(requires: Automatic Measurement)
Automated measurement is the most powerful of image analysis features. In combination with user macros, NIS-Elements can become a semi- or fully-automatic image analysis tool. There are several key procedures which a proper automated measurement should involve:
Optical system calibration (see the Optical Configurations chapter)
Image acquisition (see the Image Acquisition chapter)
Defining threshold, creating the binary layer (see the Thresholding chapter)
Performing the automated measurement
Results presentation
Image Layers Involved in Measurement
The binary layer and also the color image can get involved in the automated measurement:
Binary layer - is typically used for shape and size measurements (area, perimeter, etc).
Color layer - intensity or hue measurements are carried out on this layer. The area covered with the binary layer is used as the source data.
Object/Field Measurement
NIS-Elements distinguishes two types of automated measurements: object and field.
Groups of neighboring pixels of the binary layer are called objects. Results of the object measurement are usually the object data such as Length, Area, CentreX/Y (the X,Y position of the central pixel of an object), etc.
Field measurements produce information regarding the whole measurement area (measurement frame, ROI). Such information can be Area Fraction, Mean Brightness, Density Variation, etc.
Please see the complete list of measurement features in the Measurement Features chapter.
Restricting the Area of Measurement
The area of measurement can be restricted by the measurement frame or by a user defined region of interest (ROI).
ROI is a user defined area of the image. Whenever the ROI is displayed (by the View > Layers > Measurement ROI command), it is also applied to restrict the area of measurement.
The measurement frame is a re-sizable rectangular frame which serves for bounding the area accepted for measurement. Turn the measurement frame ON via the Measure > Use Measurement Frame command.
Binary objects touching edges of ROI or the measurement frame can be treated differently (excluded from the measurement or included). This behavior can be specified within the Measure > Options window.
Statistics and Data Presentation
NIS-Elements calculates basic statistics - mean value, standard deviation and distribution of all measured features. The features to be measured can be selected in the Measure > Object Features and the Measure > Field and ROI Features windows. Results of all automated measurements are presented and can be exported from the View > Analysis Controls > Automated Measurement Results 
control panel.