Patent ID: 8045222

Claim:
An image processing apparatus which converts an input color signal into a color signal which falls within a color reproduction range of an image output device, the image processing apparatus comprising: a representative color setting unit that sets plural representative colors; a first hue setting unit that sets corrected hue for each point in an input color space on a first equi-hue line connecting the representative color and black such that the corrected hue continuously changes along the first equi-hue line; a second hue setting unit that is configured to set corrected hue for each point in an input color space on a second equi-hue line connecting the representative color and white such that the corrected hue continuously changes along the second equi-hue line; a hue correcting unit that corrects hue of the input color signal referring to the first and the second hue setting units; and a mapping unit that maps the input color signal after whose hue is corrected by the hue correcting unit to a color signal within a color range of the image output device, wherein the first hue setting unit sets corrected hue using a hue correction table in which a hue correction factor varies nonlinearly with respect to a change rate of brightness, the hue correction factor indicating a degree to which a hue of a representative color corresponding to each point in the in input color space on the first equi-hue line is to be changed to a hue of a respective corresponding color that is within a color range of the image output device, and wherein the second hue setting unit sets corrected hue such that the corrected hue for a representative color corresponding to each point in the input color space on the second equi-hue line is always changed to the hue of the respective corresponding color that is within a color range of the image output device.