Absorption spectra in the new synthesized poly-N-vinylcarbazole (PNVK) materials are investigated both theoretically as well as experimentally. The investigated materials were modified by substitution of the backside groups by electron acceptors Cl, Br, I and by donor methoxy in the position 3,6 of the carbazole. At the same time, a shift of the carbazole group with respect to the polymer backbone and copolymerization with coumarin containing monomers was observed. The agreement between the theoretically calculated and experimentally measured spectra was observed with a satisfactory coincidence (within the 12 nm). The proposed method can be considered as a way of materials engineering and search of new electroluminescent materials. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.