A method and apparatus for generating a holographic image from a low resolution image (510,515,520,525) frequency transformed (501) into a low resolution complex holographic image that is subsequently interpolated (502) into a high resolution complex holographic image which is encoded (503) to thereby produce a high resolution computer generated hologram (550,555). By transforming fewer pixels of the low resolution image, the amount of calculation may be reduced and the processing speed for generating the holographic image may be increased.