A grey level frequency histogram representation of animal cell colonies seen by scattered light

A complete system of hardware and software is described, which permits determination of the three-dimensional shape of animal cell colonies. The cells are photographed by light scattered through an angle of approximately 45° during passage through the cells. The images of the films are analyzed using a computer controlled flying spot scanner. The colony perimeter points are stored as linked lists until the perimeter is finished, at which time summary data such as perimeter length and colony area are computed. The grey level information in each colony image, corresponding to the thickness distribution, is stored as a grey level frequency histogram. A circularly normalized colony thickness profile that increases monotonically from edge to center can be constructed from this histogram.