An image-receiving element for use in photographic and photothermographic diffusion transfer film units of the type wherein the image-receiving element is designed to be removed or "peeled-apart" from a photosensitive element following exposure and processing. The present image-receiving element comprises in sequence, a support, an image-receiving layer, and a strip-coat layer. The strip-coat layer serves to facilitate separation of the image-receiving layer from a photosensitive element after processing. The strip-coat layer comprises a copolymer including: 1) at least about 50% by weight of monomer units, the same or different, derived from an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or salt thereof, 2) at least about 15% by weight of monomer units of vinyl pyrrolidone, and 3) at least about 5% by weight of monomer units, the same or different, represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 of each monomer unit is independently selected from: hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, cyano, and halogen; X of each monomer unit is independently selected from --NH-- or --O--; and R.sub.2 of each monomer unit is independently selected from a hydroxy substituted alkyl group.