Method of making a lithographic printing plate

1. A method of making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and a coating on the support, the coating comprising (i) at least one image-recording layer which includes a photocurable composition, the composition including a compound which is capable of forming free radicals upon image-wise exposure, and (ii) on top thereof, an oxygen-barrier layer including a water-soluble or water-swellable polymer;

(b) image-wise exposing the coating by a laser in a plate setter;

(c) optionally, heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit;

(d) treating the image-wise exposed precursor in a developing unit wherein water or an aqueous solution is supplied to the coating of the precursor, wherein the oxygen-barrier layer and a portion of the image-recording layer are removed from the support at the non-exposed areas, thereby increasing the oxygen permeability of the remaining portion of the image-recording layer to such an extent that curing of the non-exposed areas of the coating by ambient light is inhibited by quenching of free radicals with oxygen, and the remaining portion of the image-recording layer protects the hydrophilic surface;

(e) mounting the treated precursor on a plate cylinder of a lithographic printing press; and

(f) developing the precursor by rotating the plate cylinder while feeding dampening liquid and/or ink to the coating, thereby removing the remaining portion of the image-recording layer at the non-exposed areas; wherein

the plate setter is mechanically coupled to the developing unit of step (d) by a conveying device such that the precursor is shielded from ambient light.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the remaining portion of the image-recording layer is at least 3% by weight of the coating.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the remaining portion of the image-recording layer is at least 0.1 g/m 2 .

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the developing unit in step (d) is provided with at least one roller for rubbing and/or brushing the coating during the treatment.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the water or the aqueous solution is supplied to the coating in step (d) by jetting or spraying the water or the aqueous solution on the coating.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein after step (b) and before step (d) the precursor is heated at a temperature between 80° C. and 150° C. for a dwell time of 5 seconds to 1 minute in a pre-heating unit, the pre-heating unit being coupled to the plate setter and to the developing unit by a mechanical plate conveying device wherein the precursor is shielded from ambient light.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the photocurable composition further includes an IR-absorbing compound and wherein, in step (b), the coating is image-wise exposed to IR-radiation.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the photocurable composition further includes a violet absorbing compound and wherein, in step (b), the coating is image-wise exposed to violet light.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein in step (d) water is used in the treatment.