Abstract: Erasable thermoplastic image recording systems having extended useful lifetimes are provided by subjecting the thermoplastic recording medium to a sequence of erasure, exposure to incident radiation cooling and projection in an inert atmosphere while applying corona charge throughout the erasure and exposure cycles. By exposing at a time when the medium is cooling from the erasure step, a heat development step is eliminated which eliminates nearly 50% of the thermal degradation of the thermoplastic polymer. Exclusion of oxygen from the system eliminates the considerable chemical degradation the film suffers from reaction with ozone. Erasure in the presence of a uniform corona charge provides more complete erasure than standard procedures. Lower temperature and shorter heating pulses are permitted with a lower surface tension thermoplastic polymer provided by external plastization of the thermoplastic. The lower surface tension also results in less noisy images and greater lifetimes.