Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling a recording device with picture data of a halftone picture, in which the halftone picture is converted into a three-dimensional input data field, then a surface function which reproduces the surface structure of this input data filed is determined and finally from this surface function a three-dimensional output data field is derived, the resolution of which into individual picture elements corresponds to the resolution of the recording device. Such a method permits optimum control of a recording device even when the scanning device used for scanning the halftone picture and the recording device have a differing picture resolution.