The invention relates to an image-processing method for automated contrast modification of digital image data. At least one low and one high-frequency signal are formed based on the digital image signal of the image data; the low-frequency signal component is modified using a characteristic-curve function; and then the modified, low-frequency signal is again added to the high-frequency signal component. In order to prevent the occurrence of distracting artifacts, so-called "halos", the formation of the low-frequency signal component to be modified is formed in dependence upon the high-frequency image components.