Imageable elements with low pH developer solubility

A positive-working imageable element comprising a substrate having thereon an ink receptive imageable layer comprising a primary polymeric binder that is soluble in an alkaline developer upon exposure to imaging radiation, said element further comprising a radiation absorbing compound,

• wherein said primary polymeric binder is a phenolic polymer that comprises recurring units represented in the following Structure (I):
• a is from about 90 to about 99 mol %, b is from about 1 to about 10 mol %, R1 and R3 are independently hydrogen or hydroxy, alkyl or alkoxy groups, R2 is hydrogen or an alkyl group, X is an alkylene, oxy, thio, —OC(═O)Ar—, —OC(═O)CH═CH—, or —OCO(CH2)n4— group wherein Ar is an aryl group, m and p are independently 1 or 2, n1 is 0 or an integer up to 5, n2 is 0 or an integer up to 5, n3 is 0 or 1, n4 is at least 1, and Z is —C(═O)OH, —S(═O)2OH, —P(═O)(OH)2, or —OP(═O)(OH)2.