Patent ID: 8665489

Claim:
A light controlled laser imaging method comprising: exposing a surface layer of an imaging member substrate to a first expose source to render the surface layer uniformly hydrophilic, wherein the surface layer comprises a compound having reversible light controlled wettability whereby the surface layer is reversibly hydrophilic and hydrophobic; exposing the surface layer to a second expose source in an image-wise fashion to render image areas of the surface layer hydrophobic; wherein the first expose source is an ultra-violet light expose source, and wherein the second expose source is a visible light expose source; exposing the surface layer to a polar liquid wherein the polar liquid attracts to non-image hydrophilic areas; exposing the surface layer to a hydrophobic liquid colorant wherein the hydrophobic liquid colorant attracts to hydrophobic image areas; contacting the surface layer with an image receiving substrate to transfer the image thereto; fixing the image; and optionally, treating the surface layer to remove residual hydrophobic liquid colorant.