A static diffracting grating display system provides a fixed image representing high digital content information. A plurality of physical diffracting features are fixed into the surface of a substrate. The diffracting features are positioned and oriented to selectively diffract or reflect a first incident beam of light which is then collected by a first display optical system. For color, preferably three light sources, red, green and blue, are used to form three incident beams of light. The period between adjacent ones of the diffracting features can be adjusted to appropriately form full-color image from the collected light. Preferably the diffracting features are formed by embossing a deformable substrate. Where the material of the deformable substrate is not reflective, a reflective coating is then applied. In some circumstances a protective overcoat applied over the reflective surface to obviate scratches or other damage to the diffracting features of the embossed surface. The diffracting features can also be formed using photolithographic techniques. To display changeable information in the image, a selectively deformable diffraction grating light valve is provided. A second incident beam of light is provided to illuminate the deformable diffraction grating light valve. A second display optical system collects light from the deformable diffraction grating light valve and merges this light with that collected from the static diffracting grating display system to form a unitary display.