The objective of this paper is to present the concept, description, and characteristics of a new class of direct-read-after-write (DRAW) reflective laser recording material which has been given the tradename DREXONTM. Information is recorded by thermal melting of the media surface. The material consists of an organic film containing dispersed metal particles which have such a high volume concentration that the surface has a mirrorlike appearance. However, the particles do not touch one another; and, therefore, the surface is electrically nonconductive. When recording, the laser-beam energy is absorbed by the metal particles, which rise in temperature and cause melting of the organic film at temperatures in the range of 200°C. This melting creates spots of low reflectivity in a field of high reflectivity. The metal particles do not melt since their melting temperature is much highter than that of the underlying organic film. It is possible that one version of the media could achieve archival life of a hundred years. This version comprises three ingredients, all of which have rated archival lives of hundreds of years: (1) cross-linked, photographic-quality gelatin, (2) filamentary silver crystals, and (3) spheroidal silver crystals. This archival version of the media is produced from special, fine-grained silver-halide emulsions.