Abstract: The method and apparatus herein described, and methods and apparatus similar to same, provide a novel method of extracting bar code information from surfaces where the codes are formed by either depressions or bumps on a surface. One particular embodiment is the extraction of DataMatrix 2D bar code patterns and subsequent analysis for content from markings made on forged steel parts that have surface defects that render current state of the art readers ineffective. The method and apparatus described in the present invention disclose differences from the current state of the art in that the present method provides for analysis if images arising from surface morphology itself instead of simply contrast in a standard camera image brought out by typical directional or specifically non-directional illumination.