Patent ID: 6917445

Claim:
An image data conversion method for converting input image data for four color components of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black into output image data for recording operation, the method comprising the steps of: receiving input image data for four color components of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black; determining based on the input image data for black component, distribution data for the four color components of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, determining, based on the input image data for the black component and on the distribution data for the black component, output image data for the black component; and combining the distribution data for cyan, magenta, and yellow color components and the input image data for the cyan, magenta, and yellow color components, respectively, thereby converting the input image data for the three color components of cyan, magenta, and yellow into output image data for the three color components of cyan, magenta, and yellow.