Aspects of the present disclosure include a method for sorting cells of a sample based on an image of a cell in a flow stream. Methods according to certain embodiments include detecting light from a sample having cells in a flow stream, generating an image mask of a cell from the sample and sorting the cell based on the generated image mask. Systems having a processor with memory operably coupled to the processor having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to generate an image mask of a cell in a sample in a flow stream and to sort the cell based on the generated image mask are also described. Integrated circuit devices (e.g., field programmable gate arrays) having programming for generating an image mask and for determining one or more features of the cell are also provided.