PURPOSE: To classify color original pictures having color failures correcly, and correct the color properly, by using the hue of large area mean transmitted concentration and concentration correcting quantity.

CONSTITUTION: LB, LG, LR are hues of large area mean transmitted concentration, Da1 is printing exposure time, and DL is printing exposure time determined by LATD system. The concentration correcting quantity Da determined by Da=Da1- DL is measured in each color original picture. When LG-LB≤-0.05, such picture is judged to cause blue color failure; when LR-LG≥0.25, LG-LB≥0.25 it is regarded to be photographed under tungsten light; when LG≥0.8, it is taken in rear light or snow background. The pitctures causing blue color failure and taken in rear light or snow background are printed in lowered correction, and those taken under tungsten light are printed in high correction.