The present invention improves image quality by detecting and enhancing
edges in an image. Images often include blurry or fuzzy edges that can
obscure an image. An edge is a portion of an image separating two regions
of substantially constant image intensity. An image can be examined on a
pixel-by-pixel basis to find a candidate edge. When a candidate edge is
found, a determination can made as to whether the candidate edge is a
true edge. A true edge can be enhanced by amplifying the image intensity
differences between pixels on the true edge and adjacent pixels not on
the true edge. The present invention also provides a novel image
processing filter for eliminating well-known noise from an image. The
image processing filter can further improve edge enhancement by
eliminating such noise prior to the edge detection and enhancement.