The practical side of image processing with the use of a personal computer: Automation of the analyzing processes employing NIH image and adobe photoshop® with power Macintosh computers

Abstract

In histochemistry, image analysis has become quite common and is now regarded as a powerful tool that gives us semi-quantitative and precise interpretation on the obtained image data. However, image analysis itself is a time-consuming and laborious work, and so researchers in the laboratory desire to make this task proceed as automatically as possible. In NIH Image and Adobe Photoshop® software running on Power Macintosh computers, processes by automation are available in both programs, though they are quite different in each software. By use of both of these programs, the analysis processes become easier to set up. To automatically process the data, the suitable preprocessing of digital image data is required. That is, image processing programs are equipped with many processing programs, such as those for filtering, defining the threshold of images, or masking uninteresting areas. Additionally, a method for adequate labeling of the target substances and controlled conditions for the image digitization are always helpful.