A method for processing a source digital image wherein the source digital image is comprised of a plurality of pixels. A spatial filter is applied to the source digital image to produce an enhanced digital image. An inverse spatial filter is applied to the enhanced digital image to produce an estimated digital image. A difference digital image is then produced from the estimated digital image and the source digital image, wherein the difference digital image is representative of a difference between the source digital image and the estimated digital image. The difference digital image and the enhanced digital image can be transmitted from a first device to a second device remote. At the second device, a reconstructed digital image can be generated from the difference digital image and the enhanced digital image, wherein the reconstructed digital image is substantially equivalent to the source digital image.