1. A method for processing scanned data representative of a document image comprising: segmenting the data into a background layer and foreground layers using the MECCA model wherein the foreground layer is comprised of a plurality of objects; identifying at least one of the plurality of objects as non-uniform in color; partitioning the non-uniform color object into a plurality of sub-objects by dividing the non-uniform color object at block boundaries into a plurality of preselected-size pixel blocks of at least one of 4×4, and 16×i6 pixel blocks, resulting in non-uniform color sub-objects, where the non-uniform color sub-objects are coded as the foreground layer and the coding includes determining a majority color of pixels in the sub-objects and setting the majority color as a uniform color; clustering the sub-objects by uniform color; and coding the clustered sub-objects as a foreground layer segment.