Figure 1

Data-flow through Balony . Images are acquired using a flatbed scanner, either singly or in composites of up to four plates; in the latter case these images are segmented into single images. The imaging module measures raw pixel areas and saves this information as text files (one file per plate). These files are collated by the scoring module and normalized; the data saved as tab-delimited text files; either one per set or as an averaged file. The analysis module facilitates interrogation of the screen data. In addition to saving the quantitative data in formats for use in spreadsheet applications, images of the plot of colony area ratios can be saved in bitmap and structured variants.