Abstract: A boundary in an image is identified by identifying a search region within the image. The process continues by determining image gradients in the search region and determining multiple color regions within the search region. An active contour representing the boundary is created based on the image gradients and the multiple color regions.

Abstract: A method of automatic contrast correction comprises providing digital image data, representing the data in the form of a brightness histogram, determining a measure of central tendency for said histogram, adding a shift value to the measure of central tendency to provide an adjusted measure of central tendency, using the both the determined and adjusted measures of central tendency to determine the exponent of a tone reproduction curve, and applying the tone reproduction curve to the brightness values of the image. Additionally, the method may provide further correction by applying to the brightness values of the image an S-shaped tone reproduction curve that does not change a measure of central tendency of the brightness histogram.