A negative-acting color proofing method provides a photosensitive element having a cover sheet; release layer having a polymer with phenolic groups; color layer having a binder, polymerizable monomer, colorant, and optional photoinitiator; a photoadhering layer, having a photosensitive polymer having unsaturated, photocrosslinkable groups and a molecular weight greater than about 3,000, a polymerizable monomer having at least one unsaturated group, and an optional photoinitiator. A at least one of the color layer and the photoadhering layer has a photoinitiator; and a first thermoplastic adhesive layer. A photomask is applied onto the thermoplastic adhesive layer and one imagewise exposes the color layer and photoadhering layers to actinic radiation through the photomask. After removing the photomask, the photosensitive element is laminated to a temporary receiver. After peeling apart the temporary receiver and the cover sheet, exposed areas of the color layer attach to the temporary receiver and unexposed areas are removed with the cover sheet thereby forming a colored negative image on the temporary receiver sheet. These steps are optionally repeated with another photosensitive element having a different colorant and adhere an image to the image previously produced on the temporary receiver sheet. The temporary receiver sheet is laminated to a permanent receiver sheet via the images with heat and pressure. The temporary receiver sheet is optionally removed.