Patent ID: 6637336
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: B41C,B41N,B41P

Abstract:
A method for making a reusable printing plate in which a hydrophobic image area is formed on at least a part of a hydrophilic surface containing a photocatalyst of the printing plate, comprising the steps of:carrying out a hydrophobic agent application process in which a solution, containing an organic compound having a property of reacting with or being fixed to the surface of said printing plate by a heating process and a property of being decomposed by the action of said photocatalyst when irradiated by light having a higher energy than a band gap energy of said photocatalyst, is applied as a hydrophobic agent on the surface of said printing plate; carrying out an image area formation process in which at least a part of the surface of said printing plate is subjected to a heating process to form said hydrophobic image area on at least part of said hydrophilic surface; and carrying out a non-image area formation process in which said organic compound applied to an area other than said hydrophobic image area on the surface of said printing plate is removed.