<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6



                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                                     BETWEEN

                                  ANACOMP, INC.

                                   ("ANACOMP")


                             with offices located at

                            12365 Crosthwaite Circle

                             Poway, California 92064


                                       and


                                 DAVID B. HIATT
                          ----------------------------
                                  ("EMPLOYEE")




                                               Date of Agreement: APRIL 12, 1999
                                                               -----------------

                                 Effective Date of Agreement:     APRIL 12, 1999
                                                               -----------------

                             Date of Expiration of Agreement:     APRIL 11, 2001
                                                               -----------------

                                      -1-

<PAGE>


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     This Agreement is entered into between ANACOMP, INC. or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates (herein referred to as "ANACOMP") and EMPLOYEE. The
full identification of each party, date of Agreement, effective date of
Agreement, and date of expiration of Agreement are all included on the cover
sheet immediately preceding this page which is incorporated herein by this
reference. The following conditions and terms shall apply:

                                    SECTION I

                         MERGER OF ALL PRIOR AGREEMENTS

     1.1  MERGER. This Agreement and the letter agreement dated between the
parties shall supersede and terminate all prior employment contracts and
agreements between EMPLOYEE and ANACOMP. In the event of any conflict between
this Agreement and such letter agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall
govern.

                                   SECTION II

                   SCOPE AND TERM OF EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION

     2.1  SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT. ANACOMP and EMPLOYEE mutually agree that Addendum
I, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, is intended to
define the scope of employment, base salary, and incentive compensation.

     2.2  EMPLOYMENT TERM. Subject always to termination provisions as provided
elsewhere in this Agreement, the term of this Agreement shall begin on the
Effective Date of Agreement and shall terminate on the Date of Expiration of
Agreement, both as shown on the cover sheet. Unless otherwise terminated as
provided elsewhere herein, this Agreement shall automatically renew after
expiration date on an annual basis unless either party gives the other party
thirty (30) days prior written notice requesting that said Agreement not be
renewed. If this Agreement is not renewed and EMPLOYEE continues working beyond
Termination Date at the request of ANACOMP, said employment shall be on a
month-to-month basis. If, at the expiration of the original two-year term or any
renewal term, ANACOMP declines to renew this Agreement and does not request that
EMPLOYEE continue working, of if ANACOMP terminates the month-to-month
employment basis described in the previous sentence, EMPLOYEE shall be entitled
to all benefits due him under this Agreement and not previously paid, a
severance payment equal to EMPLOYEE's prior twelve months' salary, payable in a
lump sum or biweekly at EMPLOYEE's option, health benefits until other
employment is secured or for twelve months, whichever is sooner, and the
immediate vesting of all of EMPLOYEE's existing already awarded options to
acquire ANACOMP common stock. If, on the other hand, EMPLOYEE elects not to
renew the Agreement, EMPLOYEE shall only be entitled to all benefits due him
under the Agreement through the end of the then term of the Agreement.

     2.3  COMPENSATION. Compensation is confidential and is to be discussed only
with the officers of ANACOMP, as required.


                                      -1-
<PAGE>


                                   SECTION III

                                 FRINGE BENEFITS

     3.1  BENEFITS. In addition to the regular compensation, EMPLOYEE shall be
entitled to the normally available employee fringe benefits including regular
holidays, vacations and health insurance. ANACOMP, however, reserves the right
to change or alter these fringe benefits from time to time with the
understanding that the EMPLOYEE will be treated on an equal basis with other
employees of similar status.

                                   SECTION IV

                              INSURANCE ON EMPLOYEE

     4.1  INSURANCE. EMPLOYEE agrees that ANACOMP may, at its option and
expense, obtain life insurance on the life of the EMPLOYEE and the ownership of
all such policies and the proceeds therefrom shall be the sole property of
ANACOMP. EMPLOYEE agrees to undergo a routine physical examination for insurance
purposes within fifteen (15) days upon the request and at the expense of
ANACOMP.

                                    SECTION V

                                 OFFICE LOCATION

     5.1  OFFICE LOCATION. EMPLOYEE will be based at ANACOMP's Poway, California
facility. EMPLOYEE shall live in the vicinity of Poway such that he can attend
ANACOMP's office located in Poway on a regular daily basis.

                                   SECTION VI

                                   TERMINATION

     6.1  COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS UPON TERMINATION. This Agreement may be
terminated prior to the expiration of the initial term or any renewal term by
any of the following events:

     (a)  mutual written agreement expressed in a single document signed by both
ANACOMP and EMPLOYEE;

     (b)  voluntary written resignation by EMPLOYEE given to ANACOMP ninety (90)
days prior to the date of resignation;

     (c)  death of EMPLOYEE;

     (d)  written notice of termination by ANACOMP without cause as defined in
Section 6.2;

     (e)  written notice of termination by ANACOMP with cause as defined in
Section 6.3; or

     (f)  the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 6.4.1, which
EMPLOYEE elects to treat as a termination.


                                      -2-
<PAGE>




     Upon termination for any of the foregoing reasons, EMPLOYEE shall continue
to render his services and shall be paid his regular compensation and benefits
up to the date of termination. If this Agreement is terminated under Sections
6.1(b), 6.1(c) or 6.1(e), no Severance Allowance (as defined below) shall be
paid to EMPLOYEE (except, with respect to any termination pursuant to Section
6.1(e), as otherwise provided in Section 6.3). If this Agreement is terminated
under Sections 6.1(a), 6.1(d) or 6.1(f), then ANACOMP shall pay to EMPLOYEE a
severance allowance equal to the EMPLOYEE's prior twelve months cash
compensation, including regular incentive bonuses (but excluding any relocation
or one-time special bonuses), payable in a lump sum or biweekly at EMPLOYEE's
option, health benefits until other employment is secured or for twelve months,
whichever is sooner, and all of EMPLOYEE's existing already awarded options to
acquire ANACOMP common stock shall immediately vest (collectively, the
"Severance Allowance"). If this Agreement is terminated under Section 6.1(a),
6.1(d) or 6.2(f) within twelve (12) months from the initial Effective Date, then
EMPLOYEE's cash compensation will be calculated by annualizing the amount of
EMPLOYEE's prior cash compensation between the period of the initial Effective
Date and the Termination Date. This Severance Allowance is in addition to the
regular compensation and benefits which EMPLOYEE shall receive up to the date of
termination. In the event of such termination, this Agreement shall be deemed
terminated for all purposes except to the extent otherwise herein provided.

     6.2 TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE. If ANACOMP concludes that EMPLOYEE's
services are no longer required, this Agreement may be terminated without cause
by giving EMPLOYEE written notice thereof. The noninsurability of EMPLOYEE,
either present or future, does not constitute grounds for termination under this
or any other section of the Agreement. If EMPLOYEE is terminated under this
section, ANACOMP shall pay EMPLOYEE the compensation, benefits and Severance
Allowance provided in Section 6.1 above.

     6.3  TERMINATION WITH CAUSE.

          6.3.1 ANACOMP may immediately terminate this Agreement at any time
with cause upon written notice to the EMPLOYEE specifying the cause and
effective date of termination. As used in this section, "cause" shall mean only
the following:

          (i)  Inability of EMPLOYEE, as determined by ANACOMP, to perform
EMPLOYEE's assigned duties on a fulltime basis for any continuous period of one
hundred twenty (120) days or a total of one hundred eighty (180) days in any
twelve (12) month period, which period shall commence on the initial date of
this Agreement and every anniversary thereafter.

          (ii) The willful and continued failure by EMPLOYEE substantially to
perform his duties and obligations, including the continued failure to meet
business goals, or the willful engagement by EMPLOYEE in misconduct which is
materially injurious to ANACOMP, monetarily or otherwise. For purposes of this
subsection, no act or failure to act on EMPLOYEE's part shall be considered
"willful" unless done or omitted to be done by EMPLOYEE in bad faith and without
reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interests of
ANACOMP.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

          6.3.2 Employee agrees that in the event written notice of termination
is given under this Section 6.3, the EMPLOYEE agrees to treat the contents of
said notice as privileged and EMPLOYEE shall have no action against ANACOMP or
any of its officers, agents or employees due to the contents of said notice
unless the contents are intentionally false and malicious. If EMPLOYEE is
terminated under this Section 6.3, he shall receive no Severance Allowance at
the time of such termination. If EMPLOYEE is given notice of termination under
this Section 6.3 and it is later established that no "cause" existed, EMPLOYEE
shall be entitled to all compensation, benefits and allowances due him for the
period following such alleged termination and through the date of such
determination and shall be entitled to the Severance Allowance, plus legal
interest from the date of termination and all reasonable attorneys' fees
incurred by EMPLOYEE in contesting the notice of termination.

     6.4  DEMOTION, TRANSFER OR REDUCTION IN COMPENSATION, MERGER, TRANSFER OF
ASSETS, CHANGE IN CONTROL OR BUSINESS DISCONTINUATION.

          6.4.1 DEMOTION, TRANSFER, OR REDUCTION IN COMPENSATION. If any of the
following takes place:

     (1)  EMPLOYEE is demoted, including for these purposes (i) any material
change in the title or duties described in Addendum I hereto, or (ii) any
significant reduction or change by ANACOMP in the functions, duties or
responsibilities of EMPLOYEE under this Agreement,

     (2)  a transfer of EMPLOYEE to another location, other than Poway or San
Diego, California, or

     (3)  any reduction in annual base salary and bonus opportunity (but not
including a reduction in the incentive bonus received by EMPLOYEE resulting from
his or ANACOMP's performance under any of the bonus plans discussed in Addendum
II hereof),

EMPLOYEE may, in his sole discretion, elect to treat any such occurrence as a
termination of this Agreement by giving written notice of such election to
ANACOMP, entitling EMPLOYEE to payment of the compensation, benefits and
Severance Allowance provided in Section 6.1 above. In the event ANACOMP disputes
any election made by EMPLOYEE pursuant to this Section 6.4.1, ANACOMP shall
notify EMPLOYEE in writing of such dispute within ten (10) days of receiving
EMPLOYEE's written election and both parties shall proceed to negotiate a
resolution of such dispute in good faith. If ANACOMP does not so notify EMPLOYEE
within the ten (10) day period, ANACOMP shall be deemed to have accepted
EMPLOYEE's election and shall pay all compensation, benefits and Severance
Allowance provided in Section 6.1 above.

          6.4.2 MERGER, TRANSFER OF ASSETS, CHANGE IN CONTROL OR BUSINESS
DISCONTINUATION. In the event of any:

          (a)  merger or consolidation where ANACOMP is not the consolidated or
surviving company and the surviving or resulting company does not expressly
agree to be bound by and have the benefits of the provisions of this Agreement,
or

          (b)  transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of ANACOMP and
the transferee of ANACOMP's assets does not expressly agree to be bound by and
have the benefits of the provisions of this Agreement, or

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

          (c)  change in control of ANACOMP of a nature that would be required
to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect on the day
thereof (the "Exchange Act"), provided that, without limitation, such a change
in control shall be deemed to have occurred if: (i) any person or persons acting
in concert (as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange
Act) is or becomes the beneficial holder directly or indirectly of securities of
ANACOMP representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of ANACOMP's then
outstanding securities; (ii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board cease for
any reason to constitute a majority thereof, unless the election or nomination
for election by ANACOMP's shareholders of each new director was approved by a
vote of at least 2/3 of the directors who were directors at the beginning of
such period; or (iii) transfer of all or substantially all of the stock of
ANACOMP and the transferee of ANACOMP's stock does not expressly agree to be
bound by and have the benefits of the provisions of this Agreement, or

          (d)  discontinuation of the business by ANACOMP,

then, in such event, EMPLOYEE shall remain subject to and have no lesser or
greater rights that he would otherwise be entitled to receive under Sections
6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4.1 hereof.

     6.5  RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY. EMPLOYEE agrees to return all property of
ANACOMP, including but not limited to, details of equipment, prices,
specifications, programs, customer and prospective customer lists and any other
proprietary data or objects acquired through the EMPLOYEE"s employment with
ANACOMP, within seven (7) days after termination of employment, regardless of
the reason therefor.

     6.6  WAIVER OF CLAIMS. All Severance Allowance payments made by ANACOMP to
EMPLOYEE pursuant to Section II hereof or this Section VI shall be in full and
complete payment of any and all claims that EMPLOYEE may have against ANACOMP
regarding his employment or the termination thereof, and EMPLOYEE hereby
expressly waives all rights that he may have to any other payments or to bring
any other claims based upon his employment or the termination thereof. Except
for the qualification with respect to employee benefits described in Section II
above, all Severance Allowance payments due from ANACOMP to EMPLOYEE under this
Agreement are absolute, and shall not be diminished or otherwise affected by
virtue of EMPLOYEE's securing alternative employment. At the time he receives
his Severance Allowance, EMPLOYEE agrees that he will execute a release
agreement in favor of ANACOMP.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                                   SECTION VII

                    RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND NON-COMPETITION
                            CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

     7.1  NON-COMPETITION. EMPLOYEE and ANACOMP shall enter into the
"Confidentiality, Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure Agreement" attached hereto
as Addendum III. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this
Agreement and such Non-Disclosure Agreement, this Agreement shall govern. If
EMPLOYEE violates such Non-Disclosure Agreement, ANACOMP shall have the right to
stop all termination payments due under Sections II and/or VI hereof, which have
not yet been fully paid to EMPLOYEE. EMPLOYEE agrees that, upon his relocation
to Poway, California, he will, upon request by ANACOMP, execute a revised
Non-Disclosure Agreement that will comply with the laws of the State of
California.

     The provisions of this Section shall not prevent EMPLOYEE from complying
with the terms of this Agreement with ANACOMP nor from owning any shares of
stock of any competitor of ANACOMP so long as such shares are regularly traded
on a recognized security exchange or are listed for trade by NASDAQ in the
Over-the-Counter Market.

                                  SECTION VIII

                         WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS

     8.1  EMPLOYEE hereby warrants and represents as follows:

     (1)  That the execution of this Agreement and the discharge of EMPLOYEE's
obligations hereunder will not breach or conflict with any other contract,
agreement or understanding between EMPLOYEE and any other party or parties.

     (2)  That EMPLOYEE has ideas, information and know-how relating to the type
of business conducted by ANACOMP and EMPLOYEE's disclosure of such ideas,
information and know-how to ANACOMP will not conflict with or violate the rights
of any third party or parties with respect thereto.

                                   SECTION IX

                                    REMEDIES

     9.1  The parties agree that the remedy for breach of this Agreement shall
include actions in equity for injunctive relief as well as money damages. The
remedies given to or reserved by each party hereunder shall be cumulative and
not exclusive of any other remedy available under law.

                                    SECTION X

                                    NO WAIVER

     10.1 The failure of EMPLOYER to terminate this Agreement for the breach of
any condition or covenant herein by the EMPLOYEE shall not affect EMPLOYER's
right to terminate for subsequent breaches of the same or other conditions or
covenants. The failure of either party to enforce at any time or for any period
of time any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed as a
waiver of such provisions or of the right of the party thereafter to enforce
each and every such provision.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE XI

                                     BENEFIT

     11.1 This Agreement shall bind, benefit, and be enforceable by ANACOMP, its
successors and assigns, and by EMPLOYEE, EMPLOYEE's heirs, executors,
administrators, and legal representatives.

                                   ARTICLE XII

                                  SEVERABILITY

     12.1 Should any provision of this Agreement not be enforceable in any
jurisdiction, the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

                                  ARTICLE XIII

                                    SURVIVAL

     13.1 The obligations contained in Sections II, VI, and VII shall survive
the termination of this Agreement.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed or caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the day, month and year stated on the cover page
of this Agreement, which Agreement shall be effective only upon approval by
ANACOMP, INC., as evidenced by the authorized signature of an officer of ANACOMP
below.


APPROVED BY:



ANACOMP, INC.                                EMPLOYEE:
By:
   ---------------------------------        -----------------------------------
   Ralph W. Koehrer                         David B. Hiatt
   President and Chief Executive Officer


                                      -1-
<PAGE>


                                   ADDENDUM I

                                       TO

                    EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT DATED APRIL 12, 1999

                                     BETWEEN

                            ANACOMP, INC. ("ANACOMP")

                                       AND

                           DAVID B. HIATT ("EMPLOYEE")




SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT

     ANACOMP will employ the EMPLOYEE in the capacity of Executive Vice
President Corporate Services & Chief Financial Officer of ANACOMP, effective
April 12, 1999. EMPLOYEE will be responsible for managing ANACOMP's Finance,
Accounting and ITS departments initially. Then over time we will phase-in
Administration/Facilities, Human Resources, Legal, Investor Relations and
Business Development.

     EMPLOYEE will report to the President and Chief Executive Officer.

LOCATION

     EMPLOYEE will be based at ANACOMP's Poway, California facility.

BASE SALARY

     For all services rendered by EMPLOYEE under this Agreement, EMPLOYEE shall
receive a Base Salary of $210,000 per year payable bi-weekly. Base Salary will
be reviewed at the beginning of each fiscal year.

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION

BONUSES

     In addition to Base Salary, EMPLOYEE shall receive an annual bonus
opportunity of $140,000, payable monthly, quarterly or after year-end, as more
particularly described in the EMPLOYEE's Compensation Plan attached hereto as
Addendum II. The annual bonus shall be established at the beginning of each
fiscal year.

ANACOMP, INC.                          EMPLOYEE



By:
   -----------------------------       ------------------------------------
   Ralph W. Koehrer                    David B. Hiatt
   President and Chief Executive
   Officer

                                      -1-
<PAGE>


                                   ADDENDUM II

                                       TO

                    EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT DATED APRIL 12, 1999

                                     BETWEEN

                            ANACOMP, INC. ("ANACOMP")

                                       AND

                                  ("EMPLOYEE")



                         FY COMP PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
           FOR SENIOR MANAGEMENT REFERENCE ONLY / NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION



                                      -1-
<PAGE>


                                  ADDENDUM III

                                       TO

                    EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT DATED APRIL 12, 1999

                                     BETWEEN

                            ANACOMP, INC. ("ANACOMP")

                                       AND

                           DAVID B. HIATT ("EMPLOYEE")


In consideration of the employment or continued employment of EMPLOYEE by
Anacomp, Inc. and its successors, assigns, subsidiaries, or duly authorized
representatives (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Anacomp") and of the
award of an option for the purchase of 100,000 shares of Anacomp, Inc. Common
Stock (contingent upon Employee's relocation to Poway and approval by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors), par value $.01 per share, at
a price of $ (price as set on the date of award), EMPLOYEE hereby agrees as
follows:

1.   CONFIDENTIALITY AND TRADE SECRETS. The EMPLOYEE recognizes and acknowledges
that during the course of his/her employment, he/she will have access to and
become acquainted with confidential, trade secret and proprietary information
about Anacomp's businesses and customers (hereinafter collectively referred to
as the "Protected Information"). The parties hereto recognize that the Protected
Information available to EMPLOYEE may pertain both to customers and accounts
handled by EMPLOYEE personally as well as accounts with which EMPLOYEE is not
personally involved. The parties agree that all Protected Information
constitutes a trade secret of Anacomp. Protected Information may include, but is
not limited to, the names, addresses, and requirements of any customer or
prospective customer of Anacomp; the terms (including price terms) of
contractual relations with such customers; special requirements of such
customers; the identities of individual contacts at such customers; and any
other information relating to Anacomp's research, operations, business
relationships, engineering data or results, specifications, concepts, methods,
processes, rates or schedules, vendor information, products or services
(including prices, costs, sales or content), financial information or measures,
business methods, future business plans, data bases, computer programs, designs,
models, operating procedures, and knowledge of the organization. The EMPLOYEE
recognizes and acknowledges that all of the Protected Information is valuable,
special and essential to the successful and effective conduct of Anacomp's
business. Therefore, the EMPLOYEE shall not, during his/her employment with
Anacomp or at any time thereafter, regardless of the reasons for leaving that
employment, use, disclose or communicate, directly or indirectly, any Protected
Information to any third party for any reason or purpose whatsoever, except as
required in the course of his/her employment with Anacomp. Further, upon the
termination of his/her employment with Anacomp, for any reason whatsoever,
EMPLOYEE shall promptly return any and all copies of any written material,
documents, computer hardware and software, tools and equipment belonging to
Anacomp or relating to the business of Anacomp in his/her possession.

                                      -1-

<PAGE>


2.   NON-COMPETITION.

     2.1  NON-COMPETITION WHILE AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT. While an employee of
Anacomp, or as a consultant to Anacomp after his termination of employment,
EMPLOYEE agrees not to compete in any manner, either directly or indirectly as
an employee, consultant, investor or owner, whether for compensation or
otherwise, with Anacomp, or to assist any other person or entity to compete with
Anacomp. Further, while an employee of Anacomp, EMPLOYEE agrees not to engage in
any other employment without the prior written permission of Anacomp.

3.   NON-SOLICITATION.

     3.1  NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. During the term of his/her employment
at Anacomp and for two (2) years following the termination for any reason of
such employment, EMPLOYEE agrees, either on his/her own behalf or on behalf of
any other person or entity, directly or indirectly, not to hire, solicit, or
encourage to leave the employ of Anacomp any person who is then an employee of
Anacomp. The foregoing restrictions shall apply to employees located in all
geographical areas where EMPLOYEE performed services for Anacomp during the
two-year period prior to his/her termination, including areas for which EMPLOYEE
had supervisory authority.

     3.2  NON-SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS. Because of EMPLOYEE's access to
Protected Information of Anacomp, EMPLOYEE agrees that, during the term of
his/her employment at Anacomp and for two (2) years following the termination
for any reason of such employment, he/she will not, directly or indirectly, in
connection with the products and services offered by Anacomp and those products
and services which are competitive with the products and services of Anacomp:
(a) solicit, attempt to obtain, or in any way transact business with any
customers which were customers of Anacomp during his/her employment or at the
time of his/her termination; (b) aid or assist any other party in the
solicitation of any such customers; or (c) interfere with Anacomp's
relationships with any of its customers by soliciting such customers or inducing
them to discontinue their relationships with Anacomp. Products and services
which are competitive with the products and services of Anacomp include but are
not limited to: MICROGRAPHICS PRODUCTS (computer output to
microfilm-COM-equipment and software, cameras and film, processors, duplicators,
retrieval and display equipment and software, computer aided
retrieval-CAR-systems, readers, reader printers, other micrographics equipment,
micrographics equipment maintenance, micrographics consumable supplies and
accessories, records management software); OUTPUT SERVICES (computer output to
microfilm-COM, source document microfilming, output of data to compact disk,
laser printing, conversion of paper and film to electronic images, micrographic
or electronic imaging system design, consulting and education, system
implementation and integration); ELECTRONIC IMAGE MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS (hardware,
software, magnetics products including tapes, tape drives and optical media
supplies, maintenance of electronic imaging equipment); ELECTRONIC IMAGE
MANAGEMENT SERVICES (conversion of computer generated data to optical or laser
disk, COLD, electronic document imaging and workflow, conversion of paper
documents to electronic images, system design consulting and education, system
implementation and integration, conversion of microfilm to electronic images);
and ARCHIVAL SERVICES (storage, management and retrieval of all forms of
customer information and business records, including but not limited to paper,
microfiche, magnetic media and digital storage media). The foregoing
restrictions shall apply to all geographical areas where EMPLOYEE performed
services for Anacomp during the two-year period prior to his/her termination,
including areas for which EMPLOYEE had supervisory authority.

4.   REMEDIES. EMPLOYEE acknowledges that compliance with Sections 1, 2 and 3

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

of this Agreement is necessary to protect the business and good will of Anacomp
and that a breach of those sections will irreparably and continually damage
Anacomp for which money damages may not be adequate. Therefore, EMPLOYEE agrees
that, in the event he/she breaches or threatens to breach any of these Sections,
Anacomp shall be entitled to both a preliminary or permanent injunction in order
to prevent the continuation of such harm and money damages insofar as they can
be determined. Nothing in this Agreement, however, shall be construed to
prohibit Anacomp from also pursuing any other remedy, the parties having agreed
that all remedies shall be cumulative.

5.   INVENTIONS. EMPLOYEE agrees that all inventions, improvements, discoveries,
systems, techniques, ideas, processes, programs, and other things of value made
or conceived in whole or in part by EMPLOYEE while an employee of Anacomp shall
be and remain the sole and exclusive property of Anacomp, and he/she will
disclose all such things of value to Anacomp and will cooperate with Anacomp to
insure that the ownership by Anacomp of such things of value is protected.
Nothing in this Section is meant to apply to an invention for which no
equipment, supplies, facility or trade secret information of Anacomp was used,
which was developed entirely on EMPLOYEE's own time, and which does not relate
to Anacomp's business, research, development or from any work performed by
EMPLOYEE for Anacomp.

6.   EMPLOYMENT. This Agreement does not confer upon EMPLOYEE any rights to
continue in the employ of Anacomp or affect in any way Anacomp's right to
terminate his/her employment at any time.

7.   SEVERABILITY. If any provision or clause of this Agreement, or portion
thereof, shall be held by any court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction
to be illegal, void or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, the remainder of such
provisions shall not thereby be affected and shall be given full effect, without
regard to the invalid portion. It is the intention of the parties that, if any
court construes any provision or clause of this Agreement, or any portion
thereof, to be illegal, void or unenforceable because of the duration of such
provision or the area or matter covered thereby, such court shall reduce the
duration, area or matter of such provision and, in its reduced form, such
provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

8.   BINDING EFFECT. The rights and obligations of this Agreement shall inure to
and be binding upon the parties and their respective heirs, successors and
assigns.

9.   ATTORNEYS' FEES. In the event of any dispute, proceeding or litigation
concerning any controversy, claim or dispute between the parties hereto, arising
out of or relating to this Agreement or the interpretation or breach thereof,
each party shall pay its own expenses, attorneys' fees, expert fees, and costs
incurred therein or in the enforcement or collection of any judgment or award
rendered therein.

10.  NO WAIVER. Anacomp's failure to enforce any provision of this Agreement
shall not in any way be construed as a waiver of any such provision, or prevent
Anacomp thereafter from enforcing each and every provision of this Agreement.

11.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement represents the entire agreement between
EMPLOYEE and Anacomp, with respect to the subject matter hereof, superseding all
previous oral and written communications, representations, understandings or
agreements.

12.  EMPLOYEE'S UNDERSTANDING. EMPLOYEE represents and warrants that he/she has
read each and every term of this Agreement and understands the serious

                                      -3-
<PAGE>


duties and obligations imposed upon EMPLOYEE thereby. EMPLOYEE further
represents and warrants that he/she has had full and ample opportunity to
question Anacomp about this Agreement and each of its terms and to consult an
attorney regarding this Agreement and each of its terms. EMPLOYEE represents
that he/she is free to enter this Agreement and to perform each of its terms and
covenants. EMPLOYEE represents that he/she is not restricted or prohibited,
contractually or otherwise, from entering into and performing this Agreement,
and that his or her execution and performance of this Agreement is not a
violation or breach of any other agreement between EMPLOYEE and any other person
or entity.


DATED:                        , 19
       -----------------------    ---


ANACOMP, INC.


By:
    --------------------------------   ------------------------------------
    William C. Ater                    EMPLOYEE (signature)

Its: Vice President                      DAVID B. HIATT
                                       ------------------------------------
                                       EMPLOYEE (printed)


                                         EVP CORPORATE SERVICES & CFO
                                       -------------------------------------
                                       Current position


                                         POWAY, CA
                                       -------------------------------------
                                       Current location


                                         ###-##-####
                                       -------------------------------------
                                        Social Security Number

                                      -4-