1. An enrollment system for biometric identification device comprising: an input device to provide signals representing an enrollment image wherein said enrollment system includes a processing unit to extract a plurality of yardsticks from said enrollment image; each said yardstick comprising a one dimensional pixel array having a predetermined number of either horizontal or vertically oriented, consecutive, co-linear pixels corresponding to a predetermined portion of a row or column of pixels within said enrollment image, each yardstick having a predetermined spatial relationship within said enrollment image relative to each of said other yardsticks, the maximum number of said yardsticks being substantially smaller than the maximum number extractable from the enrollment image; and wherein said processing unit stores said yardsticks in said memory based upon their relative spatial relationship to each other.