Flexographic printing precursor and magnetic development of the same

1. A method of making a flexographic printing element, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a flexographic printing precursor including:

a support; and

a photopolymerizable layer including a monomer, an initiator, and magnetic or magnetizable particles, the photopolymerizable layer having a thickness between 0.5 mm and 7.0 mm;

b) image wise exposing the flexographic printing precursor to obtain exposed and non-exposed areas in the photopolymerizable layer; and

c) bringing the photopolymerizable layer into a magnetic field having a magnitude and direction to at least partially remove the photopolymerizable layer in the non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer.

2. The method of making a flexographic printing element according to claim 1 , wherein

during step c), contacting the photopolymerizable layer with an absorbent material.

3. The method of making a flexographic printing element according to claim 2 , further comprising the step of:

applying heat to the photopolymerizable layer until the non-exposed areas are in a melted state.

4. The method of making a flexographic printing element according to claim 1 , wherein the step of image wise exposing includes exposing the flexographic printing precursor to actinic radiation through a mask.

5. The method of making a flexographic printing element according to claim 2 , wherein the step of image wise exposing includes exposing the flexographic printing precursor to actinic radiation through a mask.

6. The method of making a flexographic printing element according to claim 5 , wherein the mask includes a laser ablatable layer.