Solvent-free flexographic imaging and printing with photoresponsive printing members

A method of preparing a printing member, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a printing member comprising (i) an imaged photomask having an imagewise pattern of opaque and non-opaque regions, the opaque regions substantially blocking passage therethrough of actinic radiation, (ii) a support, and (iii) disposed between the photomask and the support and in contact with opposed surfaces thereof, a layer of photopolymer polymerizable by actinic radiation, the photopolymer layer consisting essentially of an initiator, a water-dilutable but not water-soluble oligomer and a butadiene maleic anhydride copolymer;
• exposing the precursor to actinic radiation through the photomask to cause polymerization of the photopolymer;
• and
• developing the printing member with an aqueous medium to remove only unexposed portions of the photopolymer layer.