A digital radiographic imaging system, comprising: a) an x-ray light valve including a first photoconductive detector layer and a liquid crystal cell disposed on said first photoconductive detector layer, said liquid crystal cell being configured to store optical images induced therein for a pre-selected period of time on the order of minutes, means for applying and removing an exposure bias potential across said x-ray light valve such that when said exposure bias is applied an electric field is produced in said x-ray light valve and hence across said first photoconductive detector layer, wherein said x-ray light valve is configured such that x-rays having passed through an object to be imaged form an x-ray exposure of said object, wherein said first photoconductive detector layer absorbs x-rays having passed through said object to form electron-hole pairs separated by said exposure bias potential, thereby forming a charge image which corresponds to the absorbed x-rays creating variations in potential across said liquid crystal cell, and wherein when said exposure potential bias is removed, the charge image induces an entire static optical image of said x-ray exposure in the liquid crystal cell, which is stored in the liquid crystal cell during said pre-selected period of time; b) a readout light source configured to illuminate a portion of said entire static optical image stored in said liquid crystal cell such that variations in potential across said liquid crystal cell modulate an intensity of said readout light illuminating said portion of said entire static optical image thereby to create an optical representation of said x-ray exposure; c) an imaging device positioned at a pre-selected position with respect to said x-ray light valve to receive said modulated intensity of readout light capturing said portion of said stored entire static optical image of said x-ray exposure; d) a scanning mechanism to which said imaging device is attached for moving said imaging device with respect to said x-ray light valve to enable sequential capture of some or all portions of said entire static optical image during said pre-selected period of time; and e) a processor coupled to said imager to digitize, produce and store a digitized version of some or all portions of said entire image of said x-ray exposure. a) an x-ray light valve including a first photoconductive detector layer and a liquid crystal cell disposed on said first photoconductive detector layer, said liquid crystal cell being configured to store optical images induced therein for a pre-selected period of time on the order of minutes, means for applying and removing an exposure bias potential across said x-ray light valve such that when said exposure bias is applied an electric field is produced in said x-ray light valve and hence across said first photoconductive detector layer, wherein said x-ray light valve is configured such that x-rays having passed through an object to be imaged form an x-ray exposure of said object, wherein said first photoconductive detector layer absorbs x-rays having passed through said object to form electron-hole pairs separated by said exposure bias potential, thereby forming a charge image which corresponds to the absorbed x-rays creating variations in potential across said liquid crystal cell, and wherein when said exposure potential bias is removed, the charge image induces an entire static optical image of said x-ray exposure in the liquid crystal cell, which is stored in the liquid crystal cell during said pre-selected period of time; b) a readout light source configured to illuminate a portion of said entire static optical image stored in said liquid crystal cell such that variations in potential across said liquid crystal cell modulate an intensity of said readout light illuminating said portion of said entire static optical image thereby to create an optical representation of said x-ray exposure; c) an imaging device positioned at a pre-selected position with respect to said x-ray light valve to receive said modulated intensity of readout light capturing said portion of said stored entire static optical image of said x-ray exposure; d) a scanning mechanism to which said imaging device is attached for moving said imaging device with respect to said x-ray light valve to enable sequential capture of some or all portions of said entire static optical image during said pre-selected period of time; and e) a processor coupled to said imager to digitize, produce and store a digitized version of some or all portions of said entire image of said x-ray exposure.