1. In a process of recognizing an object by comparing an objective shape representative of said object with a shape model of the object, the process comprising the steps of: A) representing a known shape model in a two dimensional plane as a plurality of first nodal points and a plurality of line segments interconnecting respective pairs of said first nodal points, each line segment including a length characteristic and gradient characteristic; B) establishing standard values for the length and gradient characteristics, respectively, of each line segment; C) establishing tolerance ranges for the length and gradient characteristics, respectively, of each line segment; D) representing said object as a plurality of separate objective shapes each comprised of a row of dots disposed on a two-dimensional plane and having the same number of nodal points as said shape model, said row comprised of a plurality of second nodal points and a plurality of dot segments interconnecting respective pairs of said second nodal points, E) separately evaluating each objective shape determined from step D by: E1) determining an average spacing of all dots of said dot row from said line segments of said shape model, E2) comparing lengths of said dot segments to said tolerance ranges of respective line segment lengths, to determine a length deviation of each dot segment outside of said tolerance range therefor, and summing said length deviations of all dot segments to establish a length deviation sum, E3) comparing gradients of said dot segments to said tolerance ranges of respective line segment gradients, to determine a gradient deviation of each dot segment outside of said tolerance range therefor, and summing said gradient deviations of all dot segments to establish a gradient deviation sum, E4) summing values of said average spacing, said length deviation sum, and said gradient deviation sum for defining a deviation quantity total, and E5) selecting the objective shape having a lowest deviation quantity total for comparison with the shape model.