The claimed invention relates to a method for coating a substrate, preferably a printed circuit board, comprising the step of applying to said substrate surface a photopolymerizable water-borne aqueous-alkaline developable coating composition. The novel composition comprises a certain film-forming, acid group-containing acrylated derivative of an epoxy resin which is sufficiently neutralized with ammonia or an amine or an inorganic base to promote the formation of the corresponding ammonium or amine or inorganic base carboxylates by a neutralization reaction; a photoinitiator; water; and, optional components; as well as one or more additional optional (meth)acrylate monomer or (meth)acrylate oligomer or a vinyl compound that can be crosslinked with light. The method produces coated substrates that are non-tacky after drying and that have good edge coverage.