Tips to open DICOM file
Can't open the DICOM file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open DICOM files as well as a list of programs that support DICOM files.
DICOM file extension
The DICOM file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the DICOM files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the DICOM file on each system platform.
What is DICOM file?
The file in the DICOM format belongs to the Raster Image Files category. The creator of this file is NEMA. In addition to this file, the Raster Image Files category includes 522 related files. DICOM Image Format is most often found on 3 operating systems. The file will work on Linux, Mac OS, Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. The Adobe Photoshop application is recommended to open the file. It was released by Adobe Systems Incorporated. Alternatively, you can use 5 other programs. You can use GIMP, ImageMagick in case Adobe Photoshop cannot be used.
How to open DICOM file?
The main problem with DICOM Image Format is that the DICOM file is incorrectly associated with programs. Thus, when you open DICOM, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This problem can be easily remedied.
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the DICOM file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.
Step 1. Install Adobe Photoshop
In this case, you should first verify that the Adobe Photoshop application is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name Adobe Photoshop into the system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open DICOM files.
Programs to open DICOM file
Remember to download programs supporting DICOM files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of Adobe Photoshop with DICOM files
If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the DICOM file still does not use the Adobe Photoshop program, it means no association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the DICOM file with the Adobe Photoshop program.
Step 3. Update Adobe Photoshop to the latest version
If, however, after binding Adobe Photoshop with DICOM Image Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version. In this case, use the Adobe Systems Incorporated website or update the program from the application.
Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. File problems can be divided into the following:
Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the DICOM file. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the DICOM file that we want to open. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover DICOM files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the DICOM file. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular DICOM file corruption. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact NEMA
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted DICOM files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. Copying the DICOM file to another location will fix the problem.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. In this case, the DICOM file is blocked by the first application to open it. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the DICOM file again. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the DICOM file for a certain period of time. If nothing helps, please reset the device.
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