Color image processing method and apparatus for suppressing side effects of a chrominance emphasizing process are provided. A chrominance C of an original color image is detected by a chrominance detector. A luminousness V of the original color image is detected by a luminousness detector. A parameter selector selects chrominance conversion parameters on the basis of the chrominance C and luminousness V to generate a selected parameter. A chrominance converter executes the chrominance conversion by chrominance conversion parameters a to i. It is possible to suppress a side effect such that the color deviation becomes conspicuous in a portion of small chrominance and luminousness due to the execution of the chrominance emphasizing process. Thus, image data of a high quality can be obtained.