Aspects of a system and method for processing an image are presented. The method may comprise stretching contrast of an input image based on a distribution of luma values for the input image and a distribution of luma values for a desired output image. The pixels below a specified level of contrast defined by the distribution of luma values for the input image and the distribution of luma values for the desired output image are substantially stretched. The method may also comprise constructing a lookup table of the desired output luma values and stretching a contrast of the input image using the constructed lookup table. The method may also comprise applying linear function and a non-linear function to the distribution of luma values, and applying a stretch factor above a specified level of the distribution and a stretch factor below a specified level of the distribution.