Protocol for automated analysis of biological images using Python code

Image analysis in Python provides greater flexibility and an open-source alternative to commercially available software. In this protocol, we present steps for quantifying features in various common biological images in a manner that is tailored to scientists with little coding background. Using example experiments, we outline steps to read in a variety of image file types and prepare them for quantitative analysis. We then discuss approaches for segmenting images, extracting measurements from segmented images, and exporting data. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Eubanks et al.<sup>1</sup>.

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Publication Details

Journal
STAR Protocols
Published
2026-02-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2026.104368
Primary Topic
Cell Image Analysis Techniques
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Protocol for automated analysis of biological images using Python code

Elyse Guadagno, Benjamin N. Sacks, Ananya Guntur, Elena Eubanks et al.
STAR Protocols
Cell Image Analysis Techniques
article

Protocol for automated analysis of biological images using Python code

Elyse Guadagno, Benjamin N. Sacks, Ananya Guntur, Elena Eubanks, Robert Kimelman, Jiya Mody, Jose Cevallos, Nitya Ravinutala, Neeharika Rao Suvvari, Alessandro Crimi, Alejandro Mosera, Yiming Huang, Aryan Doshi, Sunghoo Jung, Eleanna Kara
article en

Abstract

Image analysis in Python provides greater flexibility and an open-source alternative to commercially available software. In this protocol, we present steps for quantifying features in various common biological images in a manner that is tailored to scientists with little coding background. Using example experiments, we outline steps to read in a variety of image file types and prepare them for quantitative analysis. We then discuss approaches for segmenting images, extracting measurements from segmented images, and exporting data. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Eubanks et al.<sup>1</sup>.

STAR ProtocolsVol. 7(1)
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US), Jagiellonian University (PL), Johnson University (US), Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (US), AGH University of Krakow (PL)
National Institutes of Health
Openalex Percentile: Top 48%
Cell Image Analysis Techniques
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