In this thesis project techniques for training a rapid image classifier that can recognize an object of a predefined type has been studied. Classifiers have been trained with the AdaBoost algorithm, with and without the use of Viola-Jones cascades. The use of Weight trimming in the classifier training has been evaluated and resulted in a significant speed up of the training, as well as improving the performance of the trained classifier. Different preprocessings of the images have also been tested, but resulted for the most part in worse performance for the classifiers when used individually. Several rectangle shaped Haar-like features including novel versions have been evaluated and the magnitude versions proved to be best at separating the image classes.