Many basic functions operate the same with either approach (Figure 29): particles are presented to the measurement zone, images are captured with a digital (CCD) camera, the particles are distinguished from the background, various size and shape parameters are measured for each particle, and a result report is generated. Additional features built into modern image analysis software include the ability to automatically separate two particles touching each other, filling holes, smoothing or removing small protuberances, separating overlapping acicular objects, and keeping track of incomplete objects in a field in order to recombine them once all fields are analyzed.