Patent ID: 7427465

Claim:
A method of lithographically printing images on a receiving medium, comprising in order: (a) providing a lithographic plate comprising (i) a substrate, and (ii) a photosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser having a wavelength selected from 200 to 1200 nm; said photosensitive layer exhibiting an affinity or aversion substantially opposite to the affinity or aversion of said substrate to at least one printing liquid selected front the group consisting of ink and an adhesive fluid for ink; (b) imagewise exposing said plate with said laser through a flatbed imager mounted on a lithographic press to cause hardening of the photosensitive layer in the exposed areas, wherein said plate is under a lighting that contains no or substantially no radiation below a wavelength selected from 400 to 650 nm or in darkness or substantial darkness during said imagewise exposure; (c) developing said exposed plate with ink and/or fountain solution on said lithographic press to remove the photosensitive layer in the non-hardened areas, wherein said press is in a pressroom with white room light and is shielded with covers that are non-transparent or only transparent to yellow or red light so that said plate is under a lighting that contains no or substantially no radiation below a wavelength selected from 400 to 650 nm or in darkness or substantial darkness during said development; and (d) lithographically printing images from said plate to the receiving medium.