Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate according to silver salt diffusion transfer processing, said imaging element comprising on a support a silver halide emulsion layer and a receiving layer, said receiving layer comprising (i) physical development nuclei, (ii) an inorganic colloidal substance and (iii) a hydrophilic polymer being a homo- or copolymer of acrylamide or methacrylamide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the following steps:image-wise exposing with a high intensity-short time exposure an imaging element comprising on a support a photosensitive layer comprising at least one photosensitive silver halide emulsion comprising a heterocyclic compound containing at least one nitrogen atom in the ring and an image receiving layer comprising physical development nuclei in water permeable relationship with said photosensitive layer,developing said imaging element using an alkaline processing liquid in the presence of (a) developing agent(s) and (a) silver halide solvent(s),characterized in that said heterocyclic compound containing at least one nitrogen atom in the ring comprises at least one mercapto- or thione group and one substituent comprising at least 5 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of linear or branched alkyls, alkenyls, alkynyls, aralkyls and alkyl

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process using a photographic material comprising on a support a silver halide emulsion layer and a layer containing physical development nuclei comprising the steps of:image-wise exposing said photographic material;developing a thus obtained image-wise exposed photographic material by guiding said image-wise exposed photographic material through an alkaline processing liquid comprising a hydrophobizing agent, in 15s or less andsubsequently guiding a thus obtained developed photographic material through a stabilizing liquid;characterized in that said stabilizing liquid comprises a compound having a mercapto-group having a pK.sub.a of 4.5 or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on one side of a support a photosensitive layer comprising a silver halide emulsion and an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei in water permeable relationship with said emulsion layer and on the other side of the support at least one backing layer comprising gelatin and a dye and/or a dye precursor characterized in that said dye or dye precursor is such that after treatment of said imaging element in an alkaline solution with a pH of 10.9 for 20 s at a temperature of 30.degree. C. the backing layer has a reflection spectrum when treated for 20 s at 20.degree. C. in a neutralizing solution with a pH of 7.5 that is visually different from the reflection spectrum when treated for 20 s at 20.degree. C. in a neutralizing solution with a pH of 8.5.

Abstract: A kit of parts for preparing an alkaline processing liquid for use in preparing a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process, and comprising all necessary active compounds for preparing said alkaline processing liquid, said active compounds being contained in parts physically separated from each other, at least one of said parts comprising an inorganic alkali in solid form and at least one of said other parts comprising a hydrophobizing agent and being substantially free from inorganic alkali.

Abstract: A kit for preparing a processing liquid for use in preparing a lithographic printing plate according to silver salt diffusion transfer processing, and comprising all necessary active compounds for preparing said processing liquid, said active compounds including a solid hydrogensulphite amine complex or a solid sulphurdioxide amine complex, said amine of said complexes being capable of acting as a silver halide solvent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising on a support a photosensitive layer comprising silver halide emulsion(s) wherein less than 1 mole % of the silver halide is silver bromide and an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei and developing said imaging element using an alkaline processing liquid with a pH lower than 11.5 in the presence of developing agent(s) and a meso-ionic compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on the same side of a support in the order given a base layer, a light sensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion and a surface layer comprising physical development nuclei characterized in that said base layer and/or said light-sensitive layer comprises gelatin being hardened with a divinylsulfonyl hardener such that the time needed to completely brake down said base layer, light sensitive layer and surface layer using an aqueous solution of 0.14% by weight of NaOCl at 25.degree. C. is between 1000s and 1600s. A lithographic printing plate can be obtained with such imaging element according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process and exhibits an improved printing endurance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process using a photographic material comprising on a support a silver halide emulsion layer and a layer containing physical development nuclei comprising the steps of:image-wise exposing said photographic material anddeveloping a thus obtained image-wise exposed photographic material by guiding said image-wise exposed photographic material through an alkaline processing liquid in 15 s or less; characterized in that said alkaline processing liquid comprises a hydrophobizing compound having a mercapto group that has a pK.sub.a of 4.5 or less.