According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of recording an image, including irradiating a CO.sub.2 laser having a wavelength of from 9 to 11 .mu.m onto a recording material in which a recording layer and a protective layer are provided on a support in this order, wherein the recording layer includes at least microcapsules encapsulating a basic dye precursor, and the protective layer includes a binder.