COMPUTERIZED LASER ENGRAVING SYSTEM AND METHOD

System and method utilizing a computer and a laser platemaker for the reproduction of information on photosensitive surfaces, as in the production of printing plates. The platemaker includes a reading beam for scanning data such as text, logotypes, line art and halftones from a read platen or copy board and a writing beam for imaging data on a writing surface or platen. Data from the reading beam is transferred to the computer which controls the modulation of the writing beam. The system provides high speed electronic composition or pagination of any combination of data created by the computer or scanned by the reading beam.