Patent ID: 7554693

Claim:
An image processing apparatus for performing a color correction process of an imagine job on the basis of: first color characteristic data indicating color characteristic with which a first image forming apparatus forms image data, and second color characteristic data indicating color characteristic with which a second image forming apparatus forms the image data, so as to conform a result of an image into which the second image forming apparatus forms the image data to result in another image into which the first image forming apparatus forms the image data, the image processing apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit for acquiring the first color characteristic data and the second color characteristic data; a generation unit for generating third color characteristic data, which is used in the color correction process, from the first color characteristic data and the second color characteristic data; an evaluation unit for evaluating quality of the third color characteristic data; a calculation unit for calculating a fee for generating the third color characteristic data on the basis of the quality obtained as a result of the evaluation, the fee being a variable cost associated with each particular imaging job; and an accounting device for accounting for the calculated fee.