1. A method for characterizing a deformed pattern in a single image, the method comprising: providing a plurality of 2D features that represent the deformed pattern in the image, the 2D features include edge information; dividing the plurality of 2D features into a plurality of sub-pluralities, wherein the sub-pluralities represent respective sub-patterns in the image, the sub-pattern having more than one 2D feature, a plurality of the sub-patterns are spatially coherent representing the deformed pattern; locating a first sub-pattern in the image so as to provide a first sub-pattern location; locating a second sub-pattern in the image so as to provide a second sub-pattern location; and using the first sub-pattern location and the second sub-pattern location and a processor for determining a deformation mapping that characterizes a deformation of the deformed pattern in the image.