Selection of presets for the visualization of image data sets

A computer system loaded with and operable to execute machine readable instructions for carrying out a computer-automated image visualization method for displaying images from an image data set comprising a plurality of image elements, each image element having an associated image value, the computer system comprising:

• a first memory unit storing a data file containing an image data set;
• a second memory unit storing a visualization application with a library of presets, each preset defining a mapping between image values and their representation in a graphical user interface;
• an image processing unit operable to load an image data set from the data file;
• a display unit operable to display an initial representation of the loaded image data set on a graphical user interface;
• a user input device operable to receive user input from a location in the representation to indicate a region of interest in the image data set;
• the image processing unit being further operable to:
• i. determine properties of image elements in the region of interest;
• ii. make a list of potentially suitable presets from the library of presets based on the determined properties of the region of interest;
• and
• iii. present the potentially suitable presets to the user for selection on the display unit;
• wherein the image data set is a volume data set having voxels as its image elements, each voxel has an associated voxel value as its associated image value, and the property of voxels used for the determination comprises statistical fluctuation in voxel value in said group of voxels.