Abstract: The invention is a method for preparing a photographic element which comprises imagewise exposing a photographic element, and removing the non-image areas thereof by contacting said element with a composition consisting essentially of in admixture:a) from at least about 5% to about 30% by weight of the developer of benzyl alcohol; andb) from about 1% to about 20% by weight of the developer of one of more compound selected from the group consisting of sodium xylene sulfonate and sodium cumene sulfonate; andc) from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the developer of potassium toluene sulfonate; andd) water in sufficient amount of formulate effective developer for imagewise exposed photographic elements.