Abstract: A method for improved readability of digitally captured document images that include printed or handwritten textual material overlaid on background graphics. Text in the document is generally composed at least in part of strokes characterized by pairs of edges in close proximity to one another. The digital image comprises an array of pixels representing at least a portion of the document. The edges in the pixel array are first identified and then grown by an effective amount so as to cause pairs of edges characterizing each stroke substantially to merge. The grown edges are then shrunk by an effective amount so as to cause non-stroke edges to be substantially eliminated without eliminating the merged stroke edges.