An improved apparatus and process are described in which a direct negative is formed using commercially available multi-stylus recording heads. A negative precursor comprised of a transparent support and an opaque thermoplastic ink layer carried thereon, is brought into contact with an ink receiving medium comprised of a resistive layer and a thin conductive ink receiving layer thereon. Electrical currents are provided by the recording styli of the multi-stylus recording head to the resistive layer to provide sufficient heat to soften regions of the opaque ink brought into contact with the conductive layer, by which regions of said opaque ink are transferred to the ink receiving conductive layer. In this manner, a pattern of opaque ink regions is removed from the surface of said transparent support, whereby a direct negative is formed having light opaque and light transparent regions.