1. A method of determining the outline of a character in a character recognition system, said character being included in a segment comprising a plurality of pixels, said pixels being either a first value or a second value, said method comprising the steps of: searching said segment of pixels to detect the location therein of the first pixel of said second value nearest one edge of said segment; storing the location in said segment of said first pixel; scanning those pixels in said segment within a first predetermined distance from said first pixel to detect a second pixel of said second value; storing the location in said segment of said second detected pixel; and continuing said scanning to successively detect pixels of said second value within said predetermined distance of the most recently detected pixel of said second value, wherein said scanning begins at the pixel adjacent to and clockwise relative to said most recently detected pixel of said second value from the last pixel of said first value detected immediately prior to detection of said most recently detected pixel of said second value.