A process of forming a dye transfer image comprising:a) imagewise-heating a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, the dye being a deprotonated cationic dye which is capable of being reprotonated to a cationic dye having a N-H group which is part of a conjugated system,b) imagewise transferring the dye to a dye image-receiving layer of a dye-receiver element which contains acid moieties capable of reprotonating the deprotonated cationic dye, andc) subjecting the dye-receiver element to heat from a heat source immediately prior to, during, or after the imagewise transfer of the dye.