Method of erasing storage phosphor panels

In a method of reading a radiation image, stored in a CsBr:Eu type binderless needle-shaped photostimulable or storage phosphor screen after X-ray exposure of said screen, said method comprises the steps of: (1) erasing thermally stimulable energy by exposing said screen to infrared radiation in the wavelength range from 1000 nm to 1550 nm; (2) stimulating said phosphor screen by means of stimulating radiation in the range from 550 to 850nm; (3) detecting light emitted by the phosphor screen upon stimulation and converting the detected light into a signal representation of said radiation image; (4) erasing said phosphor screen by exposing it to erasing light in the wavelength range of 300 nm to 1500 nm.