IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING DEVICE EQUIPPED THEREWITH, IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device which is capable of compressing a color reproduction range with a small amount of data without degrading a color image in gradation, coping easily with a plurality of image input units, and enabling a user to regulate the color reproduction range optionally in degree of compression. SOLUTION: A first compressibility represented by an output color reproduction range against an input color reproduction range is stored for every hue in a chroma hue compressibility storage unit 24. When a color reproduction range is compressed, a color reproduction range compressing unit 23 obtains a first compressibility corresponding to the hue of the inputted image data represented by L*C*H (L*: lightness, C*: chroma, and H: hue) by referring to the chroma hue compressibility storage unit 24, then obtains a second compressibility by the use of the first compressibility, compresses the hue of the inputted image data by the use of the second compressibility, and keeps the lightness.