The feasibility of using a personal-computer-based instrument and image-analysis techniques to characterize major structural features of nonwoven webs accurately and comprehensively Is investigated. These features include pores, fiber orientation, web uniformity, fiber diameter, and defects. This paper reports results of developing an image-analysis technique for automated shot analysis and presents experimental results using both subjective human-based and automated image-analysis-based measurement techniques. Results from these techniques are compared with each other as well as with true measurements of shot reported previously.