Video images in, e.g., a multimedia stream are scanned prior to compression for transmission to recognize symbols, such as graphics symbols and alpha-numeric characters. The types, positions, sizes, etc. of the symbols are recorded to render symbol information, and then the images are compressed with or without compressing the symbols, which may be removed from the images prior to compression if desired. The compressed video and symbol information are sent to a receiver, which decompresses the video, optionally transforms the symbols, and then inserts the symbols where indicated by the symbol information.