Abstract: A method for improved thinning or skeletonizing handwritten characters or other variable-line-width images. The method scans a template set over the image to be thinned. Each template has a specific arrangement of dark and light pixels. At least one of those templates includes either more than three pixels per row or more than three rows of pixels. An odd number is good choice. Moreover, the templates are chosen so that each template can unconditionally delete image pixels without consideration of the effect of such deletions on the behavior of the other templates. Thus the templates are independent of each other.