Abstract: An image developing apparatus using a laser beam source to produce an original plate for producing a master disk of an optical type recording disk such as video disk and the like. A disk base plate 3 formed thereon with an exposed optically sensitive film 2 is rotated while developing solution 6 is supplied on the optical sensitive film 2 to remove the exposed parts of the film. To monitor the development, a laser beam 8 from a laser beam source 7 is irradiated on an exposed portion of the optical sensitive film 2 which is being dissolved and zero and first order diffraction light 9 and 10 are detected by first and second detectors 11 and 12. Light amount control element 13 are provided to maintain constant the detected level of zero order light by controlling the laser, and the first order light is used to detect a stop time for the development. Stabilization of the zero order light eliminates fluctuations from external sources such as dust, mist etc.