1. A method of processing a digital image to improve tone scale, comprising the steps of: a) generating a multiresolution image representation of an original digital image including a plurality of base digital images and a plurality of residual digital images wherein: i) the base digital images are each of a different spatial resolution and are lower spatial resolution versions of the original digital image; ii) the residual digital images have different spatial resolution and include spatial detail relating to a different pass-band of spatial frequencies; b) applying a texture reducing spatial filter to the base digital images to produce texture reduced base digital images; and c) combining the texture reduced base digital images and the residual digital images to generate a texture reduced digital image; d) subtracting the texture reduced digital image from the digital image to produce a texture digital image; e) applying a compressive tone scale function to the texture reduced digital image to produce a tone scale adjusted digital image having a compressed tone scale in at least a portion of the image; and f) combining the texture digital image with the tone scale adjusted digital image to produce an enhanced digital image, whereby the contrast of the enhanced digital image is improved without compressing the contrast of the texture in the original digital image.