1. An automated, computerized method for processing an image, comprising the steps of: providing an image file depicting the image, in a computer memory; calculating processing scale parameter information as a function of width dimension information for penumbrae depicted in the image; and generating, from the image, intrinsic illumination and material reflectance images corresponding to the image using the processing scale parameter information, wherein the intrinsic illumination image represents intensity and color of light incident upon each point on surfaces depicted in the image and the intrinsic material reflectance image represents reflectance properties of surfaces depicted in the image.