Abstract: A developing solution includes at least one of a compound represented by formula (I) and a compound represented by formula (II) and being at pH 2 to 10: wherein, in the formula (I) and (II), R1 to R10 each independently represent one of a hydrogen atom an alkyl group; “l” represents an integer of 1 to 3; and X1 and X2 each independently represent one of a sulfonate salt, a sulfate monoester salt, a carboxylate salt and a phosphate salt, provided that the total sum of the carbon atoms in R1 to R5 and the total sum of the carbon atoms in R6 to R10, respectively is 3 or more.

Abstract: A method of on-press developing a high-speed laser sensitive lithographic printing plate with ink and/or fountain solution is described. The printing member comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser. The plate is exposed with a laser and on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution. At least a portion of the on-press development is performed with the plate under a yellow-red light or in substantial darkness.

Abstract: A device as well as method for treating without developing an imagewise exposed lithographic printing plate is disclosed. The device comprises a structure for providing a treating solution to the exposed plate. The exposed plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer having hardened areas and non-hardened areas (for negative plate) or solubilized areas and non-solubilized areas (for positive plate). The non-hardened or solubilized areas of said photosensitive layer is removable with ink and/or fountain solution on a lithographic press. The treatment of the imagewise exposed plate allows one or more enhanced properties for the plate before on-press development, such as improved white light stability, enhanced or formation of visible image, improved hydrophilicity, or improved on-press developability.

Abstract: There is provided a lithographic printing plate substrate comprising (a) a base layer, (b) a layer of a first adhesive covering one side of the base layer except for at least two opposite edges thereof, and (c) an aluminum layer laminated onto the layer of first adhesive and said opposite edges of the base layer, the aluminum layer thereby being sealed with the base layer at said opposite edges of the base layer. There is also provided a method of manufacture thereof as well as a method of processing in view of recycling. Finally, there is provided a lithographic printing plate comprising the above substrate.

Abstract: A method of on-press developing a high-speed laser sensitive lithographic printing plate with ink and/or fountain solution is described. The printing member comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser. The plate is exposed with a laser and on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution. At least a portion of the on-press development is performed with the plate under a yellow-red light or in substantial darkness, and at least a portion of the lithographic printing is performed under white light.

Abstract: The lithographic printing plate support includes an aluminum plate and an anodized film formed on the aluminum plate and micropores extend in the anodized film in a depth direction from its surface opposite from the aluminum plate. Each of the micropores includes a large-diameter portion having a predetermined shape and a small-diameter portion having a predetermined shape. The lithographic printing plate support has excellent scratch resistance and is capable of obtaining a presensitized plate which exhibits excellent on-press developability and enables a lithographic printing plate formed therefrom to have a long press life, and excellent deinking ability in continued printing and after suspended printing.

Abstract: Negative-working imageable elements are prepared with radiation-sensitive imageable layers that contain surface-modified silica particles such as fumed silica particles and sol-gel silica particles, that are present in an amount of from about 1 to about 40 weight %, have an average particle size of from about 1 to about 500 nm, have surface hydroxy groups, and have a carbon content of from about 0.5 to about 15 weight % that is derived from surface hydrophobic groups having 1 to 30 carbon atoms. The presence of the surface-modified silica particles provides improved abrasion resistance, reduced tackiness, and various other desired properties.

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 photosensitive laminated original printing plate for letterpress printing that does not contaminate developers, being capable of suppressing a cost increase due to developer replacement and is of high quality; and a process for producing a letterpress printing plate using the photosensitive laminated original printing plate for letterpress printing.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising: a support; and at least one layer comprising an image-recording layer, the image-recording layer comprising (A) an infrared absorber, (B) a polymerization initiator, (C) a polymerizable compound, and (D) a binder polymer, wherein the image recording layer is capable of being removed with at least one of a printing ink and a fountain solution, wherein at least one of said at least one layer comprises a copolymer having (a1) a unit comprising at least one ethylenically unsaturated bond, and (a2) a unit comprising at least one functional group interacting with a surface of the support. And a lithographic printing method in which the lithographic printing plate precursor is used. The copolymer preferably has a hydrophilic segment. The copolymer preferably is contained in an undercoat layer formed between the support and the image-recording layer.

Abstract: Described are systems and methods for formation of templates having alignment marks with high contrast material. High contrast material may be positioned within recesses of alignment marks.

Abstract: Permeability transitions rather than ablation mechanisms facilitate selective removal of the imaging layer of a lithographic plate, which allows for imaging with low-power lasers that need not impart ablation-inducing energy levels.

Abstract: Permeability transitions rather than ablation mechanisms facilitate selective removal of the imaging layer of a lithographic plate, which allows for imaging with low-power lasers that need not impart ablation-inducing energy levels.

Abstract: There is provided a lithographic printing plate precursor that enables image recording using a laser and that provides an excellent scumming resistance and an excellent developability while maintaining a satisfactory printing durability. Also provided are a platemaking method, and a novel polymerizable monomer. A lithographic printing plate precursor has a support, and an image recording layer disposed thereon and containing a radical polymerization initiator and a polymerizable monomer that has a sulfonamide group and at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups; a lithographic printing plate platemaking method uses this lithographic printing plate precursor; and a polymerizable monomer has a sulfonamide group and at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups.

Abstract: According to a method of preparing a lithographic printing plate comprising processing a lithographic printing plate precursor having a photosensitive layer containing a hexaarylbiimidazole compound and a protective layer with a developer containing a specific organic solvent and at least any of a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer compound, the occurrence of development scum is prevented and both good developing property and printing durability can be achieved. Further, since it becomes possible to conduct one bath processing with a weak alkaline developer, advantages, for example, simplification of processing steps, consideration for global environment and adaptation for space saving and low running cost can be achieved.

Abstract: Process for the production of a lithographic printing plate, comprising (a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising (i) a substrate; (ii) a radiation-sensitive coating comprising one or more layers and (iii) optionally an oxygen-impermeable overcoat; (b) image-wise exposing the lithographic printing plate precursor to radiation of a wavelength to which the radiation-sensitive coating is sensitive; (c) optionally subjecting the image-wise exposed precursor to a preheat treatment and/or rinsing with water; (d) removing the non-image areas from the image-wise exposed precursor by means of an alkaline developer solution; (e) optionally subjecting the imaged precursor obtained in step (d) to rinsing with water; (f) treating the imaged lithographic printing plate obtained in step (d) or (e) with a finisher solution; and (g) optionally subjecting the finisher treated plate obtained in step (f) to at least one further process step selected from rinsing with water, drying and baking; characterized

Abstract: According to a method of preparing a lithographic printing plate substantially comprising a step of imagewise exposing a negative lithographic printing plate precursor having an image-recording layer containing (i) a sensitizing dye, (ii) a photopolymerization initiator, (iii) an addition polymerizable compound having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond and (iv) a binder polymer on a support and a step of processing the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor with an aqueous solution containing a carbonate ion, a hydrogen carbonate ion and a surfactant, the processing property is improved, a printing plate free from the tackiness on the surface thereof can be provided, even when the printing plate is stored after the development until printing, deterioration of the printing durability does not occur, and it becomes possible to conduct one solution development with a weak alkaline processing solution.

Abstract: Wet lithographic printing members for imaging by an inkjet printer using pigment-based aqueous ink and method for calibrating the amount of the inkjet ink to be injected in solid areas of an image are disclosed. An exemplary printing member can be a lithographic printing plate that comprises a base substrate and a top hydrophilic coating layer having a thickness in the range of 2 to 10 microns above the base substrate. A volume of 10 nl/mm2 or less of inkjet ink is used in order to image areas in which the image is solid. Further, areas of the top hydrophilic coating layer, which are imagewise covered by aqueous pigmented inkjet ink, become hydrophobic.

Abstract: A method for gumming a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of a) providing a lithographic printing plate including a lithographic image consisting of printing areas and non-printing areas, and b) jetting a gum solution with an inkjet printer to produce a hydrophilic protective layer on the non-printing areas. An inkjet printer includes a gum solution for producing a hydrophilic protective layer on the non-printing areas and a fluid for the formation of the printing areas of a lithographic image on a lithographic printing plate precursor.

Abstract: High speed violet or ultraviolet laser sensitive lithographic printing plate comprising on a hydrophilic substrate a specific photosensitive composition is described. The photosensitive layer comprises an alkaline soluble polymeric binder, a multifunctional (meth)acrylate monomer, a free-radical initiator, and a sensitizing dye. The plate is imagewise exposed with a violet or ultraviolet laser at a dosage of less than 300 ?J/cm2, and then developed with an aqueous alkaline developer. Higher monomer to polymer weight ratio is advantageously used. A pigment is preferably incorporated into the photosensitive coating solution as a liquid dispersion. The exposed plate is preferably developed on a processor with an alkaline developer coupled with a replenisher having higher pH.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a silicone rubber like material and a printing device including a stamp layer (100;201) comprising such a material. The material is suitable for use in soft lithography as it enables stable features having mensions in the nanometer range to be obtained on a substrate, and also allows for the accommodation onto rough and non-flat substrate surfaces. The invention also relates to methods for manufacturing the silicone rubber like material and stamp layer (100;201) and use thereof in lithographic processes.

Abstract: A plate carries a solvent-soluble, radiation-polymerizable, oleophilic resin coating non-ionically adhered on a hydrophilic substrate, which can be imagewise exposed to polymerizing radiation and then directly processed by the application of disruptive mechanical forces such as compression or tension to remove the unimaged areas as undissolved particles, using pressurized water and brushing pre-press, or the tack of the ink on-press.

Abstract: A substrate table or a patterning device support includes an aerogel. The aerogel may be very light weight, for example the aerogel may have a density between 0.5 and 500 mg/cm3, preferably between 1 and 100 mg/cm3 and most preferably between 1 and 10 mg/cm3. The aerogel may be made from a silica gel. The aerogel made from silica gel may have a density of 1.9 mg/cm3 and if the air out of the aerogel is evacuated even 1 mg/cm3.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic aluminum printing plate support comprising the steps of (i) graining said support by applying a charge density x; (ii) desmutting the grained support; (iii) graining the desmutted support by applying a charge density y; (iv) anodizing the support; characterized in that during each graining step a current density varying between 80 and 250 A/dm2 is applied and that the ratio x/x+y varies between 0.3 and 0.7.

Abstract: An ink composition includes (A) a polymerization initiator; (B) an ester or amide of a mono-functional (meth)acrylic acid having an alkylene oxide repeating unit in a molecule; and (C) a colorant, and preferably further includes (E) a sensitizing dye.

Abstract: A photosensitive planographic printing plate comprising a substrate and a photosensitive layer including a photopolymerizable compound, wherein the photosensitive layer and the substrate are provided between them with an undercoat layer including a (co)polymer having structural units having ethylenically unsaturated groups bonded with silicon atoms and phosphonic acid groups.

Abstract: A method for providing a lithographic printing plate includes developing an exposed imageable element with an alkali silicate-containing developer composition having a pH of at least 12.0. The developer composition is regenerated by adding to it an alkali silicate-containing regenerator composition having a pH of at least 12.0. Conductivity of both the developer and regenerator compositions is suppressed from the presence of one or more conductivity reducing agents (such as glycerin). This conductivity suppression in the developer composition is greater than the suppression of the conductivity of the regenerator composition.

Abstract: An immersion type automatic developing apparatus for a lithographic printing plate in which removal of a non-image area is conducted in a state where a lithographic printing plate precursor having on a support an image-recording layer exposed imagewise is immersed in a developing bath filled with an aqueous solution containing a carbonate ion, a hydrogen carbonate ion and a water-soluble polymer compound, wherein a developer composed of the aqueous solution is circulated between the immersion type developing bath forming a processing pass line and an external tank provided outside the processing path line so as to keep constant a liquid level of the immersion type developing bath.

Abstract: A device as well as method for deactivating without developing an exposed lithographic printing plate is disclosed. The device comprises a structure for providing a deactivating agent that is capable of deactivating without developing the plate. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer capable of hardening (for negative plate) or solubilization (for positive plate) upon exposure to a radiation, and becoming incapable of or having reduced rate of hardening or solubilization after contacting with a deactivating agent. The deactivated plate is safe or has better stability at room lighting, and can be handled under room lighting before and during development. The development can be on press with ink and/or fountain solution or off press with a liquid developer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for plate-making of a lithographic printing original plate having excellent restart toning recovery properties, and particularly an infrared-sensitive positive working lithographic printing original plate. The present invention relates to a method for plate-making of a lithographic printing original plate comprising an intermediate layer containing a polymer having a phosphonic acid group or a phosphoric acid group disposed between a substrate and an image recording layer, the method comprising the steps of image-wise exposing the lithographic printing original plate, developing, and treating using a plate surface protective solution containing a starch having an onium group.

Abstract: Excellent development of planographic printing plates can be achieved by exposing an imaged, negative working, photopolymerizable coating to a high pressure stream of essentially heated but otherwise untreated tap water, whereby the water completely removes only the less cohesive and adhesive (e.g., partially polymerized) regions to the substrate, thereby directly producing a printing plate having an image pattern of highly cohesive and adhesive, oleophilic regions of the coating and hydrophilic regions of the substrate. The coating removal mechanism appears to be due entirely to ablation. The process variables of spray pressure, spray volumetric flow rate, and water temperature can be traded off to achieve one or more targets for plate quality, energy conservation, production rate, and equipment availability.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support, with a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and a coating provided thereon, the coating including an image-recording layer which includes thermoplastic particles; exposing the precursor to heat or infrared radiation; and developing the exposed precursor in an alkaline aqueous solution; wherein the alkaline aqueous solution includes at least 0.05 g/l of lithium ions.

Abstract: According to the methods of the present invention, energy loss and yield loss can be significantly reduced and the quality of the aluminum purity and the trace metal contents can be ensured even when used planographic printing plates are reused. A recycling material with deposited substances removed therefrom is melted in a melting furnace into a recycled molten metal. The analyzed result obtained by analyzing the recycled molten metal is used to determine the mix proportions of the recycled molten metal, a fresh metal ingot, and a trace metal master alloy to be inputted into a pre-rolling melting furnace. The produced recycled molten metal in the molten state is inputted into the pre-rolling melting furnace to be mixed with the fresh metal ingot and the trace metal master alloy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the alignment of printing plate (14) mounted on an imaging drum (12), and applying an image to a printing plate while maintaining registration and alignment between the image and a reference edge (15) of the printing plate include mounting the printing plate on a plate-making machine (10) and then determining the locations of at least two points on the reference edge. The locations of two or more points are used to determine a transformation that is applied to image data to yield transformed image data (27). The transformed image data is used to image the printing plate. A method and apparatus for determining the locations of the points using backlighting avoids errors encountered in illuminating from the top.

Abstract: In order to improve a method for producing a structure of polymerisation picture points (9) in a light-sensitive layer (2) of printing plates (3), in particular flexo-printing plates, as an image of picture data composed from a matrix (17) of picture points, by way of structured exposure with a light source, to the extent that an improved tonal range of the print picture is achieved and simultaneously that the manufacturing time is reduced, it is suggested for each polymerisation picture point (9) to be produced by an individual exposure sequence (6, 8, 11) which on the one hand is selected in dependence on the surface density of the polymerisation picture points (9) to be set at the location (A, B, C, D) of the polymerisation picture point (9) and one the other hand in dependence on the picture data.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising the steps of: (i) providing a grained and anodized aluminum support; (ii) treating the support with an aqueous solution comprising a salt of zirconium; (iii) treating the support with an aqueous solution comprising a compound comprising a phosphonic acid group and/or an ester or a salt thereof; (iv) applying a coating comprising hydrophobic particles and a binder; (v) drying said coating.

Abstract: A method of treating a laser exposed lithographic printing plate with a deactivating solution followed by overall irradiation is described. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer capable of photo hardening. The deactivating solution is capable of deactivating the photo hardening capability of the photosensitive layer in the non-hardened areas so that the overall irradiation does not cause hardening of the photosensitive layer in the non-hardened areas. The deactivation and overall irradiation cause one or more chemical or physical changes to the photosensitive layer, such as further hardening of the imaged areas, improved contrast, improved developability, or improved substrate hydrophilicity. The overall irradiated plate is further developed on press with ink and/or fountain solution or off press with a developer. For off-press development, the developer may be used as the deactivating solution.

Abstract: Process for the posttreatment of an imaged lithographic printing plate comprising (a) providing a lithographic printing plate comprising image areas and non-image areas on a lithographic substrate; (b) bringing the lithographic printing plate of step (a) into contact with a solution comprising a hydrophilic polymer comprising structural units derived from the following compounds: (i) a compound comprising both polyalkylene oxide chains and at least one structural unit which is free-radical polymerizable, and (ii) a monomer capable of copolymerizing with the free-radical polymerizable structural unit of (i) and furthermore comprising at least one acidic functional group with pKs<5, wherein the acidic functional group can be present as a free acid group or in the form of a salt; (c) drying.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring a print manufacturing process which may include a raster image processor for imaging proofs, plates and press sheets for a printing press based on raster and vector data and generating a two-dimensional barcode where the data is translated into a homogenous messaging format, a plate imager for imaging a printing plate based on the data received from the raster image processor wherein the printing plate also comprises a two-dimensional barcode, a computer-to-plate device capable of transmitting the data from the raster image processor to the plate imager where the two-dimensional barcode is utilized to monitor the printing plate during the print manufacturing process and/or to image replacement printing plates.

Abstract: A method for preparing a lithographic printing plate comprising: exposing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a hydrophilic support, a photosensitive layer containing (A) a sensitizing dye having an absorption maximum in a wavelength range of from 350 to 450 nm represented by the formula (I) or (II) as defined herein, (B) a polymerization initiator, (C) a polymerizable compound and (D) a hydrophobic binder polymer having an acid value of 0.3 meq/g or less and a protective layer provided in this order with a laser beam of from 350 to 450 nm; and rubbing a surface of the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor with a rubbing member in a presence of a developer having pH of from 2 to 10 in an automatic processor equipped with the rubbing member to remove the protective layer and an unexposed area of the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: To provide a development system for lithographic printing plate precursors using a neutral developer, capable of preventing the non-image area of the resulting printing plates from being stained. In developing a lithographic printing plate precursor with a neutral developer having a pH of from 5.8 to 8.6, ultrasonic waves and/or an electric current are imparted to the neutral developer.

Abstract: Inkwells adapted for use in direct-write nanolithography and other applications including use of wells, channels, and posts. The wells can possess a geometry which matches the geometry of tips which are dipped into the inkwells. The channels can be open or closed. Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be used to control ink flow. SEM can be used to characterize the inkwells. Ink flow can be monitored with video. Hydrophobic material layers can be used to prevent cross contamination. Microsyringes can be used to fill reservoirs. Satellite reservoirs can be used to prevent bubble formation.

Abstract: To provide a lithographic printing plate precursor capable of obtaining a plenty of sheets of good printed matters with practical energy dosage, which is excellent in on-press developing property and press life, and capable of reducing pollution of fountain solution, and provide a lithographic printing method. The lithographic printing plate precursor comprises a support having provided thereon an image-recording layer, which lithographic printing plate precursor is mounted on a printing press and imagewise exposed, or mounted on the printing press after imagewise exposure, and then developed by feeding printing ink and/or a fountain solution, wherein at least a part of the unexposed part of the image-recording layer is not dissolved in the printing ink, the fountain solution or both of them, and removed by falling out of film, and the invention provides a lithographic printing method using the same.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a CTP positive working lithographic printing original plate capable of developing using a negative developing solution. The present invention provides a positive working lithographic printing original plate having (1) a substrate thereon (2) a lower layer containing a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin and a photothermal conversion material, and (3) an uppermost layer containing a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin, wherein the lower layer contains (a) a polymer having a perfluoroalkyl group and/or (b) a polymer having a siloxane group.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor having a good press life with a practical energy amount, which can be on-press developed without passing through a development processing step after recording an image by a laser of emitting an infrared ray, is provided, which is a lithographic printing plate precursor capable of performing a development and printing by loading on a printing press after imagewise exposure and supplying an oily ink and an aqueous component, the lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support and an image recording layer, wherein the image recording layer comprises (A) a polymerization initiator, (B) a polymerizable monomer, (C) a binder polymer, and (D) a crosslinked resin particle having a reactive group or (F) a microcapsule containing a polymerizable monomer in the capsule wall, and the image recording layer is imagewise polymerization-curable upon irradiation of actinic ray.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor includes an image-recording layer and a support, and the image-recording layer contains: (A) at least one compound selected from compounds represented by the following formulae (1) and (2); and (B) an infrared absorbing agent: wherein R1 and R2 each represents Ra—SO3—, Ra—CO2— or Ra—OCO2—, Ra represents a monovalent organic group, R3 to R12 each represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent, or adjacent two of R3 to R12 may be combined with each other to form a ring, X1, Y1 and Z1 and X2, Y2 and Z2 each represents an atomic group necessary to form a thiazole ring, an oxazole ring, an imidazole ring, a triazole ring or a 3H-indole ring, provided that one nitrogen atom of the imidazole ring is connected to a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group.

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 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: An imaged and developed element, such as a lithographic printing plate, is provided by infrared radiation imaging of a negative-working imagable element having an outermost imagable layer that includes a free radically polymerizable component, a free radical initiator composition comprising a diaryliodonium borate, and an infrared radiation absorbing compound. The imagable layer also includes a polymeric binder that is represented by the following Structure (I): -(A)w-(A?)w?-??(I) wherein A represents recurring units comprising a pendant reactive vinyl group, A? represents recurring units other than those represented by A, w is from about 1 to about 70 mol %, and w? is from about 30 to about 99 mol %. The imagewise exposed element is developed with a gum to remove only the non-exposed regions. The gum has a pH greater than 7 and up to about 11 and at least 1 weight % of an anionic surfactant.

Abstract: A method of developing a laser sensitive lithographic printing plate with ink and/or fountain solution is described. The printing member comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser. The plate is exposed with a laser, deactivated, and then on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution. Alternatively, the plate is developed with ink and/or fountain solution or the like off press, and then mounted on press for lithographic printing. The deactivation or off-press development allows the plate to be handled on press under white light or other light which is unsafe for a non-deactivated plate.