1. A signal-processing system comprising: a processing component; and a signal-processing routine executed by the processing component that enhances an input image to produce an enhanced, 3D-boosted output image by computing a soft-segmented image from the input image; and deriving, from the soft-segmented image and the input image, the enhanced, 3D-boosted output image; wherein the 3D-boosted output image is locally contrast enhanced to provide, to a viewer of the visually-rendered 3D-boosted output image, a greater of depth, due to enhancement of contrast between shaded and illuminated portions of objects and shaded and illuminated objects with respect to the input image.