The 740 film recorder contained digital-to-analog converters and a 7-inch, high precision, electrostatic CRT.

The raster size was 1,024 by 1,024, but only 256 resolved spots could be displayed on a vertical or horizontal line.

Points could be displayed in one of two intensities, and a line could be drawn from a point, vertically or horizontally, to the edge of the display to form an axis.

Each point to be displayed was stored in a single 36-bit word, with 10 bits each for the X and Y coordinates, and 3 control bits, one to set either high or low intensity and two to indicate that an X or Y axis is to be drawn starting from the given point.

The film used was 35 mm and was stored in a magazine that could hold up to 100 feet.