Enzyme-activated water-resistant protective overcoat for a photographic element

A method of making a photographic print comprising:

• (a) providing a photographic element comprising a support, at least one silver-halide emulsion imaging layer superposed on a side of said support, a processing-solution-permeable overcoat layer overlying the silver-halide emulsion imaging layer, said overcoat comprising a hydrophobic polymer mixed with gelatin, wherein the photographic element further comprises an enzyme capable of digesting gelatin in the overcoat layer, which enzyme is in the overcoat layer and/or in a separate layer from which the enzyme can diffuse into the overcoat layer to digest the gelatin;
• (b) imagewise exposing to light and developing the photographic element in a developer solution having a pH greater than 7 to obtain the photographic print;
• and
• (c) optionally fusing the processing-solution-permeable;
• wherein the overcoat forms a water-resistant protective overcoat in the processed photographic element.

A process of manufacturing a photographic element comprising

• (a) applying to a support at least one light sensitive silver-halide emulsion imaging layer;
• and
• (b) applying an overcoat layer over the at least one light sensitive silver halide emulsion imaging layer, which overcoat layer comprises a hydrophobic polymer mixed with gelatin,
• wherein an enzyme capable of digesting the gelatin is contained in the photographic element in reactive association with the overcoat layer, either in the overcoat layer and/or in a separate layer also applied over the light sensitive silver-halide emulsion imaging layer.