Multigrain data processing software

We rely heavily on software written for the fable project. Fable is a collection of packages for multigrain crystallography. Some are still maintained, others have not been touched for 10 years. Recently, a new website was started: FABLE-3DXRD. The idea is to recreate a group of active researcher with software packages that are actually maintained.

There is competition: HEXRD, written and maintained by J. Bernier in the United States. Joel is actively working on HEXRD so one should keep an eye on it.

If something is available on FABLE-3DXRD, you should get it from there. Otherwise, you can download it from fable project.

Here is a list of packages we use. When you click on the links below, you will get additional information on downloading and installing the software.

• Fabian : to look at diffraction images
• Imagemath: calculation of median / average / background images
• Peaksearch: look for peaks (part of ImageD11)
• ImageD11: experimental parameters refinement, peak assignment, can do grain indexing
• GrainSpotter: grain indexing
• FitAllB: second stage refinement
• PolyXSim: simulation of diffraction data
• xfab: a python library with crystallographic computations
• Fable: huge graphical interface, that supposedly includes everything. Sometimes it works, most of the time, it does not (anymore)
• Specific TIMEleSS tools: a collection of scripts from the TIMEleSS projects, for both pre- and post-processing

Details on each piece of software and when to use them can be seen in the Multigrain data processing workflow page.

Getting started with a fable-3RDX software set can be hard.

Here is a dedicated page on

• Getting started on mac

• MTeX: texture analysis, plot of grain orientations
• MAUD: powder diffraction analysis
• Dioptas: python-based program for on-the-fly data processing and exploration of two-dimensional X-ray diffraction area detector data.
• Fit2D: general purpose and specialist 1 and 2 dimensional data analysis program, used on most of the European Synchrotron Research Facility beam-lines and by many other crystallography groups throughout the world.