1. A process executed in a computer or processor for distinguishing a form lying atop a stack of forms, the process comprising the steps of: capturing an optical image of the top of the stack of forms; digitizing the optical image into a digital image of pixels and storing the pixels in a memory; detecting image components from the stored pixels; comparing the detected image components to features of known forms; if the comparing is successful, the form is known; and processing all the other components on the form.