A method for mapping a color specification to colorant amounts when a first and a second colorant have a similar hue involves the division of portions of color space into regions. Colors of the similar hue are rendered with a first colorant, a second colorant or a blend of the first and second colorants depending on which region of a color specification space the color specification is related. An image processor operative to map color descriptions via the method includes a colorant splitters operative to map a color description to colorant amounts for colorants of similar hue. In a xerographic environment, such an image processor includes a xerographic printer.