1. A method of removing defects from an image using a computing system, comprising: obtaining an image from an input device; identifying potential defects in the image based on edge sharpness using a processor; determining measures of strength for the different potential defects; calculating local properties for different positions within the image using the processor; identifying image defects by evaluating the measures of strength for the potential defects in view of the local properties of the image in an immediate vicinity of said potential defects using the processor; and replacing image data corresponding to the image defects based on image data surrounding the image defects.