Using Feature Collections

Hidden Feature

Image-Pro allows you to create collections of predefined ROIs, Annotations, and Measurements. These collections are called Feature Collections.  Each feature included in a collection can be applied repeatedly to a single image or can be applied to different images; or it can be tagged as a member of the Live Overlay.  Feature collections can also be saved so that they are available across sessions, and so that you can manage your feature collections in different files. 

Collections are managed through the Features Manager dialog box.

To access the Features Manager dialog box:

Choose the Regions of Interest group in the Select tab’s ribbon.

Select the Features Manager tool.

The Features Manager dialog box is displayed in the panel on the right.

From the Manage page of the Features Manager dialog box, you can:

To Add an ROI or Annotation to the Features Manager

ROI collections are created by adding defined ROIs and Annotations (that is, ROIs and Annotations defined in the active image) to the list of remembered ROI and Annotation shapes through the Features Manager dialog box. 

Draw the ROIs and or Annotations you want to add to the Features Manager in the active image.   

For example, draw a polygon-shaped ROI in the image.

Click on the Add button in the Features Manager dialog box.

The Add menu is displayed: 

Click on the Add All button to add all ROIs and Annotations from the currently active image to a new collection in the Features Manager dialog box.  Alternatively you can add just the ROIs or just the Annotations and, if desired, you can add them to previously existing collections.  For example, to add just the ROIs to a previous collection call "Fish.seq," you could click on ROIs in and then click on Fish.seq.

The collection definition is added to the list box.  Listed names represent the members of the current collection.

To Apply an ROI or Annotation to the Active Image

In the Features Manager dialog box, click on the name of the shape you want to place in the currently active image.

The selected name is highlighted in the list. 

Click on the Add Feature to Image button to the right of the selected shape.

An ROI or Annotation in the selected shape is added to the currently active image.

To Tag Features as Members of the Live Overlay

In the Features Manager dialog box, right-click on the name of the collection you want to tag as a member of the Live Overlay.

The selected collection is highlighted in the list, and the Features Manager context menu is displayed. 

In the context menu, click Toggle Live Overlay.

The features of that collection are tagged as members of the Live Overlay.

The features will be instantly applied to images when you click on the Overlay tool on the Capture tab. This is true whether or not the Feature Manager dialog box is open.

To Save Feature Collections

Click on the Save button of the Features Manager dialog box. 

The Save As dialog box appears.

In the File Name text box, type over the existing text with the name you want to give the features collection.

For example, name it “My Collection.”

Click on the Save button.

The current collection is saved with the specified name, and the Features Manager dialog box is redisplayed.

To Load a Features Collection

Click on the Open button of the Features Manager dialog box.

The Open dialog box appears.

Click on the ‘*.ROI’ file you want to open.

For example, click on “My Collection.ROI”.

Click on the Open button.

The collection list box of the Features Manager dialog box is populated with the shape names contained in the selected file.