Abstract: The present invention relates to image processing in general and more specifically to methods and means facilitating the human detection of physical object representations in colour images with a wide range of applications such as aviation and air transport, land transportation, shipping, submarine work, underwater inspections, medical investigations, marine archaeology, land archaeology, agriculture, surveillance and security, food safety, energy systems and forestry. The invention achieves this by providing an image processing method for a colour image representation, Ic, formed by at least two distinct colour pixel matrixes, Mi, by carrying out a histogram equalization processing step (250), which is carried out separately for each colour pixel matrix. Different pre-washing steps may be applied prior to the histogram equalization processing step (250). The invention also provides a number of apparatuses adapted for different applications using the method according to the invention.