diff --git a/scam.py b/scam.py
index f930fb3..efa7acb 100755
--- a/scam.py
+++ b/scam.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ from settings import SettingsList
 
 pc = PipelineClient("http://sf-daqsync-01:8889")
 si = pc.get_server_info()
-pls = si["active_instances"]
+pls = all_pls = si["active_instances"]
 if not clargs.show_all_settings:
     pls = (i for i in pls if "spec_db" in i)
 pls = sorted(pls)
@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ class MainPanel(wx.Panel):
         self.eb_bkg = eb_bkg = EntryButton(self, label="Background Images", value=100, button="Record Background")
         eb_bkg.Disable()
 
+        self.btn_get_roi_bkg = btn_get_roi_bkg = wx.Button(self, label="Get ROI Background from ScreenPanel")
+        self.btn_get_roi_sig = btn_get_roi_sig = wx.Button(self, label="Get ROI Signal from ScreenPanel")
+        btn_get_roi_bkg.Disable()
+        btn_get_roi_sig.Disable()
+
         self.entries = entries = SettingsList(self)
 
         self.btn_print = btn_print = wx.Button(self, label="Print")
@@ -83,13 +88,18 @@ class MainPanel(wx.Panel):
 
         cb_pls.Bind(wx.EVT_COMBOBOX, self.on_select)
         eb_bkg.button.Bind(wx.EVT_BUTTON, self.on_save_bkg)
+        btn_get_roi_bkg.Bind(wx.EVT_BUTTON, self.on_get_roi_bkg)
+        btn_get_roi_sig.Bind(wx.EVT_BUTTON, self.on_get_roi_sig)
         btn_print.Bind(wx.EVT_BUTTON, self.on_print)
         btn_save.Bind(wx.EVT_BUTTON, self.on_save_cfg)
 
-        widgets = [btn_print, btn_save]
-        btns_sizer = make_filled_hbox(widgets)
+        widgets = [btn_get_roi_bkg, btn_get_roi_sig]
+        btns_get_roi = make_filled_vbox(widgets)
 
-        widgets = [cb_pls, STRETCH, eb_bkg, STRETCH, entries, btns_sizer]
+        widgets = [btn_print, btn_save]
+        btns_bottom = make_filled_hbox(widgets)
+
+        widgets = [cb_pls, STRETCH, eb_bkg, btns_get_roi, STRETCH, entries, btns_bottom]
         sizer = make_filled_vbox(widgets, border=10)
         self.SetSizer(sizer)
 
@@ -129,6 +139,8 @@ class MainPanel(wx.Panel):
             bkg_setting.set_value(latest_bkg)
 
         self.eb_bkg.Enable()
+        self.btn_get_roi_sig.Enable()
+        self.btn_get_roi_bkg.Enable()
         self.btn_print.Enable()
         self.btn_save.Enable()
 
@@ -150,6 +162,48 @@ class MainPanel(wx.Panel):
         return cfg
 
 
+    def on_get_roi_bkg(self, event):
+        roi = self._get_roi()
+        if roi is None:
+            return
+        self.entries.set("roi_background", roi)
+
+    def on_get_roi_sig(self, event):
+        roi = self._get_roi()
+        if roi is None:
+            return
+        self.entries.set("roi_signal", roi)
+
+
+    def _get_roi(self):
+        cam = self.camera
+        cam_pls = [i for i in all_pls if i.startswith(cam)]
+        suffices = ("sp", "sp1")
+        sp_pls = [i for i in cam_pls if i.split("_")[1] in suffices]
+
+        if len(sp_pls) == 0:
+            print("no screenpanel found for camera:", cam)
+            return None
+
+        if len(sp_pls) > 1:
+            print("several screenpanels found for camera:", cam)
+            for sp in sp_pls:
+                print("-", sp)
+            return None
+
+        sp = sp_pls[0]
+        cfg = pc.get_instance_config(sp)
+        roi = cfg["image_region_of_interest"]
+        if roi is None:
+            print("no roi set in screenpanel:", sp)
+            return None
+
+        xmin, xdelta, ymin, ydelta = roi
+        xmax = xmin + xdelta
+        ymax = ymin + ydelta
+        return xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax
+
+
     def on_print(self, event):
         old_cfg = self.orig_cfg
         new_cfg = self.make_cfg()