Please read the following very carefully before downloading and using GIM2D.
Credit : If you use GIM2D in a publication, please explicitly say so and quote Simard et al. (2002), ApJS, 142, 1. It is also crucial that you read this paper. I think it provides the best and most complete description of how GIM2D should be used to produce scientifically useful results.
Publications : One of my big motivations for making this software publicly available is scientific curiosity. I cannot wait to see what you will find. If you find something cool, please let me know! If you publish a paper based on GIM2D results, please send me a note.
Support : Please contact me if you intend to install and use GIM2D, and I will do my best to help. Here are some ways you can also get help:
Think about what you are doing: Quantitative galaxy morphology software packages can be powerful tools, but they should be used with great, great care. Do not treat them as black boxes. I did not make GIM2D particularly user-friendly because (1) lack of time (sorry!) and (2) Working through your initial trials (and errors!) will force you to think about the meaning of each parameter. For example, sky background determination errors will dominate your systematics. Make sure that the GIM2D background parameters are properly set for your dataset ...
Project Clearinghouse : I would love to make a web page listing all the people (and their projects) who are working with GIM2D. This web page would provide a good way for people working in the same areas to collaborate, exchange ideas, tips or advice. If you download GIM2D, please send me an email to say hello and to let me know what you are working on.
Source Code : It is not available with the public release.
WARNING : GIM2D is always work in progress. I would appreciate your comments and your bug reports (Luc.Simard(at)nrc-cnrc.gc.ca), but keep in mind that you are using it at your own risk. As far as I know, GIM2D produces reasonable results. I will be happy (well, not really) if you prove me wrong.
LUC SIMARD - 2000 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED AT EVERY POINT OF THE CURRENT SPACE-TIME CONTINUUM!
INSTALLATION
GIM2D is written in SPP, the native language of IRAF. Installing GIM2D as a layered package in your IRAF system should be straightforward. Here are the installation steps:
Download the compressed tar file of the GIM2D binary distribution for your platform:
Send an email to Luc.Simard(at)nrc-cnrc.gc.ca if a binary distribution is not available for your platform.
Create a directory in your account. For example,
/user/simard/iraf/fuzzy/.
Uncompress and unpack the tar file in your /user/simard/iraf/fuzzy directory with
the command:
tar -xvpf fuzzy.tar
Add the following lines to your login.cl:
set fuzzy = /user/simard/iraf/fuzzy/
task $fuzzy.pkg = fuzzy$fuzzy.cl
Start the IRAF CL, and FUZZY should appear as one of your IRAF packages. You are now ready to analyze morphologies. Enjoy!
The weird relation between the apparently useless FUZZY layer
and GIM2D comes from the fact that I have other galaxy image
analysis subpackages I intend to integrate into FUZZY one
day.
Last Update: 3 July 2013
Comments/questions to Luc.Simard(at)nrc-cnrc.gc.ca