1. A method of imaging a coding pattern disposed on a surface of a substrate, said method comprising the steps of: (a) capturing an image of a portion of said coding pattern, said coding pattern comprising: a plurality of target elements defining a target grid, said target grid comprising a plurality of cells, wherein neighboring cells share target elements; a plurality of data elements contained in each cell; and a plurality of tags, each tag being defined by a plurality of contiguous cells, each tag comprising respective tag data encoded by a respective set of said data elements, wherein each cell comprises one or more registration symbols encoded by a respective set of said data elements, said one or more registration symbols identifying: a translation of said cell relative to a tag containing said cell; and an orientation of a layout of said tag data with respect to said target grid; (b) sampling and decoding a plurality of said registration symbols contained in said imaged portion; (c) determining, from the decoded registration symbols, said orientation and said translation; and (d) using said orientation and said translation to sample and decode said tag data.