A system for extracting from a two-dimensional digital image, comprising an array of pixels arranged on a pixel grid, a one-dimensional digital signal along a projection line, comprising: an image memory (1120, 1440, 1460) in which is stored the digital image; a working memory which receives a portion of the digital image from the image memory (1120, 1440, 1460); a direct memory access controller configured to receive a set of transfer parameters for transferring data from the image memory (1120, 1440, 1460) to the working memory as specified by the set of transfer parameters; a table memory (1100, 1470) that holds a plurality of transfer templates, each transfer template corresponding to an allowable orientation of a plurality of allowable orientations relative to the two-dimensional digital image, and from which can be derived a set of transfer parameters that are customized for the projection line; and a processor connected to the working memory, the direct memory access controller, and the table memory (1100, 1470), which operates so as to: select a transfer template from the table memory (1100, 1470) responsive to the allowable orientation of the projection line relative to the two-dimensional digital image; compute a customized set of transfer parameters responsive to the selected transfer template and to parameters of the projection line; transmit the customized set of transfer parameters to the direct memory access controller; command the direct memory access controller to transfer data from the image memory (1120, 1440, 1460) to the working memory as specified by the customized set of transfer parameters; and compute the one-dimensional digital signal using at least a portion of the data transferred by the direct memory access controller into the working memory; wherein the processor computes the one dimensional signal by fetching pixels from the working memory in a different order than the order of the transfer from image memory (1120, 1440, 1460) to working memory, wherein the order pixels are fetched from working memory is determined by the allowable orientation of the projection line and a geometry of the pixel grid. an image memory (1120, 1440, 1460) in which is stored the digital image; a working memory which receives a portion of the digital image from the image memory (1120, 1440, 1460); a direct memory access controller configured to receive a set of transfer parameters for transferring data from the image memory (1120, 1440, 1460) to the working memory as specified by the set of transfer parameters; a table memory (1100, 1470) that holds a plurality of transfer templates, each transfer template corresponding to an allowable orientation of a plurality of allowable orientations relative to the two-dimensional digital image, and from which can be derived a set of transfer parameters that are customized for the projection line; and a processor connected to the working memory, the direct memory access controller, and the table memory (1100, 1470), which operates so as to: select a transfer template from the table memory (1100, 1470) responsive to the allowable orientation of the projection line relative to the two-dimensional digital image; compute a customized set of transfer parameters responsive to the selected transfer template and to parameters of the projection line; transmit the customized set of transfer parameters to the direct memory access controller; command the direct memory access controller to transfer data from the image memory (1120, 1440, 1460) to the working memory as specified by the customized set of transfer parameters; and compute the one-dimensional digital signal using at least a portion of the data transferred by the direct memory access controller into the working memory; wherein the processor computes the one dimensional signal by fetching pixels from the working memory in a different order than the order of the transfer from image memory (1120, 1440, 1460) to working memory, wherein the order pixels are fetched from working memory is determined by the allowable orientation of the projection line and a geometry of the pixel grid. select a transfer template from the table memory (1100, 1470) responsive to the allowable orientation of the projection line relative to the two-dimensional digital image; compute a customized set of transfer parameters responsive to the selected transfer template and to parameters of the projection line; transmit the customized set of transfer parameters to the direct memory access controller; command the direct memory access controller to transfer data from the image memory (1120, 1440, 1460) to the working memory as specified by the customized set of transfer parameters; and compute the one-dimensional digital signal using at least a portion of the data transferred by the direct memory access controller into the working memory; wherein the processor computes the one dimensional signal by fetching pixels from the working memory in a different order than the order of the transfer from image memory (1120, 1440, 1460) to working memory, wherein the order pixels are fetched from working memory is determined by the allowable orientation of the projection line and a geometry of the pixel grid.