SYSTEM FOR PHOTOGRAPH ENHANCEMENT BY USER CONTROLLED LOCAL IMAGE ENHANCEMENT

In photography, High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology typically consists of (1) acquiring a wide dynamic range image and (2) adapting the wide dynamic range image to fit to the display range of the device. The first part can be achieved by using a special sensor or by combining two or more images with same or different exposures, and is optional. The second part, contrast adaptation, locally adapts the tone mapping function thus effectively re-using the available range. Described is a system and method that enables a user to create a new image by selectively combining contrast adapted and non-contrast adapted versions of the same image. The new image can retain the natural quality of the well illuminated areas and enhance salient features as selected by the user.