Patent ID: 7157203
Filing Date: 2007-01-02
Classification: B41C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An image forming method for a planographic printing plate in which an image recording layer containing a thermally sensitive and thermally curable material is formed on an aluminium support, the method comprising: an exposure step of scanning exposing a planographic printing plate precursor with a laser beam so as to form a latent image in only an upper portion of the image recording layer, where the upper portion is approximately one third of the image recording layer in a thickness direction; a simplified water development step of leaving an image recording layer part in which the upper portion has been thermally cured by exposure and removing an unexposed image recording layer part which has not been thermally cured, in the planographic printing plate in which the latent image has been formed, and a heating step of heating the planographic printing plate after the simplified water development step such that the whole image recording layer part remaining on the surface of the aluminum support is uniformly cured and firmly fixed to the surface of the aluminum support.