Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate comprising on a support having a hydrophilic surface a photosensitive layer and a thermosensitive layer, said thermosensitive layer being opaque to light for which said photosensitive layer has spectral sensitivity and said thermosensitive layer being capable of rendered transparent upon exposure to laser light characterised in that an intermediate layer being soluble or swellable in an aqueous medium is provided between said photosensitive layer and said thermosensitive layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on a hydrophilic base a hydrophobic photopolymerizable composition capable of being irradiated with actinic light through the support and/or through the front and containing a photopolymerizable composition characterized in that a water-swellable barrier layer comprising at least one non-proteinic water-soluble film-forming polymer is located between said hydrophilic base and said hydrophobic photopolymerizable composition, contiguous to the hydrophilic base and is coated at a ratio of 0.01 to 2.0 g/m2, said water-swellable barrier layer being capable of being peeled off of said hydrophilic base by dry development.