Patent ID: 7616360

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: an input section, arranged to input an image signal representing a combination of colors including base colors and a spot color; a comparator, arranged to calculate a sum of signal values of colors in each pixel of the image signal, and to compare the sum of the signal values with a limit value; and a replacement section, arranged to, when the sum exceeds the limit value, replace signal values of the base colors with a signal value of the spot color based on a replacement table for replacing the signal values of the base colors with the signal value of the spot color, wherein the replacement table includes a relationship of replacement with the signal value of the spot color, and in addition a combination of the signal values of the base colors except black and a relationship of replacement with a signal value of black, and wherein said replacement section comprises a decider arranged to decide which of replacement with the spot color and replacement with black takes priority.