1. A method of processing an image containing written information, comprising the steps of: (a) scanning a surface of an object to obtain an image of the surface represented by first image data; (b) creating second image data of the image of the surface, the second image data having a lower data density than the first image data; (c) analyzing the second image data with first image analysis logic to decode the written information; and (d) if the written information cannot be decoded to a desired extent from the second image data, analyzing the first image data with second image analysis logic different from the first image analysis logic to decode the written information.