Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on a support in the order given a coated composition of at least two hydrophilic layers being in water permeable contact with each other and each containing a hydrophilic (co)polymer or (co)polymer mixture and having been hardened with a hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate and a light sensitive layer containing a diazo resin or a diazonium salt characterized in that the ratio by weight in the top layer of said package of said hydrophilic (co)polymer or (co)polymer mixture versus said hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate (expressed as silicon dioxide) is at least 1.1 and the ratio by weight in an underlying layer of said package of said hydrophilic (co)polymer or (co)polymer mixture versus said hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate (expressed as silicon dioxide) is not higher than 0.9.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithographic base comprising on a hydrophobic support a packet of subbing layers contiguous to a hydrophilic layer containing a hydrophilic (co)polymer or (co)polymer mixture and being hardened with a hydrolysed tetraalkyl orthosilicate crosslinking agent characterized in that said packet of subbing layers contains as undermost layer a layer comprising, a polymer latex having hydrophilic functionality and as uppermost layer a layer comprising a hydrophilic binder and silica in a weight ratio of the hydrophilic binder to silica of less than 1.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on a hydrophilic support a light sensitive layer containing a diazo resin or a diazonium salt characterized in that said light sensitive layer contains pullulan. The obtained imaging element shows an improved storage stability.

Abstract: According to the present invention the storage stability of a diazo based imaging element can be improved by controlling the amount of free water in the imaging element. Thus the present invention provides an imaging element comprising on a support a hydrophilic layer containing a hydrophilic (co)polymer or (co)polymer mixture and having been hardened with a hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate and a light sensitive layer containing a diazo resin or a diazonium salt characterized in that the total amount of free water in said imaging element satisfies the following formula (I):FW (g/m.sup.2).ltoreq.0.0043 * WS (g/m.sup.2)+0.46 (g/m.sup.2) (I)wherein FW represents the amount of free water and WS represents the weight of the support of the imaging element.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on a hydrophilic support a light sensitive layer containing a diazo resin or a diazonium salt characterized in that said light sensitive layer contains pullulan. The obtained imaging element shows an improved storage stability.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on a flexible hydrophobic support (i) a hardened hydrophilic layer, containing a hydrophilic synthetic homocopolymer or copolymer and being hardened with a hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate crosslinking agent, (ii) a receiving layer containing physical development nuclei contiguous to said hydrophilic layer, (iii) an intermediate layer comprising a non-proteinic hydrophilic film-forming polymer or hydrophobic polymer beads having an average diameter not lower than 0.2 .mu.m and having been prepared by polymerization of a ethylenically unsaturated monomer and (iv) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said receiving layer. The invention also relates to a method for making lithographic plates with said imaging element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithographic base comprising on a hydrophobic support a subbing layer and a hydrophilic layer containing a hydrophilic (co)polymer or (co)polymer mixture and being hardened with a hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate crosslinking agent characterized in that said subbing layer contains a hydrophilic binder and silica, the surface area of the silica being at least 300 m.sup.2 per gram.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithographic base comprising on a hydrophobic support a subbing layer contiguous to a hydrophilic layer containing a hydrophilic (co)polymer or (co)polymer mixture and being hardened with a hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate crosslinking agent characterized in that said subbing layer contains a hydrophilic binder and silica and is applied at a solids content of more than 200 mg per m.sup.2 but less than 750 mg per m.sup.2.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising in the order given (i) a hydrophilic grained and anodized aluminum support with an aluminum oxide barrier layer of at least 10 nm thickness, (ii) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei in an amount of at least 0.7 mg/m.sup.2 and (iii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer. The invention also relates to a method for making lithographic plates with said imaging element.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on a support in the order given, a hydrophilic layer containing a hydrophilic (co)polymer or (co)polymer mixture and being hardened with a hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate crosslinking agent and a light sensitive layer containing a diazo resin or a diazonium salt characterized in that an intermediate hydrophilic layer containing an organic compound having one or more cationic groups is provided between said hydrophilic layer and said light-sensitive layer. There is further provided a method for making such an imaging element and a method for making a lithographic printing plate therewith.