A process of forming an article utilizes an ultra-thin, removable, catalytic film for Laser Direct Structuring (LDS). The process includes forming a film from a laser-activatable material, the film exhibiting thickness of less than 100 μm; applying the film to a black or opaque substrate to form a film-substrate element; applying a laser to the film-substrate element; removing a portion of the film from the film-substrate element; and applying metal plating to a portion of the black or opaque substrate. Removal of the film from the film-substrate element may follow metal plating of the black or opaque substrate. An article formed by the process may be useful in a computer device, electromagnetic interference device, printed circuit, Wi-Fi device, Bluetooth device, GPS device, cellular antenna device, smart phone device, automotive device, medical device, sensor device, RF antenna device, LED device, RFID device, or a component of a cell phone antenna.