The present invention relates to photographic elements having a protective overcoat that resists fingerprints, common stains, and spills. The overcoat comprises an epoxy material, an acid polymer, a water-soluble hydrophilic binder and an associative thickener. In one embodiment, a photographic element includes a support, at least one silver halide emulsion layer superposed on the support and a processing-solution-permeable overcoat overlying the silver halide emulsion layer that becomes water-resistant in the final product without requiring lamination or fusing. The present invention is also directed to a method of making a print involving developing the photographic element.