Process for the production of negative relief copies using photosensitive composition having 1,2-quinone diazide and quaternary ammonium compound

Claim 1

A process for the production of negative relief copies, comprising the steps of (i) imagewise exposing a photosensitive material uniformly applied as a coating to a support, which material comprises in admixture (a) at least one photosensitive 1,2-quinone diazide which is present in an amount sufficient to impart light-sensitivity to said coating (b) a quaternary ammonium compound which is present in an amount between 0.03 and about 0.5 parts by weight per 1 part by weight of said diazide; and (c) a polymeric binder which is insoluble in water and soluble in aqueous-alkaline solutions, said binder being present in an amount sufficient to stabilize said coating structurally; (ii) after step (i), heating said photosensitive material at a temperature ranging between about 80° to 120° C. for about 0.5 to 5 minutes; then (iii) after cooling said coating, uniformly exposing said photosensitive material; and (iv) after step (iii), developing said photosensitive material by means of an aqueous-alkaline developer, such that areas of said photosensitive material not exposed in step (i) are solubilized.