A method of enhancing the contrast of an image that is represented by a digital signal wherein the image is decomposed into a multi-scale representation such that: - at least one approximation image is created at one or multiple scales, an approximation image at a scale representing the grey values of said image in which all details at that scale have been omitted, - translation difference images are created by pixel-wise subtracting the values of an approximation image at scale s and the values of a translated version of said approximation image, - a non-linear modification is applied to the values of said translation difference image(s), - at least one enhanced center difference image at a specific scale is computed by combining said modified translation difference images at that scale or a smaller scale with weights w i,j whereby said weights w i,j are selected in accordance with said image decomposition algorithm such that, if said enhancement by non-linear modification were not performed, an equivalent of said multi-scale decomposition of said image would be obtained such that said at least one center difference image would equal the detail image at said specific scale, the detail image is defined as the difference of information between an approximation image at a certain scale and an approximation image at a smaller scale, - an enhanced image is computed by applying a reconstruction algorithm to the enhanced center difference images, wherein at least one of the following actions is performed said non-linear modification of the values of said translation difference images is steered by (a)characteristic(s) computed out of said approximation image(s) at at least one scale, said approximation images at a scale are filtered to generate filtered approximation images, the filtering is based on the characteristics of said detail images or said approximation images at said scale or a coarser scale. said enhanced center difference images are filtered, the filtering is steered by said detail image or said approximation images at the same or a coarser scale. - at least one approximation image is created at one or multiple scales, an approximation image at a scale representing the grey values of said image in which all details at that scale have been omitted, - translation difference images are created by pixel-wise subtracting the values of an approximation image at scale s and the values of a translated version of said approximation image, - a non-linear modification is applied to the values of said translation difference image(s), - at least one enhanced center difference image at a specific scale is computed by combining said modified translation difference images at that scale or a smaller scale with weights w i,j whereby said weights w i,j are selected in accordance with said image decomposition algorithm such that, if said enhancement by non-linear modification were not performed, an equivalent of said multi-scale decomposition of said image would be obtained such that said at least one center difference image would equal the detail image at said specific scale, the detail image is defined as the difference of information between an approximation image at a certain scale and an approximation image at a smaller scale, - an enhanced image is computed by applying a reconstruction algorithm to the enhanced center difference images, wherein at least one of the following actions is performed said non-linear modification of the values of said translation difference images is steered by (a)characteristic(s) computed out of said approximation image(s) at at least one scale, said approximation images at a scale are filtered to generate filtered approximation images, the filtering is based on the characteristics of said detail images or said approximation images at said scale or a coarser scale. said enhanced center difference images are filtered, the filtering is steered by said detail image or said approximation images at the same or a coarser scale. said non-linear modification of the values of said translation difference images is steered by (a)characteristic(s) computed out of said approximation image(s) at at least one scale, said approximation images at a scale are filtered to generate filtered approximation images, the filtering is based on the characteristics of said detail images or said approximation images at said scale or a coarser scale. said enhanced center difference images are filtered, the filtering is steered by said detail image or said approximation images at the same or a coarser scale.