Metal photographic plate with carrier and method of use

A method of printing on a metal plate, comprising the steps of:

• providing a generally flat metal plate having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a shaped perimeter, the first side defining a printable surface;
• providing a carrier having first side, a second side opposite the first side, a plate-holding portion, and a plate-protecting portion, the plate-holding portion sized and configured to encompass the shaped perimeter of the metal plate and having a plate attachment element configured to securely engage the metal plate, the first side of the plate-holding portion including a surface treatment causing the first side of the plate-holding portion to resemble the printable surface of the metal plate, the plate-protecting portion extending laterally away from one side of the plate-holding portion and being maneuverable from a first position in which the plate-protecting portion is generally coplanar with the plate-holding portion to a second position in which the plate-protecting portion is covering the plate-holding portion;
• securely associating the metal plate with the plate-holding portion of the carrier to form a printing template, wherein the first side of the metal plate is facing the same direction as the first side of the carrier;
• inserting the printing template into an inkjet printer, wherein the plate-protecting portion is in the first position;
• printing on the printing template such that the printed image fills the entirety of the printable surface of the metal plate and extends on to at least a portion of the plate-holding portion of the carrier;
• and
• maneuvering the plate-protecting portion from the first position to the second position such that the plate-protection portion is covering the printed image on the metal plate.