Patent ID: 7977031

Claim:
A method of lithographically printing images on a receiving medium, comprising in order: (a) providing a lithographic plate comprising (i) a substrate, (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, and (iii) a water soluble or dispersible overcoat; (b) imagewise exposing said plate with said laser to cause hardening of said photosensitive layer in the exposed areas; (c) removing said overcoat from said plate by brushing or rubbing the overcoated side of said plate with a brushing or rubbing means while in contact with water or an aqueous solution; wherein said brushing or rubbing means is a brush roller, a cloth-covered roller, a molleton-covered roller, or a rubber roller; and wherein said roller rotates; (d) mounting said plate on a lithographic press; and (e) contacting said plate with ink and/or fountain solution on said lithographic press to remove the photosensitive layer in the non-hardened areas and to lithographically print images from said plate to the receiving medium.