Processes that use light to generate copies directly from original paper documents. Light is employed to examine an original document and to detect the presence or absence of an image. This examination provides the intelligence required to make each copy. In most cases, light reflected from the original subject directly exposes the medium used to produce an image on a copy. However, in an increasing number of cases, the intelligence-bearing light is converted into an electrical signal, which is later converted back to light to expose the copying medium.