1. An image processing method which includes the acquisition ( 10 ) of an intensity image (J) formed by a matrix of points (A) having non-binary intensity values, representing filiform objects, which method also includes steps for the detection of filiform objects, which steps include: automatic determination ( 20 ) of a field of intensity vectors ({right arrow over (V)}), forming an image of states constituted by characteristics concerning magnitudes and angles &lsqb;&verbar;&verbar;{right arrow over (V)}&verbar;&verbar;,&thgr;&rsqb; of intensity vectors at the various points (A) of the intensity image, an operation for chaining ( 30 ) the points of an individual filiform object by means of automatic filtering &lsqb;Q(i)&rsqb; of the image of the states, thus performing a selection of a dense and continuous field of intensity vectors corresponding to points of the filiform object.