The invention relates to a color image recognition method which is characterized by comprising the following steps: S1, acquiring a picture of a processing object; s2, performing channel selection processing; s3, executing subsequent processing for the selected specific channel; s4, extracting characteristic values of the characters according to a set recognition algorithm after processing is completed, comparing the characteristic values with a target value of the model, and calculating and judging a closest result; and S5, outputting identification result information. The method has the advantages that after the method is used, the original color information of the image can be utilized to the maximum extent, the contrast ratio and the discrimination degree are increased, information loss caused by gray processing is avoided, the recognition effect of the feature value is improved under the condition that other feature value recognition steps are not changed, and finally the image recognition rate is increased.