System and method for bad pixel replacement in image processing

A method of processing an a digital image, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving image data defining the image, the image data including a plurality of pixels;
• for each green pixel in the plurality of pixels, replacing likely corrupt green pixels by:
• determining if a green pixel exceeds first selected green-neighboring pixels by a first green threshold difference and replacing the green pixel with an average of first selected green-nearby pixels if the green pixel exceeds the first selected green-neighboring pixels by the first green threshold difference;
• and
• determining if the green pixel is less then second selected green-neighboring pixels by a second green threshold difference and replacing the green pixel with an average of selected green-nearby pixels if the green pixel is less than the second selected green-neighboring pixels by the second green threshold difference;
• and
• for each red pixel in the plurality of pixels, replacing likely corrupt red pixels by:
• determining if a red pixel exceeds first selected red-neighboring pixels by a first red threshold difference and replacing the red pixel with a maximum of first selected red-nearby pixels if the red pixel exceeds the first selected red-neighboring pixels by the first red threshold difference;
• and
• determining if the red pixel exceeds second selected red-neighboring pixels by a second red threshold difference and determining if the red pixel is in a locally flat area and determining if the red pixel is in a locally dark area and replacing the red pixel with a maximum of second selected red-nearby pixels if the red pixel exceeds the second selected red-neighboring pixels by the second red threshold difference and if the red pixel is in a locally flat area or a locally dark area;
• and
• determining if the red pixel is less then third selected red-neighboring pixels by a third red threshold difference and replacing the red pixel with a mean of third selected red-nearby pixels if the red pixel is less than the third selected red-neighboring pixels by the third red threshold difference;
• and
• determining if the red pixel is less then fourth selected red-neighboring pixels by a fourth red threshold difference and determining if the red pixel is in a locally flat area and replacing the red pixel with a mean of fourth selected red-nearby pixels if the red pixel is less than the fourth selected red-neighboring pixels by the fourth red threshold difference and if the red pixel is in a locally flat area;
• and
• for each blue pixel in the plurality of pixels, replacing likely corrupt blue pixels by:
• determining if a blue pixel exceeds any pair of first selected blue-neighboring pixels by a first blue threshold difference determining if the blue pixel is in a locally flat area and determining if the blue pixel is in a locally dark area and replacing the blue pixel with a mean of first selected blue-nearby pixels if the blue pixel exceeds the first selected blue-neighboring pixels by the first blue threshold difference and if the blue pixel is in a locally flat area or a locally dark area;
• and
• determining if the blue pixel is less then second selected blue-neighboring pixels by a second blue threshold difference and determining if the blue pixel is in a locally flat area and replacing the blue pixel with a mean of second selected blue-nearby pixels if the blue pixel is less than the second selected blue-neighboring pixels by the second blue threshold difference and if the blue pixel is in a locally flat area;
• and
• determining if the pixel is less then third selected blue-neighboring pixels by a third blue threshold difference and determining if the blue pixel is in a locally flat area and determining if the blue pixel is in a locally dark area and replacing the blue pixel with a mean of third selected blue-nearby pixels if the blue pixel is less than the third selected blue-neighboring pixels by the third blue threshold difference if the blue pixel is in a locally flat area and in a locally dark area.