Photo-polymerization and development process which produces dot-etchable material

A process of image reproduction which comprises (1) imagewise exposing to actinic radiation a photopolymerizable element which comprises a support bearing a photopolymerizable layer containing actinic radiation absorbing material and having a maximum thickness of 0.015 mm and an optical density in the actinic region of at least 3.0, said photopolymerizable layer being the outermost layer of the element or being contiguous to a removable cover sheet or an overcoat layer which is at least partially soluble in or permeable to a solvent for the photopolymerizable layer, said exposure being through the outermost surface of the photopolymerizable layer or removable cover sheet or overcoat layer, when present, and wherein said exposure produces image areas having a hardened upper skin which rests on a softer undervolume having a lesser degree of polymerization or hardening, (2) developing by removing the unexposed areas of the layer, and (3) reducing the size of exposed image areas by undercutting the edges of the hardened upper skin with a solvent for the softer undervolume and removing the hardened polymer and the edges of the hardened upper skin by mechanical action on the image bearing surface.