disclosed is a process for forming a novel ink jet printhead which comprises : providing a lower substrate in which one surface thereof has an array of drop generating elements and addressing electrodes formed thereon ; depositing onto the release surface of an intermediate film support a photopatternable layer comprising a precursor polymer which is a phenolic novolac resin having glycidyl ether functional groups ; prebaking the photopatternable layer to dry , semi - solid condition ; laminating the dry , semi - solid layer to the surface of the lower substrate under heat and pressure and separating it from the release surface of the intermediate film support ; exposing the photopatternable layer to actinic radiation in an imagewise pattern corresponding to ink nozzles and developing to form a nozzle plate section , and removing the precursor polymer from the unexposed areas , thereby forming ink nozzle recesses which are aligned to communicate with the drop generating elements and terminal ends of the electrodes of the lower substrate laminated thereto . step may be carried out either before or after step .