The present invention is directed to styryl dyes having the formula: wherein D is an electron donating group; Q is an electron acceptor selected from the group consisting of electron acceptors having the formulae: W is an electron accepting group, R3 is selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted aryl moieties, n is an integer from 0 to 4, A, B, and C are substituents of their rings and are each independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, sulfoalkyl, carboxyalkyl, and hydrogen, and Y is a counterion The present invention discloses media and methods for recording data. A three-dimensional matrix including a plurality of dye molecules, such a styryl dye molecule of the present invention, is provided. A first volume element in the matrix is exposed to actinic radiation for a duration and at an intensity effective to alter detectably a fraction between 0.3 and 0.7 of the dye molecules contained therein. The detectably altered dye molecules are substantially uniformly dispersed in the first volume element. The data storage methods and media of the present invention have approximately 1012 volume elements per square centimeter, and each of the volume elements can store a single bit, digital information of approximately 8 bits, or analog information. The data storage methods and media of the present invention are particularly useful for storing or archiving a series of two-dimensional black and white or color images, such as frames of a movie. Methods for reading data stored in the data storage media of the present invention using confocal microscopy are also disclosed.