The invention relates to a method of providing a photographic imaging element having a bending stiffness between 150 and 250 millinewtons and a caliper thickness between about 0.18 mm and about 0.28 mm, comprising providing a laminated base sheet comprising a paper sheet having a Young's modulus of between about 13800 MPa to 2760 MPa in the machine direction and a Young's modulus of 6900 MPa to 1380 MPa in the cross direction, and having a biaxially oriented sheet on each side of said paper sheet having a Young's modulus of 690 MPa to 5520 MPa in the machine direction and a Young's modulus of 690 MPa to 5520 MPa in the cross machine direction and coating said laminated base sheet with photosensitive layers.