What is disclosed is a system and method for merit-based gamut mapping. In one embodiment, color points are clustered in regions of interest within a color space. Each cluster is associated with a gamut mapping function and a merit function. Mapping parameters of each gamut mapping function are iteratively varied to optimize the values based on the merit function value. An optimized gamut mapping function results. Optimized gamut mapping functions of adjacent clusters are blended together by blending the value of the gamut mapping function for a point of a cluster with a value produced by the gamut mapping function of an adjacent cluster for that color point. The composite gamut mapping function contains the optimized gamut mapping functions of all clusters is then output for use in mapping points within those clusters to points within the target gamut. The composite gamut mapping function exploits local advantages of each cluster.