COMPENSATING FOR IMPROPERLY EXPOSED AREAS IN DIGITAL IMAGES

A method and apparatus compensates for improperly exposed areas in a first digital image taken with a first aperture setting by rapidly and automatically capturing a second digital image of the same scene using a second aperture setting. If a portion of the first image is properly exposed, then image information for the portion is used in a third adjusted image. If the portion is improperly exposed, then image information for the portion is combined with image information for a corresponding portion in the second image, thereby generating a composite portion used in the adjusted image. The manner of combining can be based on the luminance of the portion in the first image. In another example, one image is captured. Improperly exposed portions are adjusted using a screening process. The adjusted image is stored as a file with an indication in the file header that the image has been adjusted.