and click 'select'.
For standard resolution the online price calculator requires you to enter details of
how you intend to use your chosen image. For example, we will need to know what the image
will be used for (website, PowerPoint presentation, CD ROM, etc.), for how long and, in
some instances, the territory (Worldwide, UK only, etc.).
For high resolution images the online price calculator requires you to enter details
of how you intend to use your chosen image. It will ask you to enter:
- How the image will be used (magazine, educational book, etc.)
- The size the image will be used (A4 page, full A4)
- The print run
- The number of inserts
- The position of the picture (front cover, inside, back cover, etc.)
- The duration the image will be used
- The territory in which the image will be circulated (North America,
UK only, worldwide, etc.)
After calculating a licence fee click the 'add image to order' button to proceed.
You can continue to add images to your order or proceed to checkout.
- To continue searching click search on the menu at the top of the page.
- To add further images from your lightbox click lightbox on the menu at the top
of the page.
- To proceed to checkout click check out on the page at the bottom.
Completing Your Purchase
To proceed to check out you will need to login, if you are not already logged in.
If you are buying for the first time you may need to register.
After confirming or entering your details, you will be directed to a page confirming
your order, subject to payment. If you are happy, click the 'proceed to order' button
at the bottom of the page and you will be directed to our Secure Payment Page with
WorldPay for payment. At checkout we offer the facility to pay in US Dollars, Euros
and GB Pounds Sterling.
After completing the payment pages, return to Mediscan using the link to download your images.
Downloading Your Images
If you have purchased high-resolution images that are not available online we
will receive an e-mail and a member of staff will contact you regarding your order.
We will make the image available online for you to download and send you a link.
Follow any on screen instructions regarding the order and make a note of your order
number for future reference.
If you have purchased high-resolution images that are available online you will be
able to download immediately. Follow any on screen instructions. The file is a high
quality zipped jpeg. After downloading you will need Winzip (PC users) or Stuffit
(Mac users) to unzip the file. We recommend that the image be converted to a lossless
file type, such as a tiff, after downloading.
If you have purchased standard resolution images you will be able to download them
immediately. Follow any on screen instructions to download and save your images.
You can obtain a copy of your invoice by clicking on the link on the page.
If you experience any problems with your order, or downloading your images, please
call +44 (0) 20 8530 7589 to speak to a member of our staff.
The number of images available online grows week by week so come back regularly and
see what's new.
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