Patent ID: 7446899

Claim:
An image processing method which maps a first color gamut into a second color gamut, comprising the steps of: setting first sample points on a surface of the first color gamut, and second sample points in the first color gamut; obtaining third sample points by mapping the first sample points into the second color gamut, and obtaining fourth sample points by mapping the second sample points into the second color gamut; setting a plurality of independent surface gradation lines based on the first sample points and a plurality of independent internal gradation lines based on the second sample points, one of the surface gradation lines being defined by a function indicating a continuous locus linking the plurality of sample points in the first sample points, and one of the internal gradation lines being defined by a function indicating a continuous locus linking the plurality of sample points in the second sample points; mapping the plurality of independent surface gradation lines based on the third sample points, and mapping the plurality of independent internal gradation lines based on the fourth sample points; calculating a relative position of an input color to the surface gradation lines or the internal gradation lines; and calculating an output color from the plurality of independent mapped surface gradation lines or the plurality of independent mapped internal gradation lines, based on the relative position, wherein the surface gradation lines and the internal gradation lines each indicate a locus of color change in the first color gamut, and the plurality of independent mapped surface gradation lines and the plurality of independent mapped internal gradation lines each indicate a locus of color change in the second color gamut.