Abstract: Image processing parameters for gradation correction of a digital image from a scene, which includes specular reflections may be seriously influenced by the presence of those specular reflections. Therefore, a method is developed to detect the presence of specular reflections in a scene, to modify the exposure time of the photo-sensitive means, which converts a luminous image to electronic image signals and to apply a gradation correction to the image data thus acquired. In one embodiment a digital camera is used to capture the image data, a cumulative histogram is built and two characteristic cumulative frequencies are used to determine via the histogram specular densities and highlight densities. The relative position of these density values indicates whether specular reflections are present, and give suitable parameters for setting an optimal exposure time and for computing a gradation correction curve.