Patent ID: 8735049

Claim:
A method of making a relief printing element in a liquid photopolymer platemaking process, wherein a layer of liquid photopolymer is applied over a coverfilm positioned on a negative on a glass platen and a backing sheet is applied over the liquid photopolymer layer, the method comprising the steps of: a) selectively exposing the layer of liquid photopolymer to actinic radiation through the negative to crosslink and cure portions of the layer of liquid photopolymer and create a relief image therein, wherein portions of the layer of liquid photopolymer are not crosslinked and are uncured; and b) reclaiming uncured portions of the layer of liquid photopolymer for reuse in the platemaking process, wherein the step of reclaiming uncured portions of the layer of liquid photopolymer comprises: i) heating the relief printing element to decrease the viscosity of the uncured portions of the layer of liquid photopolymer; and ii) removing uncured portions of the layer of liquid photopolymer from the relief printing element; c) blotting the relief printing element to remove any uncured liquid photopolymer remaining on the relief printing element after step (b); wherein uncured portions of the layers of liquid photopolymer are removed without washing the relief printing element with water or another solvent.