Rewritable, color image recording medium and image recording method using same

A method of recording a color image, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a rewritable, color image recording medium comprising a pair of opposed substrates at least one of which is transparent, and an intermediate layer interposed between said substrates, said intermediate layer comprising at least one cholesteric liquid crystal compound having a molecular weight of not greater than 2,000 and a glass transition point of at least 35.degree. C., and a photochromic compound capable of changing a color thereof upon irradiation with a light, said photochromic compound being present in an amount of 0.5-10% by weight based on the weight of said cholesteric liquid crystal compound;
• (b) while maintaining said intermediate layer at such a temperature that said cholesteric liquid crystal compound assumes a cholesteric liquid crystal phase, irradiating said intermediate layer imagewise with the light through the transparent substrate to form an image;
• (c) then rapidly cooling said recording medium obtained in step (b) to a temperature lower than said glass transition point to fix said image.