Patent ID: 8092984

Claim:
A method of processing a lithographic printing plate comprising in order: (a) providing a lithographic printing plate comprising (i) a substrate; and (ii) a photosensitive layer comprising an alkaline soluble polymeric binder, an alkaline insoluble polymeric binder, a polymerizable monomer, an initiator, and an infrared absorbing dye; wherein said photosensitive layer is capable of hardening upon exposure to an infrared laser having a wavelength selected from 750 to 1200 nm; (b) imagewise exposing said plate with said laser to cause hardening of the photosensitive layer in the exposed areas; (c) overall heating said plate to 50 to 200° C. for 1 to 600 seconds; and (d) developing said exposed plate to remove the non-hardened areas of said photosensitive layer.