A method for representing an image in terms of the shape properties of its identified segments of interest involves analyzing each segment of interest to automatically identify one or more of its perceptually significant components and then representing each perceptually significant component in terms of its shape properties, e. A shank extends from the first end of the handle and terminates in a head. A most common value at a same pixel of each image is determined to infer pixels associated with a background of the images. Also described is a method for obtaining such milling blocks, their use and applications of the compositions.