Method for making lithographic printing plates according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process

摘要

The present invention provides a method for making an offset printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of: (a) image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising (i) a hydrophilic base, (ii) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (iii) an intermediate layer, and (iv) a silver halide emulsion layer, (b) applying an aqueous alkaline solution to the imaging element in the presence of (a) developing agent(s) and (a) silver halide solvent(s) to form image-wise in said image receiving layer a silver image, (c) treating the imaging element to remove the layer(s) on top of said image receiving layer, characterized in that said imaging element has been stored before image-wise exposure in a surrounding having at 22 DEG C. a relative humidity between 20% and 50%. According to the present invention there is also provided a package of the imaging element, making said imaging element suitable for use in the above defined method.