A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but
are not human readable; the graphical symbols are formed into some or all
of visible element printed on the document. The outline of this element is
used for synchronising an automated process for scanning the document to
extract the encoded information from the element. In prior art systems,
synchronising an automated process for scanning the document to extract
the encoded information from the element requires large scale arrangement
of the graphical symbols (e.g. a horizontal line of glyphs which are all
forward facing and which intersect a vertical line of glyphs which are all
rearward facing). This considerably mars the appearance of a printed
document. This negative impact on appearance has been one of the major
causes inhibiting the uptake of graphical symbol technology for encoding
information.
