Patent ID: 7316894
Filing Date: 2008-01-08
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A method for treating an aqueous developer after developing at least a portion of one printing plate precursor, the aqueous developer comprising an organic solvent, a dispersing agent and a weak base, and having a pH between about 8 and less than about 13, the method comprising: adding to the aqueous developer an effective amount of an aqueous regenerator to maintain the activity of the aqueous developer, the aqueous regenerator comprising an organic solvent, a dispersing agent, and an effective amount of at least one strong base such that the regenerator has a greater pH than the developer, wherein the K wherein the aqueous regenerator has a pH at least 0.7 higher than the pH of the aqueous developer, and said printing plate precursor comprises a radiation-sensitive composition applied to a substrate, said radiation-sensitive composition comprising a plurality of layers including a first layer that is soluble in aqueous developer, and a second layer applied to said first layer, the second layer comprising a polymeric material that is not soluble in the aqueous developer.