Patent ID: 8717627

Claim:
A method for adjusting color tones of an input digital image file to create an adjusted digital image file, using a computer system programmed with instructions for selecting curves that are a best fit to data, the steps comprising: a) storing on the computer system a plurality of predetermined curves comprising a plurality of contrast profile families of curves, each contrast profile family of curves comprising a plurality of member curves, each member curve having a different midpoint magnitude, each of said curves specifying an adjusted color tone percentage output as a function of input color tone percentage over a range of input and output values, each of said curves reflecting a midpoint magnitude and contrast over the range of input and output values, the midpoint magnitude comprising the adjusted color tone percentage output corresponding to an input color tone percentage of 50%, each curve representing a combination of midpoint magnitude and contrast that is different from the combination for any other curve in the plurality of curves; b) receiving as an input into the computer system at least two data points, each data point comprising an adjusted color tone percentage output corresponding to an input color tone percentage; and c) determining which one of the plurality of predetermined curves most closely matches said at least two data points, thereby identifying a selected curve to be applied for adjusting the color tones of the input digital image file to create the adjusted digital image file.