Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing an enhanced raster image from an original raster image are described. A set of initial sharpness values are derived from the initial intensity values of the pixels of the image. The initial sharpness values are mapped to a set of corresponding enhanced sharpness values, and a set of enhanced intensity values are derived from the enhanced sharpness values to produce the enhanced raster image. As a result of the mapping, one or more of the enhanced sharpness values are greater than the corresponding initial sharpness values and one or more of the enhanced sharpness values are less than the corresponding initial sharpness values. In another aspect, a background intensity value is determined for each pixel of the raster image based upon the initial intensity values for a plurality of pixels of the raster image, and the set of initial sharpness values is derived from the background intensity values and the initial intensity values.