MAPPING FROM FULL COLOR TO HIGHLIGHT COLOR AND TEXTURE

A method of color image processing for mapping an input image from a full color gamut to a textured highlight color gamut includes defining an input color in a desired three dimensional color space by determining intensity values for a first color coordinate, a second color coordinate, and a third color coordinate. A halftone cell is partitioned into first and second regions such that the first region contains first pixels, and the second region contains second pixels. Based on the intensity values, a first number of first pixels are selected for rendering in a highlight color. The first number of first pixels are selected from all the first pixels in a first sequential order. Again based on the intensity values, a second number of first pixels are selected for rendering in a base color. This time the second number of first pixels are selected from all the first pixels in a second sequential order. Preferably, the second sequential order is opposite the first sequential order. Based on the intensity values, a first number of second pixels are selected for rendering in the highlight color with the first number of second pixels being selected from all the second pixels in a third sequential order. Also based on the intensity values, a second number of second pixels are selected for rendering in the base color, and the second number of second pixels are selected from all the second pixels in a fourth sequential order. Preferably, the fourth sequential order is opposite the third sequential order.