An apparatus includes at least one processing device configured to obtain an input image and determine a cumulative distribution function (CDF) histogram from a luminance or luma (Y) channel of the input image. The at least one processing device is also configured to determine an entry CDF histogram in a CDF histogram lookup table (LUT) closest to the determined CDF histogram. The at least one processing device is further configured to apply a Y channel global tone mapping (GTM) curve to the input image based on one or more parameters assigned to the entry CDF histogram from the CDF histogram LUT.