Profile creation method, profile creation apparatus and image processing apparatus for performing color conversion using a profile

A profile creation apparatus for creating a color profile in which color conversion from first color space to second color space that is different from the first color space is defined, the apparatus comprising:

• a color gamut information obtaining unit configured to obtain second color gamut information in which the second color space and standard color space are associated with each other;
• a comparison unit configured to, for each hue of interest, compare a difference in the second color space between color lightness corresponding to maximum chroma in the standard color space and maximum lightness in the second color space, with a predetermined threshold value;
• and
• a profile creation unit configured to, in a case where the difference is smaller than or equal to the threshold value, create a color profile by compressing a color, in the first color space, that has higher lightness than lightness corresponding to the maximum chroma into a color gamut of the second color space, using, as a focus point, a point on a lightness axis at which lightness is lower than the lightness corresponding to the maximum chroma.