PURPOSE: To provide a picture color area recognition device capable of stably recognizing color areas at a high speed by performing a color picture processing in the perception characteristic color space of humans.

CONSTITUTION: This device is provided with a picture data storage means 2 for storing picture data inputted by a picture input means 1, a picture element color conversion means 3 for reading pixel data constituting pictures front the picture data storage means 2, calculating luminance and color difference data from the data of red, green and blue provided in picture elements and deciding the color values of the picture elements, a picture element color storage means 4 for storing conversion data obtained by the picture element color conversion means 3, a color area generation means 5 for generating the color areas of the picture elements from the stored data, a color area storage means 6 for storing the color areas and a color area display means 7 for displaying the color areas.