1. A method of performing black trapping on a color image data representation for rendering comprising: a) determining if the pixel of interest is a natural extension of a halftone pattern associated with the halftone bitmap; b) estimating a continuous tone value associated with black pixels within a predetermined window of pixels associated with the pixel of interest; c) determining if the pixel of interest is associated with an edge based on the continuous tone values associated with black pixels estimated in step b); and d) if the pixel of interest is a natural extension of a halftone pattern associated with the halftone bitmap and the pixel of interest is associated with an edge, modifying to non-black halftone pixel bitmap plane at the pixel of interest location.