In some embodiments, a method inputs a set of images into a network and trains the network based on a classification of the set of images to one or more characters in a set of characters. The method obtains a set of encodings for the one or more characters based on a layer of the network that restricts the output of the layer to a number of values. Then, the method stores the set of encodings for the one or more characters, wherein an encoding in the set of encodings is retrievable when a corresponding character is determined.