Photohardenable compositions containing a borate salt

A photohardenable composition comprising a free radical addition polymerizable or crosslinkable compound;

• a cationic dye-borate anion complex of the formula:
• ##STR19## where D+ is a cationic dye moiety;
• and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alicyclic, heterocyclic, and allylic groups, said complex being capable of absorbing actinic radiation and producing free radicals which initiate free radical polymerization or crosslinking of said compound;
• and a borate salt of the formula:
• ##STR20## where Z+ is a cation which does not absorb in the region in which the dye-borate complex absorbs and which is sufficiently oleophilic to make said salt soluble in said photopolymerizable composition;
• and R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkaryl group, an allyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an alicyclic group, and a saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic group which may be substituted or unsubstituted.