Image processing apparatus having a gradation conversion unit that executes gradation conversion processing, and image processing method for the same

An image processing apparatus, comprising:

• a color conversion unit that converts an image in a color space expressed by three primary color signals into an image in a color space expressed by a first brightness signal and a plurality of color difference signals;
• a first brightness conversion unit that converts the first brightness signal into a second brightness signal in each of a plurality of areas that is divided based upon hue component determined by the color difference signals;
• a gradation conversion unit that executes gradation conversion processing on the second brightness signal;
• a modulation unit that executes modulation processing on the color difference signals by multiplying the color difference signals by modulation features;
• and
• a second brightness conversion unit that converts the second brightness signal, on which gradation conversion has been executed by the gradation conversion unit, into the first brightness signal in each of the plurality of areas that is divided based upon hue component determined by the color difference signals, wherein:
• the second brightness signal includes a feature in which an upper limit of the color space expressed by the three primary color signals is determined based upon only the second brightness signal.