NOVELTY - A process of etching or plating involves ink jet printing an alkali removable water insoluble hot melt ink jet ink onto a substrate to form a resist image; etching or plating the substrate in an aqueous acid medium; and removing the resist image with an aqueous alkali.    USE - For etching or plating a metal for electroplating copper or tin onto the substrate or etching a steel embossing belt useful in the manufacture of a circuit board and in the manufacture of a solar cell (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The ink is free of particulates. The method uses aqueous alkali washing to remove screen resist inks and so the resist removing stage of the process can generally be carried out by the operators of the process using conventional washing equipment. The use of aqueous alkali as the washing medium for removal of the resist ink moreover avoids the need for use of organic solvents, which are undesirable for reasons of safety, impact on the environment, and cost. In the process, the ink is alkali removable and it will in general also be unnecessary to use mechanical device to remove the resist ink, for example, by rubbing or scraping. The hot melt ink jet inks give particularly good resist image definition because they cool and solidify very rapidly following contact with the substrate, thereby inhibiting spreading of the ink. The hot melt inks are suitable for application by ink jet and can be easily removed by washing with aqueous alkali, while being insoluble in acidic media used for etching and plating. The ink will typically comprise components which are soluble or dispersible in aqueous alkali, for example, in a 5% aqueous potassium hydroxide solution. That helps to avoid the ink being removed in the form of flakes or strips which can block filter equipment and drains.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) an alkali removable water insoluble hot melt jet ink for use as an etch or deposition resist;    (2) an ink jet printer including the ink; and    (3) a substrate for an etching or plating process having on at least one surface a resist image of the ink.