A method is disclosed for the formation of a heat mode image comprising the steps of (i) bringing in close contact a donor element, containing a reducing agent and an radiation to heat converting compound, and an acceptor element, containing a reducible organic silver salt, (ii) exposing this assemblage information-wise by intense infra-red laser radiation, (iii) peeling apart the elements and (iiii) optionally overall heating the separated acceptor element.
In a preferred embodiment the laser is an infra-red laser and the radiation to heat converting compound is an infra-red absorbing compound.
In an alternative embodiment the radiation to heat converting compound is incorporated in the acceptor.