Automatic counting
One method of automatic counting uses the Adobe Photoshop (PS 2020) software tool for the automatic counting of objects (Image > Analysis > Select Data Points > Custom > Object Counting). The image needs to be prepared so that the software knows what to count. Using image processing tools such as Contrast, Brightness, Exposure and Threshold, the counted objects need to be exposed against the background. The best results are achieved when the objects to be counted can be seen against a completely uniform background. Then, using the Wand tool, the background is selected and the selection inverted. The next step is to open the Measurement Log and record the measurements. The software will automatically count the selected objects.
Another automatic counting method is the one used for counting microorganisms or cell structures – the Analyze Particles tool in the open-source Java image processing software – ImageJ (Grishagin 2015) and its and its extended version of Fiji (Schindelin et al. 2012).