System for direct-to-press imaging

A direct-to-press imaging system comprising:

• (a) a printing cylinder capable of receiving an imageable coating;
• (b) a coating unit mounted proximate to the printing cylinder;
• (c) a thin layer of an imageable composition formed on the printing cylinder by the coating unit, wherein the imageable coating comprises a composition which changes affinity for a printing fluid upon exposure to imaging radiation, and the imageable coating is substantially insoluble in the printing fluid;
• (d) an imaging unit mounted proximate to the printing cylinder and operable to imagewise expose the imageable coating to actinic radiation to obtain an imaged coating;
• (e) a printing fluid application unit mounted proximate to the printing cylinder and configured to apply printing fluid to the imaged coating to form a printing fluid image thereon;
• and
• (f) a transfer system mounted proximate to the printing cylinder and configured to transfer the printing fluid image to a print-receiving medium;
• and
• (g) a removal system for removing ink, printing fluid, water or a combination thereof from the imaged coating after transfer of the printing fluid image to a print receiving medium without substantially removing the imaged coating.