Abstract A new method for rainbow and multicolor holographic stereograms is described using the technique of multidot recording, which was originally developed for the syntheses of full-parallax holographic stereograms. Instead of recording vertical parallax, an image of horizontal slit is synthesized for rainbow holography. It becomes possible to obtain large images by a compact optical system, since the hologram is composed of many small elementary holograms. Multicolor image is also produced by the same system introducing a simple image processing. Experimental results of three-dimensional and color imagery are demonstrated.