Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes an image reading section which reads an image by scanning it and separating the colors of the image into a plurality of colors; and image processing section which processes the output of the image reading section and outputs the image information of these colors; a recording section which forms an image of these colors in the image region of a photoreceptor according to the image information and transfers the image onto a recording paper; an operating section which sets the copy conditions and controls the above-described sections, wherein the image forming apparatus can copy the document image according to an automatic color selection mode in which the color conditions of the document image is judged, and a color to be used and a copy process in accordance with the color to be used can be automatically determined.