[en] Negative resist compositions are based on carbonaceous polymers with substituent branches containing epoxy groupings. Exemplary materials which include, for example, a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and ethyl acrylate in which epoxy groupings are unesterified show high sensitivity, for example, to electron radiation and to X-rays. Resolution is sufficient to permit expedient fabrication of detailed resist patterns for integrated circuits. High adherence permits use of acid or base reagents and thermal stability permits use of ion milling for circuit fabrication. (Auth.)