We propose a new optical implementation of orthogonal phase-code multiplexing in which an arbitrary phase shift of theta or theta +pi is used in the reference beam instead of 0 or pi as in the conventional method. To compare the new and the conventional methods, we employ a 2-bit orthogonal phase code and store two binary-data images in a BaTiO(3) crystal with each method. We also employ numerical methods to simulate the 2-bit phase-code multiplexing and show that the signal-to-noise ratio in the restored images is improved by more than one order of magnitude in the new method in our experimental conditions.