Systems and methods for effectively and naturally enhancing the relative contrast between an image object and the surrounding background image in television pictures. In one embodiment, a television system preferably comprises a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to an audio-video output unit. The CPU preferably comprises non-volatile memory coupled to a logic unit which is adapted to receive and process a program signal S.sub.P and output an enhanced program signal S.sub.EP to the audio-video output unit. The logic unit preferably includes a differential waveform generator in one embodiment and a low pass filter in another embodiment. In operation in one embodiment, a waveform comprising a second differential of an original waveform and an inverted copy of the second differential of the original waveform is low pass filtered, and, depending on the shape of the original waveform, inverted prior to adding it to the original waveform to generate an enhanced waveform with improved relative contrast. In operation in an alternative embodiment, an aperture waveform is generated by adding a low pass filtered and inverted waveform of an original waveform to the original waveform, and then added to the original waveform to generate an enhanced waveform with improved relative contrast.