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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.6(a)


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


         This Agreement, effective as of May 1, 2000, is entered into by and
between Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("AGT") and
Joseph D. Vecchiolla, (hereinafter referred to as the "Employee"), an individual
presently residing at 2707 Royal Lytham Court, St. Charles, Illinois 60174. In
consideration of the mutual covenants set forth herein, the parties agree as
follows:

1.       Employment Term. Subject to the further terms and conditions of this
         Agreement, AGT shall employ Employee for the period beginning on May 1,
         2000 (the "Commencement Date") and ending on April 30, 2001 (the
         "Term"). This Agreement will be automatically renewed for one
         additional twelve-month period (also the "Term"), unless either party
         provides notice no less than 180 days prior to the expiration of the
         initial Term that it does not want to extend this Agreement for said
         twelve month period. After the Term, Employee shall be an employee "at
         will" and may be terminated by AGT at any time with or without cause.

2.       Compensation.

         (1)      AGT will pay Employee a salary at the rate of Two Hundred and
                  Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($275,000) per annum.

         (2)      Employee shall be paid a cash bonus at the end of twelve
                  months of employment with AGT equal to One Hundred and Ten
                  Thousand Dollars ($110,000). The bonus set forth in the
                  preceding sentence shall accrue ratably during the Term. No
                  bonus shall be paid if Employee resigns his employment prior
                  to April 30, 2001. In the event this Agreement is renewed
                  beyond April 30, 2001, Employee shall be eligible to earn a
                  bonus calculated on such basis as the Board of Directors of
                  AGT, in its sole discretion, may annually determine consistent
                  with Employee's position in senior management.

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         (3)      In addition to the bonus set forth in subparagraph 2(b) above,
                  the Employee will receive a signing bonus of $37,500 payable
                  on or around May 30, 2000.

         (4)      The salary and bonuses referred to above represent all of
                  Employee's cash compensation, and accordingly, Employee shall
                  not be entitled to any overtime, weekend or holiday
                  compensation. All payments made pursuant to this Agreement
                  shall be less applicable withholdings and deductions.

         (5)      Employee shall be eligible to participate in those insurance,
                  retirement and other benefits generally provided to AGT's
                  other senior executives of similar rank and tenure from time
                  to time after 30 days of employment. Employee shall be
                  eligible to participate in the AGT 401(k) plan (or successor
                  plan) on the first enrollment date following satisfaction of
                  the applicable waiting period.

         (6)      Employee shall be reimbursed for all reasonable travel and
                  entertainment expenses incurred in the furtherance of AGT's
                  business, including but not limited to any amounts incurred by
                  Employee for pre-employment related interviews, upon
                  submission by Employee of appropriate documentation in
                  accordance with AGT's policies as are in effect from time to
                  time.

         (7)      AGT shall provide Employee with an all inclusive automobile
                  allowance of $800 per month.

3.       Duties. Employee agrees to fulfill the duties of Senior Vice President
         during the Term and the additional duties of Chief Financial Officer
         from May 18, 2000 through the end of the Term, as such duties are
         defined by AGT's Board of Directors or Chief Executive Officer.
         Employee shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of AGT, and shall
         devote all of his business efforts to the performance of his duties as
         Chief Financial Officer, and shall do so to the best of his abilities.
         It is expected that Employee's office will ultimately be located in
         Chicago following the successful transition of the finance function
         from New York to Chicago and Employee will travel both in the United
         States and abroad as necessary and appropriate to fulfill his duties.

4.       Vacation. Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks vacation during
         each year of the Term, to be taken

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         at such times as shall be agreed between Employee and the Chief
         Executive Officer of AGT. Vacation days will accrue and be paid in
         accordance with AGT's policies as are in effect from time to time.

5.       Termination.

         (1)      This Agreement shall terminate prior to the expiration hereof
                  in the event of Employee's death, permanent disability, or
                  discharge for cause. "Cause" shall mean (i) indictment for,
                  conviction of or pleas of guilty or nolo contendre to any
                  felony or business-related misdemeanor; (ii) theft, fraud or
                  embezzlement; (iii) excessive absenteeism not related to
                  illness; (iv) the intentional failure to perform assigned
                  duties; (v) an act of gross neglect or gross misconduct; (vi)
                  a material breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement;
                  (vii) the commission of any other action with the intent to
                  harm or injure AGT, its parents, subsidiaries or affiliates;
                  or (viii) habitual drug or alcohol abuse. In the event that
                  AGT terminates Employee for Cause, Employee shall be entitled
                  to salary earned up to the date of termination, but no other
                  compensation (including without limitation any bonus set forth
                  in Paragraph 2(b)) and AGT reserves the right to seek
                  appropriate relief for whatever damage may have resulted from
                  the "Cause". Accordingly, without limiting the foregoing, if
                  the Employee is terminated for Cause, he is not entitled to
                  receive (i) any further payments or benefits pursuant to
                  Paragraphs 2(a), 2(b), 2(e) or 2(g) above or (ii) any payment
                  under Paragraph 2(b) for any bonus which has been accrued but
                  unpaid and AGT shall have no further obligation to Employee
                  pursuant to the Agreement. "Permanent disability" shall mean a
                  physical or mental illness, disability or disfigurement which
                  renders Employee incapable of performing his normal services
                  hereunder for a continuous period of 8 weeks, or an aggregate
                  of 16 weeks during any 52 week period. In the event Employee
                  is disabled for less than such 8 or 16 weeks, respectively,
                  Employee shall nonetheless be entitled to full compensation
                  during such period. In the event of Employee's permanent
                  disability or death, Employee shall be entitled to receive his
                  salary and benefits pursuant to Paragraph 2 herein until the
                  effective date of his termination, including any accrued but
                  unpaid pro rata bonus under the first sentence of Paragraph
                  2(b), and AGT shall have no further obligation to Employee
                  pursuant to the Agreement, including but not limited to

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                  Paragraphs 2(a), 2(b), 2(e), or 2(g) above.

         (2)      AGT shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement at any time
                  during the Term without Cause (as defined above). However, in
                  the event AGT exercises its rights under this Paragraph 5(b),
                  except as provided in Paragraph 6, AGT's sole obligation
                  pursuant to this Agreement shall be (i) to continue to pay
                  Employee's salary under Paragraph 2(a) for six (6) months and
                  (ii) to pay any accrued but unpaid pro rata bonus determined
                  under the first sentence of Paragraph 2(b) and the bonus
                  provided for in Paragraph 2(c) if it has not previously been
                  paid.

         (3)      Amounts payable to Employee pursuant to the Paragraph 5 shall
                  be paid in accordance with AGT's usual payroll practices.

6.       Change of Control. In the event that a Change of Control (as defined
         below) results in an adverse change in the compensation, reporting
         structure, key responsibilities, or title of Employee, or if Employee
         is required permanently to move his primary office location out of the
         Chicago metropolitan area, Employee shall be entitled to resign his
         employment and AGT shall continue to pay Employee's salary under
         Paragraph 2(a) for the period of twelve months following the Change of
         Control. In such event, AGT shall have no further obligation to
         Employee pursuant to this Agreement, including but not limited to
         Paragraphs 2(a), 2(b), 2(e) or 2(g) above except to pay any accrued but
         unpaid pro rata bonus determined under the first sentence of Paragraph
         2(b). In the event that a Change of Control occurs and Employee's
         employment is terminated without Cause, AGT shall continue to pay
         Employee's salary under Paragraph 2(a) for the period of twelve months
         following the Change of Control. Payment of twelve months salary to
         Employee pursuant to this Paragraph 6 shall be in lieu of any amounts
         owed to Employee pursuant to Paragraph 5(b) and AGT shall have no
         further obligation to Employee pursuant to this Agreement, including
         but not limited to Paragraphs 2(a), 2(b), 2(e) or 2(g) above except to
         pay any accrued but unpaid pro rata bonus determined under the first
         sentence of Paragraph 2(b).

                  For purposes of this Agreement, "Change of Control" means the
         sale of more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares of AGT in a
         single transaction and Derek Ashley is no longer Chief Executive

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         Officer of AGT. The provisions of this Paragraph 6 shall not be
         effective if, prior to the Change of Control, Employee has given notice
         as provided in Paragraph 1 of an intention not to extend this Agreement
         for an additional twelve-month period.

7.       Noncompetition, Nonsolicitation and Confidentiality. As a material
         inducement to employ him, Employee agrees to execute the
         Noncompetition, Nonsolicitation and Confidentiality Agreement attached
         hereto as Exhibit A, the terms of which are incorporated herein by
         reference.

8.       Absence of Restrictions. Employee represents and warrants that he is
         not a party to any agreement or contract pursuant to which there is any
         restriction or limitation upon him entering into this Agreement or
         performing the duties called for by this Agreement.

9.       Options. The Chief Executive Officer of AGT intends to recommend to the
         Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors that options to
         acquire 60,000 shares of AGT's common stock be granted to Employee,
         under the AGT Amended and Restated 1998 Incentive Compensation Plan.
         For purposes of vesting, Employee will receive credit retroactive to
         the Commencement Date. Such options will be at a price determined by
         the Compensation Committee and subject to the other terms and
         conditions set forth in AGT's customary Stock Option Agreement and as
         are established by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
         from time to time.

10.      Notices. All notices, consents and other communications required or
         permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and delivered
         personally or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, as
         follows:

         (1)      if to Employee, to: Joseph Dennis Vecchiolla, 2707 Royal
                  Lytham Court, St. Charles, Illinois 60174

         (2)      if to AGT, to: Derek Ashley, Chief Executive Officer, at 225
                  West Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 606710, with a copy to
                  Martin D. Krall, Chief Legal Officer at 450 West 33rd Street,
                  New York NY 10001-2681.

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                  Any notice so given shall be deemed received when delivered
         personally, or, if mailed, three days after it is deposited, postage
         prepaid, by certified mail, in the United States mail. Either party may
         change the address to which notices are to be sent by giving written
         notice of such change of address to the other party in the manner
         herein provided for giving notice.

11.      General.

         (1)      Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this
                  Agreement, or any breach thereof, shall be subject to
                  resolution in the state of federal courts in Illinois and
                  shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance
                  with the laws of the State of Illinois applicable to
                  agreements made and to be performed entirely in Illinois
                  without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws
                  thereof.

         (2)      The section headings contained herein are for reference
                  purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or
                  interpretation of this Agreement.

         (3)      This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and
                  understanding of the parties hereto concerning the subject
                  matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements,
                  arrangements and understandings between the parties hereto.

         (4)      AGT may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement
                  to any successor thereto or to any corporation or other entity
                  controlled, or under common control with AGT or any of its
                  affiliates. This Agreement is personal to employee, and
                  neither this Agreement nor any of Employee's rights or
                  obligations hereunder may be assigned, pledged or encumbered
                  by him, without the prior written approval of AGT.

         (5)      This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded or
                  canceled, and the terms or covenants hereof may be waived,
                  only by a written instrument executed by both parities hereto,
                  or, in the case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance.
                  The failure of either party at any time or times to require
                  performance of any provision hereof shall in no manner affect
                  the right at a later time to

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                  enforce the same. No waiver by either party of the breach of
                  any term or covenant contained in this Agreement, whether by
                  conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances, shall be
                  deemed to be, or construed as a further or continuing waiver
                  of any such breach or waiver of the breach of any other term
                  or covenant in this Agreement.

         (6)      In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this
                  Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable
                  in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the
                  remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be
                  affected or impaired thereby.

         (7)      This Agreement may be executed in counterparts; each of which
                  shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together
                  shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.

         (8)      Except with regard to employee's obligations under the
                  Noncompetition, Nonsolicitation and Confidentiality Agreement
                  attached hereto as Exhibit A, and with regard to AGT's
                  obligations under Paragraphs 5(b) and 6, this Agreement shall
                  be of no further force and effect and AGT shall have no
                  further obligations hereunder after the expiration or
                  termination of this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
shown above.

                                             Applied graphics Technologies, Inc.

                                             By_____________________________

                                             Title:_________________________


                                             _______________________________
                                             Joseph D.  Vecchiolla

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                                    EXHIBIT A

NONCOMPETITION, NONSOLICITATION

                          And Confidentiality Agreement

In consideration for the agreement of Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc.,
("AGT") to employ Joseph D. Vecchiolla ("Employee") as Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer, (the "Employment Agreement") Employee hereby agrees as
follows:

1. In this Agreement, the term AGT includes Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc.,
   as well as all of its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates.

2. Employee acknowledges that he will be furnished, or may otherwise receive or
have access to, private information which relates to AGT's past, present or
anticipated customer lists or other compilations for marketing or development,
or which relates to administrative, management, financial, marketing, sales or
manufacturing activities of AGT and that such information is not easily
accessible from public sources. All such information, including any materials or
documents containing such information, shall be considered by AGT and Employee
as proprietary and confidential ("Proprietary Information").

3. Both during and forever after the term of the Employment Agreement, Employee
agrees to preserve and protect the confidentiality of the Proprietary
Information and all physical forms thereof, whether disclosed to him before this
Agreement is signed or afterward. In addition, Employee shall not (i) disclose
or disseminate the Proprietary Information to any third party, including
employees of AGT, without a need to know, (ii) remove Proprietary Information
from AGT's premises without valid business purpose, or (iii) use Proprietary
Information for his own benefit or for the benefit of any third party.

4. Employee acknowledges and agrees that all proprietary Information used or
generated during the course of working for AGT is the property of AGT. Employee
agrees to deliver to AGT all documents and other tangibles (including diskettes
and other storage media) containing Proprietary Information, including all
copies of such documents or tangibles, immediately upon notice of the
termination of his employment with AGT.

5. While working for AGT and for one year following termination of his
employment from AGT for any reason, Employee will not attempt, either directly
or indirectly, to solicit, induce, entice or attempt to influence any employee
of AGT to leave AGT's employ or directly or indirectly hire or cause any other
entity to hire any person who has been an AGT employee in the 12 months
preceding the contact.

6. Noncompetition

         a.       Employee acknowledges that his agreement to forego competition
                  with AGT was a material inducement to AGT to employ him.
                  Employee also acknowledges that he will acquire much
                  Proprietary Information concerning AGT's financial status,
                  current and future marketing and advertising strategies,
                  pricing, and other confidential information as the result of
                  his employment and that such information is not easily
                  accessible from other sources. Employee further acknowledges
                  that the business in which AGT engages, including but not
                  limited to pre-press and digital archiving are very
                  competitive; that competition by him in those businesses
                  during his employment, or after his employment terminates,
                  would severely injure AGT; and that his agreements herein are
                  demonstrably necessary to protect those legitimate interests.

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         b.       During the term of his employment with AGT, Employee (i) will
                  devote all his professional and business time and effort to
                  and give undivided loyalty to AGT and (ii) will not engage in
                  any way whatsoever, directly or indirectly, in any business
                  that is competitive with AGT, nor directly or indirectly
                  solicit or in any other manner work for or assist any business
                  which is competitive with AGT.

         c.       The "Restricted Period" shall mean the period beginning on the
                  Commencement Date of the Employment Agreement and ending on
                  the later of the second anniversary thereof or six months
                  after Employee's employment is terminated. During the
                  Restricted Period, Employee shall not, whether alone or in
                  association with any other person, directly or indirectly (i)
                  engage in any business in the Specified Areas that is
                  competitive with any aspect of the business that is being
                  conducted or planned by AGT at the time Employee's employment
                  with AGT terminates; or (ii) have any interest or association
                  (including without limitation, as a shareholder, partner,
                  director, officer, employee, consultant, sales representative,
                  supplier, distributor, agent or lender) in or with any person
                  engaged in a business in the Specified Areas that Employee is
                  prohibited from engaging in pursuant to clause (i) securities
                  of any publicly traded company that is engaged in any such
                  business as long as Employee does not own at any time 5% or
                  more of any class of the equity securities of such company.

For purposes of the foregoing, the "Specified Areas" means each state or country
in which AGT makes any sales or performs any services during the 12 month period
preceding the date on which Employee's employment with AGT terminates.

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         d.       If any provision of this Agreement is determined by a court to
                  be overly broad thereby making the provision unenforceable,
                  Employee agrees that such court shall substitute a reasonable,
                  judicially enforceable limitation in place of the invalid part
                  of the provision and that as so modified the provision shall
                  be as fully enforceable as if set forth herein in the modified
                  form. If it is not possible to restate the provision in a
                  valid or legal manner, then that invalid or illegal portion
                  shall be deemed not a part of the Agreement and the remaining
                  provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

7.       Employee acknowledges and agrees that:

         a.       (i) his contractual obligations under paragraphs 3, 4, 5, and
                  6 hereof have a unique and very substantial value to AGT, (ii)
                  he has sufficient assets and other skills to provide a
                  reasonable livelihood for himself while such paragraphs are in
                  force, and (iii) he is subject to immediate dismissal by AGT
                  for any breach of those provisions and that such dismissal
                  shall not relieve him from his continuing obligations under
                  this Agreement or from the imposition by a court of any
                  judicial remedies, such as money damages or equitable
                  enforcement of those provisions.

         b.       the terms and provisions of this Agreement are applicable to
                  all information and materials developed for, received from or
                  any advice provided to, AGT prior to or after the signing of
                  this Agreement; and

         c.       the termination of his employment with AGT for any reason,
                  shall not relieve him from complying with the undertakings and
                  agreements contained herein, which call for performance prior
                  or subsequent to the termination date, including, but not
                  limited to those undertakings and agreements set forth in
                  paragraph 3, 4 5 and 6 hereof.

         d.       in the event of his breach of any of the undertakings or
                  agreements set forth in paragraphs 3, 4, 5, and 6 of this
                  Agreement, AGT shall have the right to obtain an injunction or
                  decree of specific performance from any court of competent
                  jurisdiction to restrain him from violating such undertakings
                  or agreements or to compel him to perform such undertakings or
                  agreements. Nothing herein contained shall in any way limit or
                  exclude any and all other rights granted by law or equity to
                  AGT.

8.       No act or failure to act by AGT will waive any right contained herein.
         Any waiver by AGT must be in writing and signed by the Chairman of AGT
         to be effective.

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9.       In the event that any provision of this Agreement conflicts with the
         law under which this Agreement is to be construed or if any such
         provision is held invalid by a court or other authority with
         jurisdiction over the parties to this Agreement, such provision shall
         be deemed to be restated to reflect as nearly as possible the original
         intentions of the parties in accordance with applicable law, and the
         remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. If
         it is not possible to restate the provision in a valid or legal manner,
         then that invalid or illegal portion shall be deemed not a part of the
         Agreement and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and
         effect.

10.      This Agreement shall be construed according to its terms and not
         strictly for or against either party.

11.      This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois
         without regard to its conflicts of laws provisions.

12.      All remedies provided herein are cumulative and in addition to all
         other remedies which may be available at law or in equity.

13.      This Agreement shall be binding on both parties successors, heirs and
         assigns.



Employee:                               Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc.:



________________________            _____________________________
Joseph D. Vecchiolla
                                        By: ____________________________

                                        Title: _________________________


________________________            _____________________________
Date                                    Date