Book excerpt: The book presents selected methods for accelerating image retrieval and classification in large collections of images using what are referred to as ‘hand-crafted features.’ It introduces readers to novel rapid image description methods based on local and global features, as well as several techniques for comparing images. Developing content-based image comparison, retrieval and classification methods that simulate human visual perception is an arduous and complex process. The book’s main focus is on the application of these methods in a relational database context. The methods presented are suitable for both general-type and medical images. Offering a valuable textbook for upper-level undergraduate or graduate-level courses on computer science or engineering, as well as a guide for computer vision researchers, the book focuses on techniques that work under real-world large-dataset conditions.