c, m, and y, which are the primary colors, are calculated from inputted RGB data. Duty limitation is then applied to c, m, and y by means of the limit amount α. c′, m′, and y′, which have been limited by α, are then normalized. The largest limit amount is β when the normalized values are less than 200%. If these values are between 200% and 250%, β+((c″+m″+y″) / 255−2)×2γ is then the largest limit amount, which is β+γ when the values are equal to or more than 250%. C, M, Y, and K are obtained by subjecting c′, m′, and y′ to under color removal and black generation processing. Unless the total of these values exceeds the largest limit amount, C, M, Y, K are outputted as is as the output values C′, M′, Y′, and K′. When the largest limit amount is exceeded, Duty limitation is applied.