Abstract. The behaviour of critical points of Gaussian scale-space images is mainly described by their creation and annihilation. In existing literature these events are determined in so-called canonical coordinates. A description in a user-defined Cartesian coordinate system is stated, as well as the results of a straightforward implementation. The location of a catastrophe can be predicted with subpixel accuracy. An example of an annihilation is given. Also an upper bound is derived for the area where critical points can be created. Experimental data of an MR, a CT, and an artificial noise image satisfy this result.