Two new, cost-effective thresholding algorithms for use in extracting binary images of characters from machineor hand-printed documents are described. The creation of a binary representation from an analog image requires such algorithms to determine whether a point is converted into a binary one because it falls within a character stroke or a binary zero because it does not. This thresholding is a critical step in Optical Character Recognition. It is also essential for other Character Image Extraction applications, where smudges and scenic backgrounds may have to be suppressed. (Abstractor's note: applicability of this technique to prints and paintings needs further investigation with particular relevance to signature identification and painting technique.) -- AATA