In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method for manipulating an image comprises the steps of manipulating the image to provide an intensity adjusted image, deriving a bi-illuminant dichromatic reflection model representation of the image and utilizing the bi-illuminant dichromatic reflection model representation to manipulate the intensity adjusted image to generate a color correct intensity adjusted image. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the step of manipulating the image to provide an intensity adjusted image is carried out by executing a gamma correction method.