A geometrical arrangement is described that allows matrix-addressed arrays of light valves to be built out of optically active materials which do not possess a switching threshold. Such arrays can be used for optical selectors, composers, and displays. Unlike classical coincident matrix addressing, this new scheme does not impose any limitation on addressing speed nor is it critically dependent on uniformity of switching properties within the material. The basic scheme consists of forming the rows of the matrix on one piece of material, the columns on another, and separating the two pieces with suitably oriented polarizers. This scheme can be applied to ferromagnetic, ferroelectric, and electrooptic solids and optically active liquids. A modified form of the separated matrix scheme, employing no polarizers, can be used with light scattering, absorbing, or reflecting materials which have no switching threshold.