Abstract: A method for increasing the interest level of a digital image to a particular person based on an interest level function that determines an interest level of a particular digital image to the particular person responsive to familiarity levels of image elements in the particular digital image. The initial digital image includes one or more image elements having associated initial familiarity levels, the initial digital image having an initial interest level as characterized by the interest level function responsive to the initial familiarity levels. The set of image elements are modified, thereby providing a modified digital image having an increased interest level to the particular person as characterized by the interest level function responsive to modified familiarity levels associated with the modified image elements. The modified digital image is then displayed to the particular person.