1. A method of quantifying scatterness within images or video frames based on characteristics, comprising; (a) merging each block of pixels from within a plurality of pixel blocks within an image into a collection of single pixels; (b) registering the number or proportion of pixels having a desired pixel characteristic, or range of characteristics, within the pixels as a measure of scatterness for that characteristic; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until a desired level of merging is reached; and (d) generating scatterness sequence information in response to the registration of characteristics for at least two of the merges.