1. A method of electronically recognizing characters, comprising: scanning an area containing characters to be identified and producing electrical signals indicative of scanning positions at which input material of the characters is present; producing style value criteria for each character to be identified by counting the number of signal producing transitions from each scanning operation; producing penetration value criteria for each character to be identified by sensing the distance from a predetermined reference location to signal producing portions of the character disposed closest to said reference location; deriving style value and penetration value signals respectively indicative of the sensed style value criteria and the sensed penetration value criteria for each character to be identified; and utilizing the style value and penetration value signals to identify each character.