摘要 |
A method for preparing a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of-providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including: a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer; and a coating provided on the support and including an image recording layer including hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles having an average particle size between about 40 nm and about 63 nm and a hydrophilic binder, the coating further including a pigment present in the image recording layer or in an additional layer of the coating, -image-wise exposing the coating, thereby inducing coalescence of the thermoplastic polymer particles at the exposed areas of the image recording layer; -developing the precursor by applying a gum solution to the coating, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the image recording layer from the support; and-optionally, baking the developed precursor; wherein the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle size between about 40 nm and about 63 nm; the amount of the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles is more than about 70% and less than about 85% by weight, relative to the image recording layers; and the pigment has a hydrophilic surface and provides a visible image after the image-wise exposing and developing with the gum solution. The lithographic printing plate precursor has an improved sensitivity, and the obtained lithographic printing plate exhibits an excellent clean-out, no toning, and a high printing run length.
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