APPLIED GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGIES INC
AMENDMENT #1 TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED COMP PLAN
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.8.A
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>ex10-8_a.txt
<DESCRIPTION>AMENDMENT #1 TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED COMP PLAN
<TEXT>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                 Exhibit 10.8(a)

                               AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
                       APPLIED GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
              AMENDED AND RESTATED 1998 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN


         WHEREAS, Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company") adopted the Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc. 1998 Incentive
Compensation Plan effective as of May 27, 1998 (as amended and restated, the
"Plan");

         WHEREAS, Section 16.2 of the Plan provides that, in certain
circumstances, the Board of Directors may amend the Plan at any time;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended effective as of May 8, 2000 as
follows:

         1.       Section 7.4 of the Plan is amended and restated in its
                  entirety to read as follows:

                  "7.4 Vesting Date. The Committee shall specify the Vesting
                  Date with respect to each Stock Option in the Award Agreement.
                  The Committee may grant stock options that are Vested, either
                  in whole or in part, on the date of grant. If the Committee
                  fails to specify a Vesting Date in the Award Agreement, such
                  Stock Option shall become exercisable in accordance with the
                  following schedule:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  ANNIVERSARY OF DATE OF GRANT                      CUMULATIVE
                  ----------------------------                     PERCENT THAT
                                                                       VESTS
                                                                       -----
<S>               <C>                                              <C>
                  LESS THAT 1 YEAR............................          0%
                  On the first anniversary date...............         20%
                  On the second anniversary date..............         40%
                  On the third anniversary date...............         60%
                  On the fourth anniversary date..............         80%
                  On the fifth anniversary date...............        100%
</TABLE>
                  The Vesting of a Stock Option may also be subject to such
                  other terms and conditions as shall be determined by the
                  Committee, including, without limitation, accelerating the
                  Vesting (i) based on individual performance or (ii) if certain
                  performance goals are achieved."

         2.       In all other respects, the Plan is hereby ratified and
                  confirmed.

<PAGE>   2
         3.       Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall
                  have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
