A spot gloss film element for color systems which provides a glossy sheen to image-bearing receiver sheets in areas which were exposed to actinic radiation, while the unexposed areas remain partially or completely matte. The film element comprises, sequentially, a strippable, transparent cover sheet; a crosslinked phenolic layer; a gloss layer, which comprises an organic binder, a polymerizable component, a particulate material, and an optional photoinitiator; a photoadhering layer, which comprises a polymerizable component, a binder, and an optional photoinitiator; and a thermoplastic adhesive layer. The spot gloss film is laminated to an image bearing receiver sheet. The gloss layer and the photoadhering layer are exposed to actinic radiation through the transparent cover sheet and crosslinked phenolic layer. After peeling apart the image bearing receiver sheet and the transparent cover sheet, the crosslinked phenolic layer and the unexposed areas of the gloss layer are attached to the cover sheet, while the exposed areas of the gloss layer and the unexposed areas of the photoadhering layer remain attached to the image bearing receiver sheet.