diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 5584e349..d2712425 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ importFrom(jpeg,readJPEG)
 importFrom(jsonlite,read_json)
 importFrom(jsonlite,write_json)
 importFrom(methods,new)
+importFrom(mmand,closing)
 importFrom(mmand,components)
 importFrom(mmand,gaussianSmooth)
 importFrom(mmand,shapeKernel)
diff --git a/R/def_features.R b/R/def_features.R
index 0724c3e6..74f7430e 100644
--- a/R/def_features.R
+++ b/R/def_features.R
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@
 #'   \item{`first_y`}{first y coordinate of the feature}
 #'   \item{`rand_x`}{random x coordinate from the feature}
 #'   \item{`rand_y`}{random y coordinate from the feature}
-#'   \item{`r`}{if using visual imagery overlay, the red band value at that location or on average for the feature}
-#'   \item{`g`}{if using visual imagery overlay, the green band value at that location or on average for the feature}
-#'   \item{`b`}{if using visual imagery overlay, the blue band value at that location or on average for the feature}
+#'   \item{`r`}{if using visual imagery overlay, the red band value at that location}
+#'   \item{`g`}{if using visual imagery overlay, the green band value at that location}
+#'   \item{`b`}{if using visual imagery overlay, the blue band value at that location}
 #' }
 #'
 #' @examples
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@
 #' @param shape_kernel the width and height of the area in pixels to search for
 #' connecting features, c(3,3) is typically used but larger numbers will smooth
 #' connections between particles more. 
+#' @param shape_type character, options are for the shape used to find connections c("box", "disc", "diamond")
+#' @param close logical, whether a closing should be performed using the shape kernel before
+#' estimating components.
+#' @param close_kernel width and height of the area to close if using the close option. 
+#' @param close_type character, options are for the shape used to find connections c("box", "disc", "diamond")
 #' @param img a file location where a visual image is that corresponds to the spectral image. 
 #' @param bottom_left a two value vector specifying the x,y location in image pixels where
 #' the bottom left of the spectral map begins. y values are from the top down while 
@@ -64,7 +69,7 @@
 #' Win Cowger, Zacharias Steinmetz
 #'
 #' @importFrom data.table data.table as.data.table setDT rbindlist transpose .SD :=
-#' @importFrom mmand shapeKernel components
+#' @importFrom mmand shapeKernel components closing
 #' @export
 collapse_spec <- function(x, ...) {
   UseMethod("collapse_spec")
@@ -87,23 +92,9 @@ collapse_spec.OpenSpecy <- function(x, ...) {
   x$spectra <- ts[, lapply(.SD, median, na.rm = T), by = "id"] |>
     transpose(make.names = "id")
   
- r <- g <- b <- NULL
-  
- if(all(c("r", "g", "b") %in% names(x$metadata))){
-      x$metadata[, `:=`(r = as.integer(sqrt(mean(r^2))), 
-                        g = as.integer(sqrt(mean(g^2))), 
-                        b = as.integer(sqrt(mean(b^2)))), by = "feature_id"]
-     
-      x$metadata <- x$metadata |>
-          unique(by = c("feature_id", "area", "feret_max", "centroid_y",
-                        "centroid_x", "first_x", "first_y", "rand_x", "rand_y",
-                        "r", "g", "b"))
-  }
-  else{
+
       x$metadata <- x$metadata |>
-          unique(by = c("feature_id", "area", "feret_max", "centroid_y",
-                        "centroid_x", "first_x", "first_y", "rand_x", "rand_y"))    
-  }
+          unique(by = c("feature_id"))    
 
   return(x)
 }
@@ -126,28 +117,28 @@ def_features.default <- function(x, ...) {
 #'
 #' @importFrom data.table as.data.table setDT rbindlist data.table
 #' @export
-def_features.OpenSpecy <- function(x, features, shape_kernel = c(3,3), img = NULL, bottom_left = NULL, top_right = NULL, ...) {
+def_features.OpenSpecy <- function(x, features, shape_kernel = c(3,3), shape_type = "box", close = F, close_kernel = c(4,4), close_type = "box", img = NULL, bottom_left = NULL, top_right = NULL, ...) {
   if(is.logical(features)) {
     if(all(features) | all(!features))
       stop("features cannot be all TRUE or FALSE because that would indicate ",
            "that there are no distinct features", call. = F)
 
-    features_df <- .def_features(x, features, shape_kernel, img, bottom_left, top_right)
+    features_df <- .def_features(x, features, shape_kernel, shape_type, close, close_kernel, close_type, img, bottom_left, top_right)
   } else if(is.character(features)) {
     if(length(unique(features)) == 1)
       stop("features cannot all have a single name because that would ",
            "indicate that there are no distinct features", call. = F)
 
     features_df <- rbindlist(lapply(unique(features),
-                                    function(y) .def_features(x, features == y, shape_kernel = shape_kernel,  img, bottom_left, top_right, name = y)),
+                                    function(y) .def_features(x, features == y, shape_kernel = shape_kernel, shape_type, close = close, close_kernel, close_type,  img, bottom_left, top_right, name = y)),
                             fill = T #Allow for flexibility with convex hulls
-    )[!endsWith(feature_id, "-88"),]
+    )[,test := fifelse(grepl("(background)|(-88)", feature_id), 0, area)][, .SD[test == max(test)], by = c("x", "y")][, .SD[1], by = c("x", "y")]
   } else {
     stop("features needs to be a character or logical vector", call. = F)
   }
 
   obj <- x
-  x <- y <- feature_id <- NULL # workaround for data.table non-standard
+  x <- y <- feature_id <- area <- b <- g <- max_cor_val <- r <- snr <- test <- NULL # workaround for data.table non-standard
                                # evaluation
   md <- features_df[setDT(obj$metadata), on = c("x", "y")]
   md[, feature_id := ifelse(is.na(feature_id), "-88", feature_id)]
@@ -157,6 +148,11 @@ def_features.OpenSpecy <- function(x, features, shape_kernel = c(3,3), img = NUL
   if("max_cor_val" %in% names(md)){
       md[, "mean_cor" := mean(max_cor_val), by = "feature_id"]
   }
+  if(all(c("r", "g", "b") %in% names(md))){
+      md[, `:=`(mean_r = as.integer(sqrt(mean(r^2))), 
+                mean_g = as.integer(sqrt(mean(g^2))), 
+                mean_b = as.integer(sqrt(mean(b^2)))), by = "feature_id"]
+  }
   md[, "centroid_x" := mean(x), by = "feature_id"]
   md[, "centroid_y" := mean(y), by = "feature_id"]
   md[, "first_x" := x[1], by = "feature_id"]
@@ -173,7 +169,7 @@ def_features.OpenSpecy <- function(x, features, shape_kernel = c(3,3), img = NUL
 #' @importFrom grDevices chull as.raster col2rgb
 #' @importFrom jpeg readJPEG
 #' @importFrom stats dist
-.def_features <- function(x, binary, shape_kernel = c(3,3), img = NULL, bottom_left = NULL, top_right = NULL, name = NULL) {
+.def_features <- function(x, binary, shape_kernel = c(3,3), shape_type = "box", close = F, close_kernel = c(4,4), close_type = "box", img = NULL, bottom_left = NULL, top_right = NULL, name = NULL) {
     # Label connected components in the binary image
     # Define the size of the matrix
     nrow <- max(x$metadata$y) + 1
@@ -192,7 +188,12 @@ def_features.OpenSpecy <- function(x, features, shape_kernel = c(3,3), img = NUL
         binary_matrix[y_coords[i] + 1, x_coords[i] + 1] <- binary[i]
     }
     
-    k <- shapeKernel(c(3,3), type="box")
+    k <- shapeKernel(shape_kernel, type= shape_type)
+    
+    if(close){
+        kc <- shapeKernel(close_kernel, type=close_type)
+        binary_matrix <- closing(binary_matrix, kc)
+    }
     labeled_image <- components(binary_matrix, k)
     
     binary_coords <- cbind(y_coords + 1, x_coords + 1)
diff --git a/man/def_features.Rd b/man/def_features.Rd
index 10468aa6..7f775db0 100644
--- a/man/def_features.Rd
+++ b/man/def_features.Rd
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ def_features(x, ...)
   x,
   features,
   shape_kernel = c(3, 3),
+  shape_type = "box",
+  close = F,
+  close_kernel = c(4, 4),
+  close_type = "box",
   img = NULL,
   bottom_left = NULL,
   top_right = NULL,
@@ -41,6 +45,15 @@ types present in the spectra.}
 connecting features, c(3,3) is typically used but larger numbers will smooth
 connections between particles more.}
 
+\item{shape_type}{character, options are for the shape used to find connections c("box", "disc", "diamond")}
+
+\item{close}{logical, whether a closing should be performed using the shape kernel before
+estimating components.}
+
+\item{close_kernel}{width and height of the area to close if using the close option.}
+
+\item{close_type}{character, options are for the shape used to find connections c("box", "disc", "diamond")}
+
 \item{img}{a file location where a visual image is that corresponds to the spectral image.}
 
 \item{bottom_left}{a two value vector specifying the x,y location in image pixels where
@@ -71,9 +84,9 @@ collapsed for the features. All units are in pixels. Metadata described below.
 \item{\code{first_y}}{first y coordinate of the feature}
 \item{\code{rand_x}}{random x coordinate from the feature}
 \item{\code{rand_y}}{random y coordinate from the feature}
-\item{\code{r}}{if using visual imagery overlay, the red band value at that location or on average for the feature}
-\item{\code{g}}{if using visual imagery overlay, the green band value at that location or on average for the feature}
-\item{\code{b}}{if using visual imagery overlay, the blue band value at that location or on average for the feature}
+\item{\code{r}}{if using visual imagery overlay, the red band value at that location}
+\item{\code{g}}{if using visual imagery overlay, the green band value at that location}
+\item{\code{b}}{if using visual imagery overlay, the blue band value at that location}
 }
 }
 \description{
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-def_features.R b/tests/testthat/test-def_features.R
index 8bcbaa0b..97f84465 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-def_features.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-def_features.R
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 library(jpeg)
+
 map <- read_extdata("CA_tiny_map.zip") |> read_any()
 
 test_that("def_features() handles input errors correctly", {
@@ -23,6 +24,70 @@ test_that("features are identified when given logical", {
     expect_equal(30)
 })
 
+test_that("features are identified with sig_noise and smoothing with closing", {
+    map$metadata$snr <- sig_noise(map, metric = "noise")
+    #heatmap_spec(map, map$metadata$snr)
+    id_map <- def_features(map, map$metadata$snr > 0.1)
+    check_OpenSpecy(id_map) |> expect_true()
+    unique(id_map$metadata$feature_id) |> expect_length(2)
+    #heatmap_spec(id_map, id_map$metadata$feature_id)
+
+    #Less resolved sig
+    map$metadata$snr <- sig_noise(map, metric = "sig_times_noise")
+    #heatmap_spec(map, map$metadata$snr)
+    id_map <- def_features(map, map$metadata$snr > 0.1, close = T, close_kernel = c(3,3))
+    #heatmap_spec(id_map, id_map$metadata$feature_id)
+    id_map2 <- def_features(map, map$metadata$snr > 0.1, close = F, close_kernel = c(3,3))
+    #heatmap_spec(id_map2, id_map2$metadata$feature_id)
+    expect_false(identical(id_map, id_map2))
+    id_map3 <- def_features(map, map$metadata$snr > 0.1, close = T, close_kernel = c(5,5))
+    #heatmap_spec(id_map3, id_map3$metadata$feature_id)
+    expect_false(identical(id_map, id_map3))
+    id_map4 <- def_features(map, map$metadata$snr > 0.1, close = T, close_kernel = c(6,6))
+    #heatmap_spec(id_map4, id_map4$metadata$feature_id)
+    expect_false(identical(id_map3, id_map4))
+    
+    #Test collapsing on binary
+    test_part_close <- rep_len(F, length.out = ncol(map$spectra))
+    test_part_close[c(69, 101,103)] <- T  
+    #heatmap_spec(id_map4, test_part_close)
+    
+    id_map5 <- def_features(map, test_part_close, close = T, close_kernel = c(3,3))
+    #heatmap_spec(id_map5, id_map5$metadata$feature_id)
+    unique(id_map5$metadata$feature_id) |> expect_length(2)
+    
+    #Test collapsing on character
+    test_part_close <- rep_len("background", length.out = ncol(map$spectra))
+    test_part_close[c(69, 101,103, 104)] <- "particle1"  
+    test_part_close[c(68, 70, 71, 87, 119, 118, 117, 100)] <- "particle2" 
+    
+    #heatmap_spec(map, test_part_close)
+    
+    id_map5 <- def_features(map, test_part_close, close = T, close_kernel = c(3,3))
+    expect_true(nrow(id_map5$metadata) == ncol(id_map5$spectra))
+    
+    #heatmap_spec(id_map5, id_map5$metadata$feature_id)
+    
+    expect_true(is_OpenSpecy(id_map5))
+    unique(id_map5$metadata$feature_id) |> expect_length(3)
+    
+    #Test collapsing on character complete overlap
+    test_part_close <- rep_len("background", length.out = ncol(map$spectra))
+    test_part_close[c(69, 101,103)] <- "particle1"  
+    test_part_close[c(68, 70, 71, 87, 119, 118, 117, 100)] <- "particle2" 
+    
+    #heatmap_spec(map, test_part_close)
+    
+    id_map5 <- def_features(map, test_part_close, close = T, close_kernel = c(3,3))
+    expect_true(nrow(id_map5$metadata) == ncol(id_map5$spectra))
+    
+    #heatmap_spec(id_map5, id_map5$metadata$feature_id)
+    
+    expect_true(is_OpenSpecy(id_map5))
+    unique(id_map5$metadata$feature_id) |> expect_length(2)
+
+})
+
 test_that("particles are identified when given character", {
   map$metadata$particles <- ifelse(map$metadata$y == 1, "particle", "not_particle")
   id_map <- def_features(map, map$metadata$particles)