A spectral characteristic calculation device stores a plurality of conversion matrices used to calculate the spectral characteristic values based on brightness values of a digital color image, and a plurality of pieces of brightness value information respectively corresponding to a plurality of sample groups. The plurality of conversion matrices are generated based on the sample color image information contained in the plurality of sample groups, respectively. An evaluating unit is configured to evaluate similarity of brightness value information of the target data with respect to each of the plurality of pieces of brightness value information of the plurality of sample groups. A conversion matrix corresponding to the sample group that is evaluated to have the highest similarity is selected as the conversion matrix. Then, a calculating unit calculates the spectral characteristic values of the target data using the conversion matrix selected by the selecting unit.