Patent ID: 7034842

Claim:
A color characteristic description apparatus for producing color characteristic data for use when supplied image is converted into output image data, comprising: a characteristic point lookup table associated with and describing color characteristics of a first device inputting said supplied image, said characteristic point lookup table to be developed into a multidimensional lookup table of greater data volume than the characteristic point lookup table in response to inputting of said supplied image, wherein said characteristic point lookup table is solely composed of only characteristic points which indicate the relationship between supplied image signals and output image signals wherein the characteristic points are points in which a function relating the supplied image signals with the output image data has a discontinuity in the slope such that the characteristic points are determined to be impossible to be accurately developed in a table development method which is performed when said lookup table is developed into said multidimensional lookup table; and wherein color characteristic data which is produced by said characteristic description apparatus contains, in addition to said lookup table, an identifier for identifying a table development method which is to be employed when said characteristic point lookup table is developed into the multidimensional lookup table.