# Run-time Space

When you search for a PatMax pattern in a run-time image, you define the run-time space that PatMax uses. The run-time space is determined by the degrees of freedom you enable, and the range of values to consider within each degree of freedom.

PatMax identifies likely candidates within the run-time space, then determines the transformation that best describes the transformation from the trained pattern geometry to the transformed pattern geometry in the run-time image.