Abstract: A color image processing apparatus processes an image, signal having a plurality of color components, by black signal synthesis and undercolor removal to remove a non-color component such as black from the color component signal. The non-color component is utilized to discriminate if an area of a color image represented by the color component signal is a high resolution area represented, for example, by characters, or is a gray level area. If the area is a high resolution area, the color components of the color component signal and the non-color component are processed in accordance with respective constant threshold memory data. However, if the color component signal is discriminated as being a gray level area, the respective color components and the non-color component are processed in accordance with respective dither memory data. Accordingly, faithful and clear images may be reproduced in both high resolution and gray level areas with faithful color balance.

Abstract: In a tone recording method, ink dots having at least two different concentrations per color are provided, and the number of dots, for each concentration, to be printed in a predetermined area is controlled in accordance with input density information. Overlap of the dots of different concentrations is also controlled in accordance with the input density information.