Method and apparatus for compressing reproducible color gamut

A reproducible color gamut compression apparatus, comprising:

• image data input means for receiving image data constructed of three color signals and displayed by a plurality of display devices that are mutually different in reproducible color gamut;
• target reproducible color gamut computing means for computing a target reproducible color gamut to which compression occurs, based on color reproduction characteristics of the plurality of display devices, and outputting reproducible color gamut information;
• compression ratio computing means for computing a compression ratio used to compress a source reproducible color gamut, based on the reproducible color gamuts of the display devices and the reproducible color gamut information output from said target reproducible color gamut computing means;
• compression method determination information acquiring means for acquiring compression method determination information used to determine a method of compressing the source reproducible color gamut;
• compression method determining means for determining the compression method used to compress the source reproducible color gamut, using the compression method determination information acquired by said compression method determination information acquiring means;
• and
• reproducible color gamut compressing means for converting the source reproducible color gamut into the target reproducible color gamut, using the compression method determined by said compression method determining means.

A reproducible color gamut compression apparatus for use in displaying image data on a plurality of devices having mutually different reproducible color gamuts, the method comprising:

• an image data input for receiving image data including three color signals;
• a target reproducible color gamut computing unit for computing a target reproducible color gamut based on color reproduction characteristics of the plurality of devices, and outputting common reproducible color gamut information;
• a compression ratio computing unit for computing a compression ratio to compress a source reproducible color gamut based on a reproducible color gamut of a target device and the common reproducible color gamut information;
• a compression method determination unit for acquiring compression method determination information and determining a method of compressing the source reproducible color gamut based on the acquired information;
• and
• a reproducible color gamut compressing unit for converting a source reproducible color gamut into the target reproducible color gamut using the determined compression method.