Silver halide conductive element precursor and devices

A method for providing a conductive film element, comprising:

• imagewise exposing a conductive film element precursor comprising:
• a substrate having a first supporting side and an opposing second supporting side, and the conductive film element precursor comprising, in order on the first supporting side of the substrate:
• a first non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer comprising a silver halide at a coverage of less than 5000 mg Ag/m2, and
• a first hydrophilic overcoat disposed over the first non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer, which first hydrophilic overcoat is the outermost layer on the first supporting side of the substrate, and the first hydrophilic overcoat comprises silver in an amount of at least 5 mg Ag/m2 and up to and including 150 mg Ag/m2,
• to provide a latent pattern containing silver halide in the first non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer,
• converting the silver halide in the latent pattern to silver metal by contacting the exposed conductive film element precursor with a developing solution comprising a silver halide developing agent,
• removing unconverted silver halide from the first non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer, leaving silver metal in a pattern corresponding to the latent pattern, and
• optionally further treating the silver metal in the pattern to enhance its conductivity.