A method is used to generate a report presenting parameter values corresponding to a structured illumination microscopy (SIM) optical system. The parameter values are based at least in part on the performed modulation calculation corresponding to an image set captured with the SIM optical system. A minimum FWHM slice is identified, based at least in part on an average FWHM value across the images in the first image set. Parameter estimation is performed on the identified minimum FWHM slice. Best in-focus parameters are identified based at least in part on the performed estimation. A phase estimate is performed for each image in the set. A modulation calculation is performed based at least in part on the identified best in-focus parameters. The report is based at least in part on the performed modulation calculation.