Patent ID: 6016359
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
A color image converting apparatus for executing color processing on an input color image and converting the input color image to color image data for a color image forming device to form an image, comprising:a memory for storing a range of a reproducible color space of said color image forming device in a homogeneous color space;a converter for converting an input color image signal to a signal for a homogeneous color space;a divider for dividing a homogeneous color space concentrically and radially on a plane within an area having constant brightness into a specified number of unit regions;an occurrence frequency counter for obtaining an occurrence frequency of a signal for a homogeneous color space included in each of said unit regions;a discriminator for comparing each of said unit regions to the range of reproducible color space stored in said memory and making a determination as to whether a signal for a homogeneous color space exists outside the range of said reproducible color space;a compression deciding device for deciding, when it is determined by said discriminator that a signal for a homogeneous color space exists outside said range of reproducible color space, the necessity of color space compression and compressing direction for each of said unit regions present on a plane within an area having constant brightness in a homogeneous color space according to the occurrence frequency of a signal for a homogeneous color space of each unit region; anda mapping device for mapping image data on unit regions subjected to color space compression in said compression deciding device onto other regions in said compressing direction.