Abstract: An improved erase cycle for direct-viewing bistable storage tubes that substantially eliminates the bright flash characteristic of conventional erasure methods. As applied to the backplate of a meshless storage tube, the improved cycle suitably comprises two or more short (about 2 to 10 ms) fade positive pulses separated by a negative, decaying recovery pulse about 50-100 ms in length and optionally, a "dead time" of about 200 ms at the target operating level. The final fade positive pulse is followed by a longer recovery interval that gradually increases the backplate voltage to its previous operating level while the flood guns retain the storage phosphor in an erased, unwritten condition.