In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated,
computerized method for manipulating an image is provided. The method of
the present invention comprises the steps of selecting matched shadow/lit
pairs of image portions from each of separate, different materials
depicted in the image, utilizing the selected matched pairs to determine
spectral ratio information for the image, calculating a correction term
as a function of the spectral ratio information and utilizing the
correction term to manipulate the image, to remove effects, such as, for
example, path radiance.