Patent ID: 7386183

Claim:
A method for image processing comprising the steps of: processing an image comprising a plurality of pixels each having an intensity to produce an image processed image comprising a plurality of pixels; applying a preservation filter to said image to produce at least one preservation value corresponding to at least one of said plurality of pixels of said image; computing a weight coefficient α, for each of said at least one preservation values; and using each of said at least one weight coefficients to mix said image with said image processed image to produce an output image comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein said computing said weight coefficient α comprises the steps of: setting α to a maximum value if an intensity of a target pixel is less than or equal to a boundary value; setting α to a maximum value if an intensity of said target pixel is greater than said boundary value and said preservation value corresponding to said target pixel is in a low region; setting α to a minimum value if an intensity of said target pixel is greater than said boundary value and said preservation value corresponding to said target pixel is in an upper region; and setting α proportional to a preservation statistical metric if an intensity of said target pixel is greater than said boundary value and said preservation value corresponding to said target pixel is in a middle region.