A method includes obtaining a Bayer input image. The method also includes generating, using at least one processing device of an electronic device, multiple YUV image frames based on the Bayer input image using non-linear scaling, where the YUV image frames are associated with different exposure settings. The method further includes generating, using the at least one processing device of the electronic device, a fused image based on the YUV image frames. In addition, the method includes applying, using the at least one processing device of the electronic device, global tone-mapping to the fused image in order to generate a tone-mapped fused image, where the global tone-mapping is based on a first cubic spline curve.