a process of forming a single color , ablation image having improved abrasion resistance having the following steps : a ) imagewise - heating , by a laser , an ablative recording element having a support having thereon an image layer having a colorant dispersed in a polymeric binder , which causes the image layer to ablate imagewise , the image layer having a near infrared - absorbing material associated therewith to absorb at a given wavelength of the laser used to expose the element , the image dye or pigment absorbing in the region of from about 300 to about 700 nm ; and b ) laminating a coating having polymeric particles dispersed in a binder to the surface of the ablative image under heat and pressure so that the particles will fuse into a continuous overcoat layer .