Patent ID: 7179583

Claim:
A method of preventing premature curing of cut surfaces of a photosensitive printing element, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a photosensitive printing element; b) cutting the photosensitive printing element in a pattern of a desired size and shape for mounting on a sleeve or cylindrical carrier; and c) applying an edge-covering composition to cover the cut surfaces of the printing element, wherein the edge-covering composition is an emulsion comprising an oily phase and an aqueous phase, said emulsion comprising: (i) water; (ii) at least one oil; (iii) one or more emulsifiers; (iv) one or more ultraviolet radiation-absorbing materials; (v) optionally, a coloring agent; and (vi) optionally, one or more additives selected from the group consisting of thickeners, preservatives, stabilizers, viscosity modifiers, pH modifiers, surfactants rheology modifiers, polymers, and combinations of the foregoing.