An image processing system comprising a template matching engine, TME operatively connected to a memory storing image information, the TME being configured to: read at least a portion of an image from said memory using a raster scan; and as each pixel of said image portion is being read, calculate a respective feature value of a plurality of feature maps as a function of said pixel value; the TME further comprising: a pre-filter responsive to a current pixel location corresponding to a node within a limited multi-node detector cascade to be applied to a window within said portion of an image, the nodes of said detector cascade corresponding to respective pixel locations within said window, to: compare a feature value from a selected one of said plurality of feature maps corresponding to said pixel location to a threshold value; and responsive to pixels for all nodes within said limited detector cascade to be applied to said window having been read, determine a score for said window based on the comparisons of said feature values and said threshold values for said nodes; and a classifier (22; 22'), responsive to said pre-filter indicating that a score for a window is below a window threshold, not applying a longer detector cascade to said window before indicating that said window does not comprise an object to be detected. read at least a portion of an image from said memory using a raster scan; and as each pixel of said image portion is being read, calculate a respective feature value of a plurality of feature maps as a function of said pixel value; the TME further comprising: a pre-filter responsive to a current pixel location corresponding to a node within a limited multi-node detector cascade to be applied to a window within said portion of an image, the nodes of said detector cascade corresponding to respective pixel locations within said window, to: compare a feature value from a selected one of said plurality of feature maps corresponding to said pixel location to a threshold value; and responsive to pixels for all nodes within said limited detector cascade to be applied to said window having been read, determine a score for said window based on the comparisons of said feature values and said threshold values for said nodes; and a classifier (22; 22'), responsive to said pre-filter indicating that a score for a window is below a window threshold, not applying a longer detector cascade to said window before indicating that said window does not comprise an object to be detected. a pre-filter responsive to a current pixel location corresponding to a node within a limited multi-node detector cascade to be applied to a window within said portion of an image, the nodes of said detector cascade corresponding to respective pixel locations within said window, to: compare a feature value from a selected one of said plurality of feature maps corresponding to said pixel location to a threshold value; and responsive to pixels for all nodes within said limited detector cascade to be applied to said window having been read, determine a score for said window based on the comparisons of said feature values and said threshold values for said nodes; and compare a feature value from a selected one of said plurality of feature maps corresponding to said pixel location to a threshold value; and responsive to pixels for all nodes within said limited detector cascade to be applied to said window having been read, determine a score for said window based on the comparisons of said feature values and said threshold values for said nodes; and a classifier (22; 22'), responsive to said pre-filter indicating that a score for a window is below a window threshold, not applying a longer detector cascade to said window before indicating that said window does not comprise an object to be detected.