Abstract: A method for classifying pixels in an image, e.g. a microscopy image, as being associated with a feature of interest has been described. A color brightfield microscopy image represented by color values for an array of pixels is conventionally obtained. The image is over-segmented based on the color values to provide a plurality of groups of contiguous pixels with related color values, whereby a typical feature of interest will be represented by multiple segments. A list of pairs of segments which are adjacent to one another in the image is generated, and a difference in average color value between the segments comprising each pair is determined. Pairs of adjacent segments are then selectively joined together to form a joined segment to replace the corresponding pair of segments in the list if pre-defined joining criteria are met. The pairs are considered for joining in an order based on their respective differences in average color value.

Abstract: A method for classifying pixels in an image, e.g. a microscopy image, as being associated with a feature of interest has been described. A color brightfield microscopy image represented by color values for an array of pixels is conventionally obtained. The image is over-segmented based on the color values to provide a plurality of groups of contiguous pixels with related color values, whereby a typical feature of interest will be represented by multiple segments. A list of pairs of segments which are adjacent to one another in the image is generated, and a difference in average color value between the segments comprising each pair is determined. Pairs of adjacent segments are then selectively joined together to form a joined segment to replace the corresponding pair of segments in the list if pre-defined joining criteria are met. The pairs are considered for joining in an order based on their respective differences in average color value.