1. A method for classifying images from a set of test images, the method comprising the steps of: directly comparing each of the test images to reference images of defects, grouping each of the test images with one of the reference images if the test images match one of the reference images at a desired level of sensitivity, and placing the test images in a new group if the test images do not match one of the reference images at a desired level of sensitivity, and classifying all of the test images in each group with a single classification.