Abstract: A method for generating on a lithographic printing plate a screened reproduction of a contone image, comprising the steps of: (1) transporting a thermo-sensitive imaging element through an exposure area; (2) scanwise exposing the thermo-sensitive imaging element according to screened data representative for tones of a contone image with a set (s) of radiation beams (b) as the thermo-sensitive imaging element is transported through the exposure area, characterized in that at any given moment (ta+.DELTA.t) during the exposure at least two radiation beams (bi,bj) of the set of radiation beams impinge on different microdots (ma, ma+.DELTA.m) of a scanline (1a) on the imaging element, so that by completion of the exposure step each effective microdot of the scanline has been impinged by all effective radiation beams of the set.

Abstract: Thermal recording or producing of a contone image comprises an imagewise and scanwise exposing a thermographic recording material with a set (s) of radiation beams (b), wherein at any given moment (t) during the exposure at least two radiation beams impinge on different dots (m) of a scanline (l), so that by completion of the exposure each effective dot of the scanline has been impinged. Photo-thermographic recording or producing comprises a developing of the exposed photo-thermographic recording material with a set (s) of radiation beams (b), wherein at any given moment (t) during the development at least two radiation beams impinge on different dots (m) of a scanline (l), so that by completion of the development step each dot of the scanline has been impinged by all radiation beams.