A method of and apparatus for converting an original representation of a page element expressed in bitmap form into a page definition language representation of the page element develops an element approximation expressed in the page definition language, converts the element approximation into an approximation bitmap and compares the approximation bitmap to the original representation expressed in bitmap form to obtain an error indication. The error indication is checked to determine whether it meets a certain criterion and, if so, the element approximation is used as the page definition language representation. Otherwise, one or more further element approximations are developed until an element approximation is obtained that results in an error indication which meets the certain criterion.