PURPOSE: To perform good electro thermo-recording by the use of an electro thermo- recording material of good shelf life and imprvoe the transparency of the background portions of images by depositing silver on latent image nuclei by the use of a solvent which contains soluble silver complex salt forming compounds and a reducing agent.

CONSTITUTION: The coating solution which contains a bonding agent, benzotriazole (derivative) and organic silver salts, e.g., silver salts of benzotriazoles is coated on a base of which at least the surface is condictive, whereby the image recording layer composed of conductive composition is formed. This electro thermo image forming material is put in contact with a photoelectric sensor having a photoconductive layer and is thereby exposed to image form and is at the same time applied with a voltage, forming the latent image nuclei. Next, a solution which contains a compound capable of forming soluble silver complex salts and a reducing agent is impregenated into the image recording layer, causing silver to deposit on the latent image nuclei. The recording layer is rinsed or neutralized with an acid, whereby the final images are formed