A color image processing apparatus capable of performing effective trapping process is provided. The apparatus processes color image data expressed by plural colors and comprises a drift information storing portion storing color drift information with respect to each of the plurality of colors; a boundary detecting portion detecting a boundary portion of the image data of the plural colors; a color change detecting portion detecting a color change in the boundary portion of the image data detected by the boundary detecting portion; a color drift direction recognizing portion recognizing a color drift direction with reference to the drift information storing portion according to the color change in the boundary portion detected by the color change detecting portion; and an image correcting portion correcting the color change in the boundary portion of the image data according to the color drift direction recognized by the color drift direction recognizing portion.