COLOR REPRODUCTION CORRECTION DEVICE AND CORRECTION METHOD FOR AN IMAGING APPARATUS

A color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus that obtains color signals with a plurality of spectral characteristics by imaging an object to be imaged. A color image is obtained by subjecting the color signals to signal processing, wherein the color reproduction correction device includes a light source inferring device which infers the type of illuminating light source being used. A memory device stores, for each of a plurality of predetermined light sources, constants for correction matrix operations which are determined so that the mean values of the absolute values of the distances between values obtained by converting the positions on a uniform color space of each of the plurality of colors of the object illuminated by the respective light sources into the respective corresponding positions on the uniform color space when white light from the reference light source of a display device taking into consideration the adaptive effect of the eyes, and the positions on the uniform color space of colors corresponding to the respective colors of the object being imaged that are obtained when output signals produced by applying the correction matrix operations to the color signals of the imaging device are displayed by the display device, are minimized. The operating device also extracts correction matrix constants corresponding to the illuminating light source inferred by the light source inferring device from the memory device and performs correction matrix operations on the color signals, at the time of imaging.