Abstract: An improved laser-based method of depositing a metal on an electrically insulated metallic substrate is disclosed. Selected areas of the insulated plate such as an anodized aluminum plate are irradiated with laser energy to fracture the anodized layer and expose underlying aluminum. The plate is immersed in a solution containing copper ions and negatively biased so that a thin layer of copper is electrolytically deposited in the selected areas to form copper features. The method is particularly suited to the rapid production of high quality, durable photographic printing plates with long shelf life.