PURPOSE: To obtain a recording medium excellent in weather and chemical resistance by forming a recording layer containing an inorg. compound absorbing laser beam and generating discoloration on a sheet like support such as paper or a film.

CONSTITUTION: A recording layer containing an inorg. compound absorbing laser beam and generating discoloration is formed on a sheet like support. As the sheet like support, paper or a synthetic resin film is used. As the inorg. compound having discoloring properties, a lead compound such as red lead, lead sulfite, lead phosphite, basic lead sulfite, basic lead phosphite sulfite or dibasic lead phosphite is pref. Since the recording image is formed on this recording medium by the high temp. thermal discoloration of the inorg. compound, this image is extremely stable and markedly excellent in weather and chemical resistance.