22. An apparatus for generating binary values for use in text recognition, the apparatus comprising: first means for creating a plurality of sets of positions automatically, by at least performing comparisons using multiple pluralities of pixels hereinafter compared pixels that are located in an image at corresponding positions comprised in the plurality of sets of positions; wherein a first set in the plurality of sets of positions is created without using in any comparison, a plurality of pixels hereinafter skipped pixels that are located in the image at additional positions comprised in the first set; wherein a first region identified by the first set is contiguous in the image, the first region comprising the compared pixels and the skipped pixels identified respectively by the corresponding positions and the additional positions; wherein a second region is contiguous in the image, the second region being identified by positions in a second set, in the plurality of sets of positions created by the creating; second means for checking, whether a test is satisfied by a first attribute of the first region and a second attribute of the second region; third means for preparing a merged set comprising the positions in the first set and the positions in the second set, based on at least an outcome of said test; and fourth means for storing in at least one memory, the merged set.
22. An apparatus for generating binary values for use in text recognition, the apparatus comprising: first means for creating a plurality of sets of positions automatically, by at least performing comparisons using multiple pluralities of pixels hereinafter compared pixels that are located in an image at corresponding positions comprised in the plurality of sets of positions; wherein a first set in the plurality of sets of positions is created without using in any comparison, a plurality of pixels hereinafter skipped pixels that are located in the image at additional positions comprised in the first set; wherein a first region identified by the first set is contiguous in the image, the first region comprising the compared pixels and the skipped pixels identified respectively by the corresponding positions and the additional positions; wherein a second region is contiguous in the image, the second region being identified by positions in a second set, in the plurality of sets of positions created by the creating; second means for checking, whether a test is satisfied by a first attribute of the first region and a second attribute of the second region; third means for preparing a merged set comprising the positions in the first set and the positions in the second set, based on at least an outcome of said test; and fourth means for storing in at least one memory, the merged set. 25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein: comparisons performed by operation of the first means are between an intensity i used as a threshold and the intensity of each pixel included in a region Qi among the first region and the second region; said region Qi is maximally stable relative to changes in a range i−Δ to i+Δ, with a local minima in ratio [Qi−Δ−Qi+Δ]/Qi occurring at the intensity i.