A method for encoding complex-valued signals of a computer-generated hologram into a phase-modulating optical element for the reconstruction of a three-dimensional object, and to a computer program product for encoding complex-valued signals of a computer-generated hologram, and to a holographic display for the reconstruction of a three-dimensional object. The object is to reduce the effort on encoding a complex-valued spatial distribution by an iteration method on the basis of phase encoding, so that the computer-generated hologram resulting therefrom can be represented more rapidly and with the same or an improved reconstruction quality. In particular, the convergence during the iterative optimization is intended to be accelerated. This is achieved by a method in which degrees of freedom of the hologram plane as well as the reconstruction plane are used for optimizing the iteration method for rapid convergence and maximization of the diffraction efficiency in the signal range.