A method for recognizing and analyzing surface defects (OF) in three-dimensional objects having a reflective surface , in particular motor vehicle bodies, in which the surface defects (OF) are identified on the basis of the evaluation of at least one image recorded by at least one camera in the form of a grid graphic made up of pixels of an illumination pattern projected by at least one first illumination unit on at least a part of the surface on the basis of a two-dimensional grid coordinate system, wherein - a region of the recorded surface of the object , on which the illumination pattern is projected, within the recorded image or images is identified; - wherein a two-dimensional grid coordinate system having x an y coordinates for each pixel is associated with the identified region ; - within said identified region , intensity values are assigned to at least a part of the pixels starting from a zero point of the two-dimensional grid coordinate system; and - by means of edge detection, starting from previously defined starting values, at least sections of the illumination pattern projected on the surface are identified in the image or the images, - wherein pixels having intensity values which are equal or similar up to a predetermined deviation value are identified as associated; - wherein on the basis of a group of pixels identified as associated, a functional relationship is produced for the respective group of pixels identified as associated; - wherein at least sections of the illumination pattern projected on the surface in the image or the images are classified on the basis of the first derivative of a found functional relationship; - and wherein surface defects (OF) are identified within the identified region on the basis of characteristic changes and/or a disappearance of the first derivative of a found functional relationship in the classified sections. - a region of the recorded surface of the object , on which the illumination pattern is projected, within the recorded image or images is identified; - wherein a two-dimensional grid coordinate system having x an y coordinates for each pixel is associated with the identified region ; - wherein a two-dimensional grid coordinate system having x an y coordinates for each pixel is associated with the identified region ; - within said identified region , intensity values are assigned to at least a part of the pixels starting from a zero point of the two-dimensional grid coordinate system; and - by means of edge detection, starting from previously defined starting values, at least sections of the illumination pattern projected on the surface are identified in the image or the images, - wherein pixels having intensity values which are equal or similar up to a predetermined deviation value are identified as associated; - wherein pixels having intensity values which are equal or similar up to a predetermined deviation value are identified as associated; - wherein on the basis of a group of pixels identified as associated, a functional relationship is produced for the respective group of pixels identified as associated; - wherein at least sections of the illumination pattern projected on the surface in the image or the images are classified on the basis of the first derivative of a found functional relationship; - and wherein surface defects (OF) are identified within the identified region on the basis of characteristic changes and/or a disappearance of the first derivative of a found functional relationship in the classified sections. <EOS>