Patent ID: 8875629

Claim:
A method of printing with an ablation-type printing member having a silicone topmost layer, the method comprising the steps of: (a) selectively exposing the printing member to imaging radiation so as to effect imagewise ablation of the imaging layer and consequent de-anchoring of the topmost layer to thereby create, on the printing member, an image region including ablation debris; (b) without further exposure to imaging radiation, subjecting the printing member to a first cleaning liquid that is not a solvent for silicone to remove a portion of the ablation debris; (c) following step (b), subjecting the printing member to a second cleaning liquid that comprises or consists essentially of a solvent for silicone, thereby creating an imagewise lithographic pattern on the printing member; (d) following the removal step, applying a high-solids ink to the printing member; and (e) transferring the applied ink from the printing member to a recording medium, wherein neither first cleaning liquid nor the second cleaning liquid is ink.