Patent ID: 7829260

Claim:
A method of processing a lithographic printing plate, comprising in order: (a) providing a lithographic plate comprising (i) a hydrophilic substrate, and (ii) an oleophilic photosensitive layer capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser having a wavelength selected from 200 to 1200 nm; (b) imagewise exposing said plate with said laser to cause hardening of said photosensitive layer in the exposed areas, so as to form hardened areas in the exposed areas and non-hardened areas in the non-exposed areas; (c) contacting said plate with an aqueous developer on a developing processor, without developing said plate; wherein said developer is also capable of deactivating said photosensitive layer in the non-hardened areas; (d) while said plate is in contact with said developer, overall exposing said plate with said radiation from a radiation source equipped on said processor, without causing hardening of said non-hardened areas of the photosensitive layer; and (e) rubbing said plate while in contact with said developer to remove the non-hardened areas of said photosensitive layer.