Contrast enhancement layer composition with naphthoquinone diazide, indicator dye and polymeric binder

A contrast-enhancing, photobleachable composition for use on a photoresist layer comprising:

• a water-soluble, light-sensitive compound which, upon exposure to actinic radiation, produces acidic photoproducts and its absorbance of radiation in the range of about 300 to about 450 nanometers substantially disappears, said compound being selected from the group consisting of napthoquinone-1,2-(diazide-2)-5-sodium sulfonate and naphthoquinone-1,2-(diazide-2-4-sodium sulfonate;
• a water-soluble indicator dye which before exposure to acidic conditions is highly absorbent to radiation within the range of about 350 to about 450 nm, but upon exposure to acidic conditions, undergoes a substantial disappearance of its absorbance of radiation in said range, said dye being selected from the group consisting of 2,4-dinitrophenol, 3-nitrosalicylaldehyde, metaniline yellow, methyl orange, ethyl orange, propyl red, ethyl red, methyl red, o-nitrophenol, n-nitrophenol, sodium-p-nitrophenoxide and pyridine-2-azodimethylaniline;
• and
• a polymeric binder which is substantially transparent to radiation in the range of about 300 to about 450 nanometers and is soluble in a member selected from the group consisting of water and weakly alkaline aqueous solutions;
• Wherein said compound is provided in an amount ranging between about 5 and about 90% by weight based on said polymeric binder and said indicator dye is provided in an amount not exceeding the maximum amount that can be rendered transparent to said radiation range by said acidic photoproducts of said compound.