A method of producing viewable images is disclosed wherein a layer of electrostatic charge is deposited on the surface of a 3d metal oxide that is disposed in an ambient temperature below the Neel temperature. The temperature at certain portions of the surface of the 3d metal oxide is increased to exceed the Neel temperature such that the 3d metal oxide undergoes an insulator-to-metal transition whereby the layer of electrostatic charge is selectively dissipated to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to those portions of the surface that are subjected to an increase in temperature. The electrostatic latent image is then developed to form a viewable image. In one embodiment of the present invention the temperature is increased to exceed the Neel temperature by imaging a character pattern comprised of modulated radiant energy onto the surface of the 3d metal oxide. In another embodiment of this invention the temperature is increased to exceed the Neel temperature by transferring thermal energy forming a character pattern to the surface of the 3d metal oxide. In a further embodiment of this invention the electrostatic latent image is formed by depositing an electrostatic charge on the surface of the 3d metal oxide, the latter having certain portions thereof at a temperature that exceeds the Neel temperature therefor.