Abstract: A method which is particularly suitable to the manufacture of printed circuit boards of high resolution comprises the steps of forming a photoresist pattern having an ink coating over a substrate and subsequently depositing a species catalytic to electroless plating on the exposed substrate surface and then forming a flash electroless deposit thereon. The ink coating is then removed together with any overlying deposit leaving the photoresist intact so as to prevent spreading of the deposited flash metal pattern during the subsequent step of full buildup electroless and/or electrolytic plating.