A system for writing to, and reading from, optical media (10). For writing, the media changes when subjected to high intensity modulated light representing an image, such that the image is recorded. A deformable micro-mirror device (DMD)(130) receives electrical input representing the image to be recorded. A high intensity light source (120) illuminates the DMD (130), which reflects modulated light to an imaging lens (140). The lens focusses the image onto the media (160). To record multiple images on the same media, various means provide for scanning across the media. For reading, the media is illuminated with uniform low intensity light. The DMD provides this uniform light, which is transmitted through a pre-recorded media to an image capture device (170).