An image processing apparatus comprises a color matching processing unit for
performing
color matching processing according to color reproduction characteristics of input
and output devices, a color separation unit for separating image data subjected
to the color matching processing, into color components corresponding to recording
agents used by the output device, and a control means for controlling a method
of the color matching processing and a method of the image data separation, according
to a kind of input image. Thus, it is possible to perform the color matching processing
and the color component separation according to the kind of input image, thereby
realizing the color matching in consideration of how to use the recording agents
and the satisfactory color matching according to a human's sight characteristic.
