Abstract: The invention relates to an image-processing method for automated contrast modification of digital image data. At least one low and one high-frequency signal are formed based on the digital image signal of the image data; the low-frequency signal component is modified using a characteristic-curve function; and then the modified, low-frequency signal is again added to the high-frequency signal component. In order to prevent the occurrence of distracting artifacts, so-called “halos”, the formation of the low-frequency signal component to be modified is formed in dependence upon the high-frequency image components.

Abstract: A process for the image sharpening of a photographic image with a multitude of image elements is disclosed, wherein a correction mask for the change of the image sharpness is determined from the image data representing the image to be corrected, whereby the elements of the correction mask for the change of the image sharpness locally describe the degree of contrast change to be carried out for the individual image elements, and whereby additional information relating to the image is used for the determination of the elements in addition to information on the local contrast.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for color correction for images, in particular for digital still camera images, including the following steps: an image is analyzed with respect to particular features assigned to a variety of image classes, each class having particular characteristics; the analysis based on a comparison of the image data of said image with a data base including data for assigning said image to a particular image class; said particular image class is associated with at least one color correction process adapted to implement color correction for the assigned image class.

Abstract: Color correction method for correcting the colors of photographic images represented by image data, said image data defining color values, comprising the steps of: a) providing a set of distributions of color values in a color space, b) selecting one or more reference parts of the image to be corrected, each of said one or more reference parts having at least one color value; c) assigning one of said set of distributions to each selected reference part of said one or more reference parts; d) determining a transformation for transforming the at least one color value of the one or more reference parts such that the transformed at least one color value at least approximately matches the color values of the one or more assigned distributions or matches the color values of those distributions better than the at least one untransformed color value; e) transforming the color values of the image data by means of the determined transformation to achieve a corrected image.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for automatically correcting color defective areas in an image, which defective color areas were recorded with a color spectrum deviating from the actual color spectrum of said areas without color defects, wherein basic areas in the image are identified on the basis of features which are common for these recorded defective areas, said basic areas supporting an increased likelihood to include defective areas, and the processing is then reduced to the basic areas to identify borderlines and/or centres of the defective areas, and afterwards, it is identified whether the localized basic area or areas deemed to be defective are defective or not, and finally, if a localized basic area has been identified to be defective, a correction mask is created to correct the visual appearance of the defective area.

Abstract: Process for the processing of image data which represent the color values of an image, to achieve optimal color reproduction of the image by an image reproduction system, especially by a photographic printer or photolab in response to the image data. In an exemplary embodiment, the image data which represent first positions in a first color space are received. The first positions are transformed into transformation positions which represent positions in a second color space; and the response of the image reproduction system to the image data is modeled with a model image reproduction system such that the model image reproduction system outputs the response as model positions which represent the color values produced by the model image reproductions system in response to the input of the image data as positions in a second color space.

Abstract: Process for the color management of image data which represent the color values of an image, in order to achieve an optimal change of the color values with respect to different and preselected color gamuts of an input device, especially a film scanner or digital camera and an output device, especially a photographic printer or a photolab, whereby an input color gamut includes all color values which can be captured by the input device and output as image data, and an output color gamut includes all color values which can be processed by the output device upon input of image control data into the output device.

Abstract: A method for correcting a colour image, wherein the image being represented by a plurality of colour values, the method comprising the steps of: determining local texture features of the image based on the colour values; and correcting the colour values based on the local texture features.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the correction of at least one exposure value of an image, whereby the exposure value of the image is corrected by use of a linearization function which depends on properties of an image capture device with which the image data were obtained. Further disclosed is an apparatus for the correction of exposure values including a data input device for the capture of image data and a processing unit for executing such a process.