20. An image processing method; the method operating on image data, the image data defining an image that includes a number of locations, the image having an image characteristic relative to each of the locations; the method comprising: a step of operating on the image data to produce, for each of a set of two or more initial segments of the image, respective initial segment data defining the initial segment; for each initial segment, two or more steps of obtaining sample result data, each step of obtaining sample result data comprising substeps of: randomly or pseudorandomly producing respective location data indicating a respective location in the initial segment; and operating on the initial segment's initial segment data to obtain respective sample result data measuring the image characteristic relative to the respective location indicated by the respective location data; the respective sample result data indicating a measurement in a direction extending from the respective location; the direction being the same for each step of obtaining sample result data; and for each initial segment, a step of combining the respective sample result data of locations in the initial segment to obtain combined result data for the direction; and a step of using the combined result data of the initial segments to produce, for a group of the initial segments, grouped segment data defining a larger segment that includes the initial segments in the group.
20. An image processing method; the method operating on image data, the image data defining an image that includes a number of locations, the image having an image characteristic relative to each of the locations; the method comprising: a step of operating on the image data to produce, for each of a set of two or more initial segments of the image, respective initial segment data defining the initial segment; for each initial segment, two or more steps of obtaining sample result data, each step of obtaining sample result data comprising substeps of: randomly or pseudorandomly producing respective location data indicating a respective location in the initial segment; and operating on the initial segment's initial segment data to obtain respective sample result data measuring the image characteristic relative to the respective location indicated by the respective location data; the respective sample result data indicating a measurement in a direction extending from the respective location; the direction being the same for each step of obtaining sample result data; and for each initial segment, a step of combining the respective sample result data of locations in the initial segment to obtain combined result data for the direction; and a step of using the combined result data of the initial segments to produce, for a group of the initial segments, grouped segment data defining a larger segment that includes the initial segments in the group. 23. The method of claim 20 in which the image includes lines of text, each line of text including words, each initial segment including one of the words.