1. An image analysis method for creating an image encoded with character information, the method comprising: binarizing an input image to create a first binary image; detecting a first plurality of connected components in the first binary image; inverting the input image to create an inverted image; binarizing the inverted image to create a second binary image; detecting a second plurality of connected components in the second binary image; creating a combined label image including labels for the first plurality of connected components and the second plurality of connected components; analyzing the combined label image to arrange, in a family tree, the first plurality of connected components and the second plurality of connected components, the family tree having a first layer classification and a second layer classification, successive generations of the connected components alternate between the first layer classification and the second layer classification; selecting a tree layer classification from among the first layer classification and the second layer classification, the selecting performed by a processor based at least on whether one or more of the connected components in the family tree define characters; and creating a modified label image by removing, from the combined label image, the labels for the connected components in the selected tree layer classification.