Kodak Device Stores Photographs on CDs

Eastman Kodak Co. unveiled a product that allows snapshots to be stored on compact discs and played back on televisions.

The Kodak Photo CD system digitally stores images from negatives or slides on compact discs. The pictures can be shown on ordinary television or computer screens with a Photo CD player that also plays audio CDs.

“This is the answer for consumers who have wanted both the astonishing quality of 35 millimeter photography and the convenience of digital storage, display and manipulation. Users can enjoy traditional photographic quality, and view their pictures on TV,” Kodak chairman and chief executive Kay Whitmore said in a statement.

The system will not be available until 1992. Kodak said it made the announcement to give other manufacturers time to develop licensed products and software.

To use the system, film is first processed conventionally into negatives or slides. Each picture is then scanned and transferred into digital form, and the compressed digital image is written to a compact disc.