A thermal dye image receiver element has a substrate comprising a voided compliant layer and metalized layer. Disposed on the metalized layer is an opacifying layer that includes an opacifying agent and a dye receiving layer. This thermal dye image receiver element can be a duplex element with image receiving layers on both sides of the substrate, and it can be used in association with a thermal donor element to provide a thermal image on either or opposing sides of the receiver element. The metalized layer provides increased specular reflectance under resulting thermal dye images.