Patent ID: 6085656
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: B41C

Abstract:
A method of imaging a lithographic printing member, the method comprising the steps of:a. providing a printing member having a printing surface and including (i) a first solid layer, (ii) an imaging layer comprising a polymeric matrix, (iii) a substrate underlying the imaging layer, and (iv) a material producing, in response to ablation of the imaging layer, debris having an affinity for an aqueous cleaning fluid that does not dissolve the first solid layer, the first layer and the substrate having different affinities for ink, the imaging layer, but not the first layer, comprising a material subject to ablative absorption of imaging radiation;b. selectively exposing, in a pattern representing an image, the printing surface to imaging radiation so as to ablate the imaging layer; andc. removing, with the aqueous cleaning fluid, remaining portions of the first and imaging layers where the printing member received radiation.