Abstract: A method for determining whether a pixel of a digitized image is a background or object pixel includes the steps of determining whether the pixel is in a static state or a transient state according to the variation in its gray-level compared with the gray-level of an adjacent pixel located in a first direction, setting a static threshold if the pixel is in the static state or a dynamic threshold if the pixel is in the transient state, comparing the gray-level of the pixel and the applicable threshold to determine whether the pixel is a background or object pixel, and repeating the determination with respect to static or dynamic thresholds, as applicable, in a second direction.