1. A method of analyzing an image that contains a 2D projection of a source multifeatured object, the method comprising: a. providing a plurality of 3D representations of candidate multifeatured objects; b. detecting the 2D projection of the source multifeatured object in the image; c. searching over rigid motions and deformations of the plurality of 3D representations to locate a best match the candidate 3D representation, the best match 3D representation being the 3D representation among the plurality of 3D representations that produces a 2D projection most resembling the 2D projection of the source multifeatured object, wherein said searching involves selecting each 3D representation among the plurality of 3D representations and for each selected 3D representation applying both rigid motion and deformation operators to that selected 3D representation to generate multiple versions of that selected 3D representation, and for each version of that selected 3D representation, computing a measure of fit between that version of that selected 3D representation and the 2D projection of the source multifeatured object, and wherein the best match 3D representation is the version of the 3D representation from the plurality of 3D representations that yields a best measure of fit; and d. comparing the 2D projection of the source multifeatured object with the best match 3D representation to determine whether the best match 3D representation corresponds to the source multifeatured object.