A spectral characteristic acquiring apparatus includes a color data acquiring unit including a plurality of spectral sensors configured to receive reflected light from an object that has been irradiated with light to acquire color data of the object, a spectral characteristic calculating unit configured to estimate spectral characteristics of the object based on the acquired color data of the object using a preset transformation matrix, a first conveying unit configured to convey the object in a predetermined conveying direction, and a second conveying unit configured to convey the color data acquiring unit in a direction intersecting the predetermined conveying direction. The plurality of spectral sensors are arrayed in the predetermined conveying direction.