The nonlinear hot image effect from phase scatterer in a high-power laser system has been investigated theoretically and numerically. According to the Fresnel-Kirchhoff diffraction integral and nonlinear paraxial wave equation, we derive the functional relationship of the intensity of hot image and its location. It is shown that the image intensity is likely several times larger than that from amplitude scatterer, and the location is situated in the equidistant downstream plane of the scatterer in an optical component located upstream from a nonlinear element. Good agreements are shown between the theoretical prediction and the computer codes developed for ns-pulse propagation simulations. The results indicate that the formation of hot image is akin to the real-time, in-line and volume-phase holographic imaging.