Method of using mask film to form relief images

A method of making a relief image, the method comprising:

• A) forming a mask image by forming exposed and non-exposed regions in an imaged film, which film prior to imaging, comprises:
• a transparent carrier sheet having thereon at least one non-silver halide thermally sensitive imageable layer and a colorant disposed in the imageable layer,
• an infrared radiation absorbing compound dispersed in a polymeric binder, and
• a transparent layer disposed between the carrier sheet and the imageable layer, which transparent layer has a refractive index lower than the refractive index of the carrier sheet or the refractive index of any optional immediately adjacent layer between the carrier sheet and the transparent layer,
• B) transferring the mask image in the imaged film to a radiation-sensitive element while there is complete optical contact between the mask image and the radiation-sensitive element,
• C) exposing the radiation-sensitive element to curing radiation through the mask image to form an imaged element, wherein the mask image is opaque to the curing radiation, and
• D) developing the imaged element to form a relief image.