Computer implemented method for simulating a digital imaging device capturing a scene, the imaging device comprising a color filter array and an output channel (16, 17, 18) for each primary color of the color filter array, wherein the imaging device is described by a model comprising an input channel and output channels corresponding to the individual output channels (16, 17, 18) of the digital imaging device, wherein the model further comprises a spectral sensitivity for each output channel (16, 17, 18) of the digital imaging device, wherein the spectral sensitivities each specify the relative amount of light detected by the associated channel of the imaging device as a function of a color or wavelength of incident electromagnetic radiation, wherein the method comprises: - providing an image of the scene containing pixel data for a pixel of the simulated digital imaging device via the input channel, the pixel data being specified in an input color space, wherein reference color stimuli of the input color space differ from the primary colors of the color filter array of the digital imaging device; - determining a luminance value of the pixel data; - assigning (337, 339) at least one spectral color to the pixel data; - calculating a color dependent output value of the pixel data for each output channel (16, 17, 18), wherein the calculated color dependent output value for each output channel (16, 17, 18) depends on the spectral sensitivity of the respective output channel (16, 17, 18) evaluated at the at least one spectral color assigned to the pixel data and the luminance value of the pixel data; and - providing the calculated output values of the pixel data as output data of the pixel of the imaging device. the imaging device comprising a color filter array and an output channel (16, 17, 18) for each primary color of the color filter array, wherein the imaging device is described by a model comprising an input channel and output channels corresponding to the individual output channels (16, 17, 18) of the digital imaging device, wherein the model further comprises a spectral sensitivity for each output channel (16, 17, 18) of the digital imaging device, wherein the spectral sensitivities each specify the relative amount of light detected by the associated channel of the imaging device as a function of a color or wavelength of incident electromagnetic radiation, wherein the method comprises: - providing an image of the scene containing pixel data for a pixel of the simulated digital imaging device via the input channel, the pixel data being specified in an input color space, wherein reference color stimuli of the input color space differ from the primary colors of the color filter array of the digital imaging device; - determining a luminance value of the pixel data; - assigning (337, 339) at least one spectral color to the pixel data; - calculating a color dependent output value of the pixel data for each output channel (16, 17, 18), - providing an image of the scene containing pixel data for a pixel of the simulated digital imaging device via the input channel, the pixel data being specified in an input color space, wherein reference color stimuli of the input color space differ from the primary colors of the color filter array of the digital imaging device; - determining a luminance value of the pixel data; - assigning (337, 339) at least one spectral color to the pixel data; - calculating a color dependent output value of the pixel data for each output channel (16, 17, 18), wherein the calculated color dependent output value for each output channel (16, 17, 18) depends on the spectral sensitivity of the respective output channel (16, 17, 18) evaluated at the at least one spectral color assigned to the pixel data and the luminance value of the pixel data; and - providing the calculated output values of the pixel data as output data of the pixel of the imaging device. - providing the calculated output values of the pixel data as output data of the pixel of the imaging device.