Abstract: A rate controlling method for computing a reference quantization parameter is provided, for use in a transcoder having a variable length decoder, an inverse quantizer, a quantizer and a variable length encoder. The rate controlling method comprising: receiving an input quantization parameter and motion information for each of the macroblocks from the variable length decoder; analyzing the similarity of motion information between a current macroblock and its neighboring macroblocks to compute a scaling factor for the current macroblock when allocated within P- and B-pictures; computing a bit difference between a target outputting bit stream and a real outputting bit stream; estimating the fullness of a virtual buffer to encode the current macroblock in view of the scaling factor; and computing the reference parameter based on a target bit rate, the first quantization parameter and the bit difference.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising: a support; an image recording layer comprising (A) an actinic ray absorber, (B) a polymerization initiator, and (C) a polymerizable compound, wherein the image recording layer is capable of being removed with at least one of a printing ink and a fountain solution; and an overcoat layer comprising an inorganic laminar compound. And a lithographic printing method comprising: mounting a lithographic printing plate precursor on a printing press; imagewise exposing the lithographic printing plate precursor with laser beams; and feeding at least one of a printing ink and a fountain solution to the lithographic printing plate precursor to remove a laser beams non-exposed area in an image recording layer; and performing printing.