Patent ID: 8852856

Claim:
An image processing method comprising: recording an image onto a thermoreversible recording medium in which transparency or color tone reversibly changes depending upon temperature, by applying a laser beam with the use of a CO 2 laser device so as to heat the thermoreversible recording medium, wherein an intensity distribution of the laser beam applied in the image recording step satisfies the relationship represented by Expression 1 shown below at a point of application to the thermoreversible recording medium, 1.59< I 1 /I 2 ≦2.00 Expression 1 where I 1 denotes an irradiation intensity of the applied laser beam in a central position of the applied laser beam, and I 2 denotes an irradiation intensity of the applied laser beam on a plane corresponding to 80% of the total irradiation energy of the applied laser beam.