Patent ID: 8445179

Claim:
A method for treating a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of: obtaining a printing plate by exposing to infrared light and developing a printing plate precursor including a coating including an infrared absorbing compound and an oleophilic resin which is soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer; and applying a liquid containing a surfactant to the printing plate, and the step of applying the liquid to the printing plate does not include applying the liquid as a fountain solution; wherein the surfactant includes at least one hydrophilic segment including polyglycerol, and at least one hydrophobic segment selected from an optionally substituted alkylene group, an alkyl or aryl substituted poly(meth)acrylate, an optionally substituted polyester, polyether, polyurethane, polycarbosilane, polysiloxane, polystyrene and/or a polymer including a perfluoroalkyl group; and the liquid does not chemically attack image areas on the printing plate.