A method generates an image with de-emphasized textures. Each pixel in the
image is classified as either a silhouette edge pixel, a texture edge
pixels, or a featureless pixel. A mask image M(x, y) is generated,
wherein an intensity of a given pixel (x, y) in the mask image M(x, y) is
zero if the pixel (x, y) is classified as the texture edge pixel, is d(x,
y) if the pixel (x, y) is classified as the featureless pixel, and is one
if the pixel (x, y) is classified as the silhouette edge pixel. An
intensity gradient .gradient.I(x, y) is determined in the masked image,
and the intensity gradients in the masked image are integrated according
to G(x, y)=.gradient.I(x, y). M(x, y). Then, an output image I' is
generated by minimizing |.gradient.I'-G|, and normalizing the intensities
in the output image I'.