Printing plate imaging and exposure apparatus and method

A system for preparing a printing plate, the printing plate comprising a photosensitive polymer cured by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the printing plate having a non-printing back side, a printing front side, a lateral width, and a lateral length, the system comprising:

• a UV exposure unit, the UV exposure unit comprising a plurality of UV sources:
• a holder, comprising a UV translucent material, configured to receive the printing plate;
• a plurality of stationary back UV sources configured to emit UV radiation toward the non-printing back side of the printing plate through the holder with the printing plate disposed in a stationary position on the holder, the plurality of stationary back UV sources together defining at least one back array having a collective irradiation field covering an area at least coextensive with the lateral length and lateral width of the plate;
• at least one front array comprising a plurality of front UV sources configured to emit UV radiation toward the printing front side of the printing plate with the printing plate disposed on the holder;
• at least one controller connected to the plurality of back UV sources and the plurality of front UV sources and configured to activate the plurality of back UV sources and the plurality of front UV sources to emit the UV radiation;
• wherein at least one of the front array or the back array comprise UV light emitting diodes (UV LEDs).