Methods and procedures for improving the performance and reliability of image analysis within an image identification system (10) include a series of image qualification functions designed to quickly process a fraction of available image data and to provide feedback to a system user pertaining to image quality and authenticity. Functions designed to produce image models based on original image data and to catalogue such image models into a searchable database (16) are included in the present invention. The present invention also includes functions for comparing one image model to another. Finally, the present invention provides functions for making a quick determination as to which, if any, of a potential thousands (or more, i.e., millions) of image models within a searchable database (16) exhibit a desired level of similarity, as compared to a target image model.