A method of producing a radiation-induced colorant transfer image on a support, includes the steps of: providing an image-receiving element comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving layer; providing a colorant donor element having a colorant transfer layer on a colorant element support and wherein colorant can be transferred from a transfer surface of the colorant donor element to the image-receiving element in response to selectively applied radiation, the colorant element support being configured to provide a surface having peaks and valleys; pressing the colorant element support surface against a rigid element so as to cause the colorant transfer layer surface to conformally have peaks and valleys; causing the peaks of the colorant transfer layer to engage the image-receiving element; and applying radiation to the colorant donor element to cause colorant to transfer in the space between the image-receiving element and the colorant transfer layer surface corresponding to the valleys in the colorant transfer surface.