1. A digital color image processing method for adjusting the color reproduction of a color image composed of pixels provided in a plurality of color channels, said method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a reference image from a combination of values of the pixels in the color channels, whereby each spatial coordinate of the reference image is characterized by a reference image level; (b) generating channel averages of the color channel values of the pixels that correspond to each of at least two different valued reference image levels; (c) obtaining specific channel averages corresponding to a near white point and a near black point from the channel averages; and (d) utilizing the specific channel averages on a pixel by pixel basis for the respective channels of the digital color image to produce a processed digital color image having improved color reproduction.