1. An automated, computerized method for processing an image, comprising the steps of: providing an image file depicting an image having image locations, in a computer memory; selecting image locations i and j; setting a constraint between the image locations according to a log color space equation: w ij *(Mi−Mj)=w ij *(α ij V ij +(1−α ij )B ij ), wherein Mi and Mj are log color space values for the material reflectance component of the image locations i and j, respectively, V ij is a difference vector to provide a gradient magnitude defined by V ij =I i −I j , where I i and I j are log color space values corresponding to color values recorded in the image file, for the color and intensity of the selected image locations i and j, respectively, B ij is a component of V ij not aligned with illumination change between the selected image locations and is a vector defined by B ij =V ij −(V ij ·N), where N is a BIDR normal, α ij is a scalar value based upon a smooth scalar function α that varies from 0 to 1, as a function of a degree of change expressed by I i −I j corresponding to one of an illumination change or a material reflectance change, and w ij is a constraint confidence weight; and solving the log color space equation to identify an intrinsic component of the selected image locations.