Hierarchical image model adaptation

A method of processing digitized picture data includes providing an hierarchical structure graph which is applied to the picture data in that, starting with the lowermost level, at least one node is processed. The provided hierarchical structure graph includes nodes, a specified number of levels, with at least one node located in each level, and edges connecting pairs of predetermined nodes of different levels and defining, for each pair of nodes, a lower father node and an upper son node. Processing of a node includes matching of its at least one picture matching model to the picture data by variation of the model parameters, determination of a matching quantity for each parameter variation, and determination of an assessment for each parameter variation. The assessment found for each parameter variation is applied as a criterion for the processing of a son node of the processed node.