Negative working, heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor

1. A heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor comprising:

(a) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer; and

(b) an image-recording layer comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and an infrared light absorbing dye;

wherein said image-recording layer further comprises a compound,

wherein the compound is a cyanine dye according to Formula I-e:

wherein p and p′ are integers ranging from 0 to 3;

X″ represents H, O—CH 3 , chloride or phenyl; and

M + is a monovalent counter ion.

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

(a) providing a printing plate precursor;

(b) exposing said printing plate precursor to infrared light; and

(c) developing said exposed printing plate precursor with an alkaline aqueous solution;

wherein said printing plate precursor comprises:

(i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer; and

(ii) an image-recording layer comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and an infrared light absorbing dye;

wherein said image-recording layer further comprises a compound, the compound comprising an aromatic moiety and at least one acidic group or salt thereof and having a most bathochromic light absorption peak at a wavelength between 300 nm and 450 nm,

wherein the sum of the amounts of the infrared light absorbing dye and the compound, without taking into account optional counter ions, is more than 0.80 mg per m 2 of the total surface of the particles, wherein the surface is measured by Hydrodynamic Fractionation.

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

(a) providing a printing plate precursor;

(b) exposing said printing plate precursor to infrared light; and

(c) developing said exposed printing plate precursor with an alkaline aqueous solution;

wherein said printing plate precursor comprises:

(i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer; and

(ii) an image-recording layer comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and an infrared light absorbing dye;

wherein said image-recording layer further comprises a compound, wherein the compound is a cyanine dye or an azacyanine dye according to Formulae I-c or I-d:

wherein

p and p′ are integers ranging from 0 to 3;

Q 1 is CH or N;

X and X′ independently are hydrogen, a halogen, O—CH 3 , an optionally substituted alkyl or (hetero) aryl group or a condensed benzene ring;

Z and Z′ independently are O, NR′, S, C(CH 3 ) 2 or CH═CH wherein R′ is an optionally substituted alkyl or (hetero)aryl group; and

M + is a monovalent counter ion,

wherein the sum of the amounts of the infrared light absorbing dye and the compound, without taking into account optional counter ions, is more than 0.80 mg per m 2 of the total surface of the particles, wherein the surface is measured by Hydrodynamic Fractionation.

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

(a) providing a printing plate precursor;

(b) exposing said printing plate precursor to infrared light; and

(c) developing said exposed printing plate precursor with an alkaline aqueous solution;

wherein said printing plate precursor comprises:

(i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer; and

(ii) an image-recording layer comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and an infrared light absorbing dye;

wherein said image-recording layer further comprises a compound, the compound comprising an aromatic moiety and at least one acidic group or salt thereof and having a most bathochromic light absorption peak at a wavelength between 300 nm and 450 nm,

wherein the acidic group is selected from the group consisting of a substituted sulphonamido-based acid group; a carboxylic acid group; a sulphonic acid group; a dithiosulphonic acid group; a sulphuric acid group; a phosphoric acid group; and a phosphonic acid

wherein the sum of the amounts of the infrared light absorbing dye and the compound, without taking into account optional counter ions, is more than 0.80 mg per m 2 of the total surface of the particles, the surface is measured by Hydrodynamic Fractionation.