METHOD FOR GENERATING A CONTONE MAP

A method is provided for generating a data format for describing a reproducible printer page for electronic recording. A programmed page description of a content of the printed page composed of text, graphics and image information is processed by an interpreter, and a list of graphic objects is generated. The objects are superimposed in a memory according to their position on the printed page. The objects are subdivided into simpler objects free of superimposition. Picture elements are generated for the simpler, superimposition-free objects. The picture elements are presented by grey scale values. The picture elements are combined to form a description of the printed page organized pixel-by-pixel and line-by-line as a contone map.