1. A method for creating a design rule from an image of a 2D pattern of interest of an electronic circuit design using a processor comprising the steps of: defining an origin of a shape within the image of the 2D pattern of interest; identifying one or more features within the image of the 2D pattern of interest; deriving one or more parameters relative to the origin for each of the one or more identified features from the image of the 2D pattern of interest; and generating using a processor a design rule from the image of the 2D pattern of interest using the one or more derived parameters, wherein the design rule is based upon the one or more parameters relative to the origin for each of the one or more identified features.