A 16 × 18 bit CdS spatial modulator has been developed which utilizes the thermal shift of a band edge in thin CdS single crystals for modulation of laser light. This device is able to generate up to 500 different transmission patterns per second with an optical contrast ratio of 1: 100. It has been fabricated using conventional thin film and integrated silicon technology. A 32 × 36 matrix is at present under construction and the realization of even larger arrays seems to be possible.