An image forming device includes a backing and is arranged for a media to be positioned against the backing. The backing includes an embedded backing pattern. The media is skewed with respect to the scanning, thus defining a media skew. The media and the backing are scanned to form a pixel pattern. For each pixel, an included pattern recognition algorithm determines when the pixel represents the backing. When the pixel represents the backing, it is replaced with a replacement backing symbol, otherwise it is replaced with a replacement media symbol. The pixel determining and symbol replacing process is continued for remaining pattern pixels to form a replacement symbol pattern comprised of the replacement backing symbols and the replacement media symbols. The media is then processed based on the replacement symbol pattern, the processing including detecting the media skew, registering the media, or both.