Abstract: An electroresistive printing or writing system in which a long lasting balanced erosion rate electrode head is transported in relation to a front surface conducting writing receiver media held in a defined path between a resilient flat platen and a path referencing grounding member which contacts the conductive surface below the head. Writing is accomplished on either treated paper or a plain untreated receiving surface, such as paper, by use of a tri-layered film, having a heat transferable ink layer for marking the plain surface in response to vaporization or burning away of the front conductive surface at a head electrode caused by electric current flowing via that head electrode. The mechanical configuration of the system provides immediate unobstructed operator viewing of the just completed printing.