A computer system to rate the color-related formal elements in art therapy assessments

Abstract

The authors consider the colors used in a drawing to be one of the most important factors in art therapy assessments. This paper delineates the development of a computer system designed to rate several color-related elements, including the number and list of the colors used, elements common in art therapy assessments. We propose other possible elements such as the number of clusters for each color, the area of each color, and the length of edges where one color changes to another. These elements can provide useful information on patients, but their accuracy and objective ratings have been hard to obtain by human raters. We devise computer methods of color recognition and edge detection. The proposed color recognition procedure adopts the National Bureau Standard's criterion for distance between colors in the HVC (Hue, Value, Chroma) color space. The edge detection procedure applies blurring, clustering, and transformation to a standard color. The system can provide more accurate, detailed, objective, and new rating scales related to color. It can also reduce the time and effort of human raters. The proposed system is verified through case studies, application to an existing rating system, and analysis of sample results. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.