Color image processing apparatus and method

A color image processing method for use in a color image processing apparatus and for overlapping colors corresponding to a plurality of color developers onto a sheet of paper based on print data to form a color visible image, said color image processing method comprising:

• a print data receiving step of receiving print data;
• a bitmap data producing step of producing bitmap data from the print data, the bitmap data having colors that correspond to the plurality of color developers;
• a data size determining step of determining a data size in units of bit of the bitmap data;
• and
• a degrading step of, when the data size determined in the data size determining step is greater than a predetermined size, producing bitmap data having fewer colors by removing a predetermined color from the colors corresponding to the plurality of color developers.

A color image processing system that outputs data to a color image forming unit for forming a color visible image by overlapping colors relating to a plurality of color developers, said color image processing system comprising:

• print data receiving means for receiving print data;
• bitmap data producing means for producing bitmap data from the print data, the bitmap data having colors that correspond to the plurality of color developers;
• data size determining means for determining a data size in units of bit of the bitmap data;
• and
• degrading means for, when the data size determined by the data size determining means is greater than a predetermined size, producing bitmap data having fewer colors, wherein a predetermined color is removed from the colors corresponding to the plurality of color developers.

A color image processing method for use in a color image processing apparatus and for outputting data to a color image forming unit that forms a color visible image by overlapping colors corresponding to a plurality of color developers, said color image processing method comprising:

• a print data receiving step of receiving print data;
• bitmap data producing step of producing bitmap data from the print data, the bitmap data having the colors that correspond to the plurality of color developers;
• a data size determining step of determining a data size in units of bit of the bitmap data;
• and
• a degrading step of, when the data size determined in the data size determining step is greater than a predetermined size, producing bitmap data having fewer colors, wherein a predetermined color is removed from the colors corresponding to the plurality of color developers.