Abstract: A method of electronically retouching a pattern, for example in connection with a type symbol scanning apparatus for obtaining type data for an electronic light type setting arrangement or the like, for the derivation of recording data relating thereto, in which the pattern is scanned in a dot and image line fashion to form an image signal from a sequence of alternating conditions representative, of the black and white segments of an image line with the sequence of conditions being transformed into recording data, in which the length of the respective segments are compared with predetermined minimum lengths and if a segment is below the minimum length, i.e., represents a defect, it is transformed into recording data of the type corresponding to that of the immediately preceding condition, thereby automatically eliminating such defect segment.