A system and method for processing color objects provides optimal processing quality by supporting both a perceptual-based color space and a physical-based color space and utilizing both color spaces for color processing in an integrated manner transparent to the end user. The graphics engine of the system includes a module for converting a color object being processed between the perceptual-base color space and the physical-based color space. During color processing that may involve various perceptual-based and physical-based operations, the graphics engine automatically converts the color object from one of the perceptual-based and physical-based color spaces to the other depending on the color processing operation to be performed. The graphics engine may also perform conversions on input graphic data from an input device to one of the dual color spaces for processing and converting a processed class object into the color space of an output device for displaying or printing.