A single method and apparatus for producing many of the most common types of hologram from digital data is disclosed. In one embodiment the data are generated entirely by a computer as a 3-D (animated) model. In another embodiment the data are generated from multiple 2-D camera images taken of a real 3-D (moving) object or scene from a plurality of different camera positions. The data are digitally processed and displayed on a small high resolution spatial light modulator (SLM). A compact low energy pulsed laser, which avoids the usual vibration problems encountered at high rates of production and the installation in normal working environments, is used to record composite holograms on an holographic emulsion using a special optical design. The present invention permits the creation of restricted or full parallax master transmission or reflection type composite holograms, known as H1 holograms, that can be copied using traditional methods to produce full or single color rainbow white-light transmission holograms, achromatic white-light transmission holograms or single or full-color white-light reflection holograms. Alternatively the same invention and apparatus permits the direct writing of full or single color rainbow white-light transmission composite holograms, achromatic white-light transmission composite holograms or single or full-color white-light reflection composite holograms without the need to pass through the intermediate stage of the H1 transmission hologram. The present invention allows the creation of a compact rugged machine that is capable of producing holograms covering a large size range. In addition the invention produces holograms that can be tiled together to form composite holograms much larger than the component panels.