The present invention features a method for identifying objects in an image and automatically generating of object recognition code. First, an image is segmented and coded in a first plane in at least one segmentation domain to create a first set of uniform fields or regions having interior and exterior information. Then the image is segmented and coded in a second plane, again in at least one segmentation domain, to create a second set of uniform fields or regions having interior and exterior information. The relationship of the boundaries of the first and second sets of fields is then determined. Information representative of the uniform fields is analyzed and/or communicated horizontally and vertically for relationships of objects among the planes. The system is then queried, forming object definitions, in order to recognize objects in the image. The objects can also be displayed on a common image domain. The image can also be resegmented, each field being coded by a multi-bit (e.g., 32 bit) representation of an identification code. Boundaries and chains can be generated from the image. The objects in the image can also be arranged by order of importance.