Abstract: A combination of image magnification and/or image zoom, superresolution processing techniques, and a parallel (SIMD) machine implementation achieve image enhancement and resolution that are better than diffraction-limited image enhancement and hence suitable for machine processing pattern recognition systems. One application is the separation of (normally) unresolved point source objects from background clutter and adjacent point objects that would, without superresolution processing, be indistinguishable. Furthermore, the real-time processing of the present invention allows the shapes of objects to be discerned at ranges two to four times greater than would normally be achievable.