I don't understand what you mean by manual way. Is it mean pixel by pixel or anything else? Anyway try this example and fully explain your question that what you really want.
d1 = double(imread('cameraman.TIF'))./255; %# Load the image, scale from 0 to 1
subplot(2,2,1); imshow(d1); title('d1'); %# Plot the original image
d = edge(d1,'canny',.6); %# Perform Canny edge detection
subplot(2,2,2); imshow(d); title('d'); %# Plot the edges
ds = bwareaopen(d,40); %# Remove small edge objects
subplot(2,2,3); imshow(ds); title('ds'); %# Plot the remaining edges
iout = d1;
BW = ds;
iout(:,:,1) = iout; %# Initialize red color plane
iout(:,:,2) = iout(:,:,1); %# Initialize green color plane
iout(:,:,3) = iout(:,:,1); %# Initialize blue color plane
iout(:,:,2) = min(iout(:,:,2) + BW, 1.0); %# Add edges to green color plane
iout(:,:,3) = min(iout(:,:,3) + BW, 1.0); %# Add edges to blue color plane
subplot(2,2,4); imshow(iout); title('iout'); %# Plot the resulting image
you can also track boundary by using Blob method but it depend on your requirements.