1. A computer implemented method for using run length encoding to detect a target image in a candidate image, the method comprising the steps of: using a computer to perform the steps comprising: extracting run length encoding data from the candidate image; distinguishing between a foreground and background of the candidate image and target image; matching color runs in the foreground and length runs in the background, the matching comprising: setting an initial scale interval according to a ratio of pixels in the target image matched to the candidate image for a first foreground match in a row; and narrowing the scale interval as more of the target image foreground is matched to the candidate image foreground in that row; treating background pixels as wildcards; utilizing fuzzy color matching in which color levels of adjacent pixels in the foreground are allowed a specified variation; comparing rows of the run length encoding data from the candidate image to rows of run length encoding data from the target image; and determining whether the target image is present in the candidate image based on at least results of the comparing step.