We have already noted that both medical imaging and art involve visual interpretation, and that their goals differ: one seeks diagnosis, the other seeks meaning. Yet both rely on foundational visual principles. The U SSPCT method (Unit, Shape, Size, Position, Character, Time) is versatile and can be applied across both disciplines. Below is a flow designed with art image evaluation in mind — inviting emotion, symbolism, and aesthetic relationships into the framework
| Phase | Description |
| 1. Curiosity – The Spark | A question, a mystery, a strange image. Curiosity draws you toward the image.
“Curiosity is the fuel. Everything else is the journey.”
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| 2. Intentional Engagement | The conscious decision to stop and look
. “I will give this image my attention.”
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| 3. Observation | A broad, deliberate act of looking. Ask general questions like:What is immediately noticeable? Where is the center of activity action or focus ? In general -what is the image about?Observation opens the visual field without diving into analysis.  |
| 4. In Search of the Units | Begin to identify the distinct units in the image —
People,, objects, animals, trees,boats flowers , furniture ie things that we assign a name nouns . These are the building blocks This stage often benefits from a broad search pattern,
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| 5. Unit Analysis | Analyze each unit using the U SSPCT method: |
| U: Unit, |
Begin to identify the distinct units in the image — people, objects,
In art, a unit is typically a noun — something that can be named rather than simply describe |
| S: Size, | Relative size may indicate emphasis, hierarchy, or intimacy. A small object in a large space may evoke vulnerability or isolation.
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| S: Shape, | Conveys form and intention — curved vs. angular, static vs. dynamic. Shapes can suggest softness, aggression, or tension.
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| P: Position, | Where something is placed in the image or canvas —
central, marginal, elevated, grounded — affects narrative and symbolism. |
| C: Character, |
the expressive identity of the element.
It includes both physical traits (color, texture, brushstroke, shading) and emotional tone (the feeling it evokes: calm, chaos, warmth, mystery). Character reveals not just how something looks, but what it feels like — and what it’s trying to say. |
| T: Time/context. | Can be literal (e.g., time of day depicted) or symbolic (timelessness, movement, evolution). Brushstrokes, layers, or shadows can imply temporal change or memory.
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| C Connections and Associations | Explore how the units relate — spatially, functionally, emotionally, or narratively
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| C Comprehension & Interpretation | The whole image begins to reveal its meaning and the story line unfolds, integrating prior steps into unified understanding. A light bulb goes off and “the penny drops”
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