A computer implemented method simulates a digital imaging device capturing a scene. The imaging device includes a color filter array and an output channel for each primary color of the color filter array. The method includes providing an image of the scene containing pixel data for a pixel of the digital imaging device, the pixel data being specified in an input color space, wherein reference color stimuli of the input color space differ from the primary colors of the color filter array of the digital imaging device, determining a luminance value of the pixel data, assigning at least one spectral color to the pixel data, calculating a color dependent output value of the pixel data for each output channel, and providing the calculated output values of the pixel data as output data of the pixel of the imaging device.