A method for producing images utilizing photohardenable microcapsules and a reversal phenomenon is disclosed. The microcapsules contain a color former, a photopolymerizable or cross-linkable monomer and a photoinitiator. A substrate containing the microcapsules is image-wise exposed to a high intensity, short term exposure of actinic radiation to cause reversal in the exposed microcapsules. The substrate is then given an overall exposure to polymerize the microcapsules which had not completely reversed. The microcapsules are then ruptured in the presence of a developer material to produce a negative image. In addition the inventive method may be used to produce copies by a "direct-write" copying process.