A method for reading a physical characteristic on an object includes:a step (240, 315, 405) of capturing a first image of at least a portion of the object with a first resolution;a step (245, 320, 415, 420) of determining the position of an area of the object to be processed, according to the first image;a step (255, 330, 430) of capturing a second image of the area of the object to be processed, with a second resolution higher than the first resolution; anda step (260, 335, 440) of determining the physical characteristic based on the second image. In some embodiments, there is, in addition, a step of marking the object with a mark bearing information representative of at least a portion of the physical characteristic.