Patent ID: 8198010

Claim:
A lithographic printing member capable of recording an image defined by regions exhibiting differential affinities for ink and/or fountain solution, the printing member comprising: a water-insoluble hydrophilic topmost layer having a thickness and a surface, and comprising a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer that resists degradation by aqueous printing fluids and a silicone surfactant, the surfactant being present throughout the topmost layer and at the surface thereof; an imaging layer that ablatively absorbs imaging radiation and to which the topmost layer is bonded, ablative absorption of radiation by the imaging layer de-anchoring the topmost layer wherein the imaging layer comprises at least one ceramic layer and at least metal layer; and an oleophilic layer beneath the imaging and topmost layers, the topmost layer being capable of adsorbing an aqueous liquid to resist application of ink and the oleophilic layer being capable of receiving and transferring ink.