Methods of preparing etch resists using an electrostatic image developer composition including a resin hardener

Claim 1

A METHOD OF PRODUCING AN ETCH RESIST ON AN ETCHABLE PLATE HAVING A PHOTOCONDUCTIVE INSULATING COATING THEREON COMPRISING A FINELY-DIVIDED PHOTOCONDUCTOR DISPERSED IN A BINDER OF RESINOUS MATERIAL WHICH IS SOLUBLE IN A SELECTED SOLVENT AND WHICH INCLUDES MOLECULAR CHAINS CAPABLE OF BEING CROSS-LINKED BY HEAT WITH A SELECTED CROSSLINKING AGENT TO RENDER THE RESINOUS MATERIAL INSOLUBLE IN SAID SOLVENT; SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHICALLY PRODUCING A LATENT ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE ON SAID COATING; DEVELOPING SAID ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE INTO A POWDER IMAGE WITH A FINELY-DIVIDED THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL AT LEAST A PORTION OF WHICH COMPRISES A CROSS-LINKING AGENT FOR SAID RESINOUS MATERIAL, AND HEATING SAID POWDER IMAGE TO CURE THE PORTIONS OF SAID RESINOUS MATERIAL OF SAID COATING UNDERLYING SAID POWDER IMAGE TO CONVERT SAID PORTIONS INTO AN ETCH RESIST.