Patent ID: 7913620

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, and (iii) an overcoat; said photosensitive layer being 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; (b) imagewise exposing said plate with said laser on a laser imager to cause hardening of said photosensitive layer in the exposed areas; (c) removing said overcoat from said plate; (d) mounting said plate on a lithographic press; and (e) contacting said plate with ink and/or fountain solution on said press to remove the photosensitive layer in the non-hardened areas and to lithographically print images from said plate to the receiving medium; (f) wherein said steps (d) to (e) are performed with the plate under a white room light, said photosensitive layer before the removal of the overcoat is capable of hardening or causing background toning under said room light for less than a time period selected from 1 to 60 minutes, and said photosensitive layer after the removal of the overcoat is incapable of hardening or causing background toning under said room light for at least twice of said time period; wherein said overcoat is soluble or dispersible in water or an aqueous solution and is removed by rinsing with water or an aqueous solution, and said rinsed plate is dried with forced air before mounting on press.