A method of processing a color digital image having a luminance channel and one or more chrominance channels to improve the tone scale characteristics of the image, includes the steps of: producing a control signal from the one or more chrominance channels; generating a pedestal signal containing mainly low frequency modulation by filtering the luminance channel with a spatial filter, whereby the operation of the spatial filter is modulated by the control signal; and producing a texture signal by subtracting the pedestal signal from the luminance channel.