A heat mode recording material and method for producing driographic printing plates

摘要

The present invention provides a method for making a lithographic printing plate requiring no dampening liquid comprising the steps of: image-wise exposing using a laser beam a heat mode recording material comprising on a support having an oleophilic surface (i) a recording layer having a thickness of not more than 3 mu m and containing a substance capable of converting the laser beam radiation into heat and (ii) a cured oleophobic surface layer and wherein said recording layer and oleophobic surface layer may be the same layer; rubbing the exposed heat mode recording material thereby removing said oleophobic surface layer in the exposed areas so that the underlying oleophilic surface is exposed and avoiding the swelling of said oleophobic surface layer by carrying out said rubbing without the use of a liquid or with the use of a non-solvent for said oleophobic surface layer.