Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed comprising the steps of a. providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, a photopolymerizable coating comprising a photopolymerizable composition, and an overcoat layer comprising a water soluble low molecular weight acid, wherein said overcoat layer has a surface pH-value ranging between 1 to 6; b. image-wise exposing the precursor; c. optionally heating the exposed precursor; d. processing the obtained precursor by applying a gum solution and optionally brushing the precursor, and/or by mounting the precursor on a plate cylinder of a lithographic printing press and rotating the plate cylinder while feeding dampening liquid and/or ink to the coating.

Abstract: A method of preparing a lithographic printing plate in which no pre-heat step is used comprising the steps of:—providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support and a photopolymerizable image-recording layer, the image-recording layer comprising a monomer and a binder;—image-wise exposing the precursor in an exposure unit;—off press developing the exposed precursor with an aqueous solution in a processing unit; characterized in that the ratio of the total amount of monomer to the total amount of binder is at least 1 and the time lapse between exposing an image-area of the precursor and contacting the image-area with the aqueous solution is at least 1 minute.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter, c) optionally, heating the precursor in a preheating unit, and d) developing the precursor off-press in a gumming unit by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the coating from the support, wherein the coating further includes a compound capable of interacting with the support, the compound being present in the photopolymerizable layer and/or in the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: (1) providing a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor including on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, a heat-sensitive coating, (2) image-wise exposing the precursor with IR-radiation or heat, and (3) developing the image-wise exposed precursor with an alkaline developing solution including a compound having at least two onium groups. According to the above method, a printing plate is formed with an improved developing latitude or an improved exposure latitude.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer, a top layer, and optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator, and a binder; b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter; c) optionally, heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit; d) washing the precursor in a pre-washing station by applying water or an aqueous solution to the coating, thereby removing at least a portion of the top layer; and e) developing the precursor in a gumming station by applying a gum solution to the coating of the precursor, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support and gumming the plate in a single ste

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator and a binder, b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter, c) heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit within a time period of less than 10 minutes after step (b), d) treating the precursor in a gumming station, including at least one gumming unit, whereby a gum solution is applied to the precursor, thereby removing non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support and gumming the plate in a single step.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor includes a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, a heat-sensitive coating including an IR absorbing agent, a phenolic resin, and a first polymer, wherein the first polymer is an alkaline soluble polymer including a monomeric unit having a structure according to Formula I or Formula II, wherein at least one of the aromatic groups Ar1 and Ar2 is an optionally substituted heteroaromatic group:

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator, and a binder, b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter, c) heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit, d) treating the precursor in a gumming station, including at least a first gumming unit, by applying a gum solution to the coating of the precursor, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support, and wherein the steps (c) and (d) are carried out off-press in the pre-heating unit and the first gumming unit, and the pre-heating unit and the first gumming unit are coupled to each o

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including an imaging layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the imaging layer and the support, wherein the imaging layer includes a switchable polymer, b) image-wise exposing the coating, whereby the polymer undergoes a chemical reaction induced by the exposing step thereby creating a lithographic image consisting of printing areas and non-printing areas wherein the non-printing areas are removable from the support by a gum solution, and c) developing the precursor by treating the coating of the precursor with the gum solution thereby removing the non-printing areas.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of providing a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor including on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, a heat-sensitive coating; image-wise exposing the precursor with IR-radiation or heat; and developing the image-wise exposed precursor with an alkaline developing solution, wherein an anti-sludge agent is present in the precursor or in the developing solution or in the precursor and the developing solution, and wherein the anti-sludge agent is a 5-membered heteroaromatic compound, including —NH— group wherein the hydrogen is capable of being deprotonated in the alkaline developing solution, selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted benztriazole, 1,2,3-triazole, tetrazole, or indazole compound. According to the above method, the formation of sludge is inhibited or reduced.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound and a polymerization initiator, b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter, c) optionally, heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit, d) developing the precursor off-press in a gumming unit by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support, wherein the photopolymerizable layer further includes a polymer containing an acid group and a basic nitrogen-containing compound capable of neutralizing the acid group, or wherein the photopolymerizable layer furt

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator, and a reactive binder; b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter; c) optionally, heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit; d) developing the precursor off-press in a gumming unit by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support, wherein the reactive binder is a polymer containing a monomeric unit which includes a group having an ethylenically unsaturated bond.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer, a top layer and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator, and a binder, b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter, c) optionally, heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit, and d) treating the precursor in a gumming station, the gumming station including a first and at least a second gumming unit, wherein the precursor is washed in the first gumming unit by applying a gum solution to the coating thereby removing at least a portion of the top layer, and wherein, subsequently, the precursor is developed in the second gumming unit with a gum solution thereby removing

Abstract: A method of preparing a lithographic printing plate in which no pre-heat step is used comprising the steps of:—providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support and a photopolymerizable image-recording layer, the image-recording layer comprising a monomer and a binder;—image-wise exposing the precursor in an exposure unit;—off press developing the exposed precursor with an aqueous solution in a processing unit; characterized in that the ratio of the total amount of monomer to the total amount of binder is at least 1 and the time lapse between exposing an image-area of the precursor and contacting the image-area with the aqueous solution is at least 1 minute.

Abstract: A method of preparing a lithographic printing plate including the steps of providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a photopolymerizable coating provided on a hydrophilic support;—image-wise exposing the precursor;—pre-heating the exposed precursor;—developing the exposed precursor in a gum solution; wherein after pre-heating and before developing the precursor an accelerated cooling of the precursor is carried out and the cooling does not essentially remove a part of the coating of the precursor.

Abstract: The method of preparing a lithographic printing plate precursor according to the present invention comprises the steps of: providing an aluminum support; graining and anodizing the aluminum support; without applying a hydrophilic layer on the anodized aluminum support, coating a composition which is photopolymerizable upon absorption of light having a wavelength in the range of from 350 nm to 450 nm and comprising a polymerizable monomer or oligomer, a binder and a photo-initiator on the grained and anodized aluminum support to form a photopolymerizable layer; coating an overcoat on the photopolymerizable layer; characterized in that the ratio of the total solid amount of polymerizable monomer and oligomer to the total solid amount of binder is from 1.0 to 2.0.

Abstract: A method for making a heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor including the steps of providing a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and applying onto the support a coating solution including an infrared absorbing agent, hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, a hydrophilic binder, and a polymer including siloxane and/or perfluoroalkyl monomeric units.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a photopolymerizable coating on said support, b) image-wise exposing said coating in a plate setter, c) developing the precursor, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the coating from the support, whereby the developing step is carried out off-press in a gumming unit by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of providing a printing plate precursor including a support and photosensitive coating wherein the photosensitive coating includes a photopolymerizable composition; image wise exposing the printing plate precursor on an external drum apparatus emitting one or more scanning laser beams having a wavelength between 390 nm and 420 nm and an energy density, measured on the surface of the precursor, of 100 ?J/cm2 or less; optionally preheating the printing plate precursor; and processing the exposed printing plate precursor with a developer.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed comprising the steps of a. providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, a photopolymerizable coating comprising a photopolymerizable composition, and an overcoat layer comprising a water soluble low molecular weight acid, wherein said overcoat layer has a surface pH-value ranging between 1 to 6; b. image-wise exposing the precursor; c. optionally heating the exposed precursor; d. processing the obtained precursor by applying a gum solution and optionally brushing the precursor, and/or by mounting the precursor on a plate cylinder of a lithographic printing press and rotating the plate cylinder while feeding dampening liquid and/or ink to the coating.