Abstract: An image recording system is described for automatic address location on large letters and parcels, comprising a high resolution grey scale camera and a low resolution color camera. Both cameras are directed at one illumination slit past which the object to be processed is fed. The color camera is operated in a special mode which allows it to manage with only a single illumination slit, where adequate light intensity is provided for both cameras. A method for automatic address recognition on large letters and parcels is also provided, together with a method of segmenting color images in the recognition of address blocks.