A color image processing method, which is adapted to convert a first color signal including a solid color signal to a second color signal including a solid color signal, includes: determining a device independent color signal on a color coordinate in a color system from the first color signal; determining a solid color signal of the second color signal having the minimum or substantially minimum color difference from the solid color signal of the first color signal; and determining a color signal other than the solid color signal of the second color signal to be calorimetrically equal to the device independent color signal from the device independent color signal and the solid color signal of the second color signal.