Lithographic printing plate precursors and method of use

A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising:

• a substrate having a planar surface, and
• a radiation-sensitive imageable layer disposed over the planar surface of the substrate,
• wherein the substrate comprises:
• an aluminum-containing plate having a grained and etched planar surface;
• an inner aluminum oxide layer disposed on the grained and etched planar surface, the inner aluminum oxide layer:
• having an average dry thickness (Ti) of at least 650 nm and up to and including 3,000 nm;
• and comprising a multiplicity of inner micropores having an average inner micropore diameter (Di) of less than or equal to 15 nm;
• an outer aluminum oxide layer disposed on the inner aluminum oxide layer, the outer aluminum oxide layer:
• comprising a multiplicity of outer micropores having an average outer micropore diameter (Do) of at least 15 nm and up to and including 30 nm;
• having an average dry thickness (To) of at least 130 nm and up to and including 650 nm;
• and having a micropore density (Co) of at least 500 micropores/μm2 and up to and including 3,000 micropores/μm2, wherein the ratio of the average outer micropore diameter (Do) to the average inner micropore diameter (Di) is greater than 1.1:1, and the average outer micropore diameter (Do) in nanometers and the micropore density (Co) in micropores/μm2, are further constrained by the porosity (Po) of the outer aluminum oxide layer according to the following equation:
• 0.3≤Po≤0.8
• wherein Po is defined as 3.14(Co)(Do2)/4,000,000;
• and
• optionally a hydrophilic layer comprising one or more hydrophilic polymers, which hydrophilic layer is disposed on the outer aluminum oxide layer at a dry coverage of at least 0.0002 g/m2 and up to and including 0.1 g/m2.