Patent ID: 6923523

Claim:
An image processing method for determining a conversion relationship by using patches, the conversion relationship relating to a generation of color material data for an image output apparatus that outputs an image by using a plurality kinds of color material, said method comprising the steps of: providing a maximum total color material use amount which is determined by taking into account an adhesion characteristic of each of the plurality kinds of color material to a printing medium used when the image output apparatus outputs the patches; determining, for each of patches, a combination of data for the plurality kinds of color material constituting the patch within a range of the maximum total color material use amount; determining a target color on the basis of colorimetric values of the patches which are outputted based on the determined combinations of data for the plurality kinds of color material for the patches; and determining a combination of data for the plurality kinds of color material corresponding to the color target, and based on the determined combination for the color target, determining the conversion relationship relating to the generation of color material data.