A method for compensating a digital image for the effects of flare light in order
to generate an enhanced digital image operates upon a source digital image derived
from an original scene affected by imaged flare light, wherein the source digital
image includes a plurality of pixels with a known relationship to the intensity
of light corresponding to the original scene. A first flare control parameter relating
to the intensity of imaged flare light and a second flare control parameter relating
to the average intensity level of imaged light in the original scene are derived
from the source digital image, and a flare compensation function is calculated
using the first and second flare control parameters. An enhanced digital image
is then generated from the flare compensation function and the source digital image.
More particularly, the flare parameters are derived from a linear state digital
image generated from the source digital image, where the pixels of the linear state
digital image have a linear relationship with the intensity of light corresponding
to the original scene.
