Electrochemical developing process for reproduction layers

A process for developing exposed light-sensitive reproduction layers, comprising the steps of:

• providing an exposed light-sensitive reproduction layer on an electrically conductive support material;
• and
• removing by electrochemical treatment with an aqueous electrolyte developer those parts of the exposed layer which correspond to the non-image areas, wherein said aqueous electrolyte developer comprises at least one salt of an organic or inorganic acid and/or at least one weak acid or base.

A process for developing exposed light-sensitive reproduction layers on printing plates, comprising the steps of:

• providing an exposed light-sensitive reproduction layer comprising, as the light-sensitive component, a composition or compound selected from the group consisting of o-quinonediazides, condensation and co-condensation products of aromatic diazonium salts and compounds, compounds which split off acid on irradiation, photopolymerizable monomers and photoinitiators, organic azido compounds and photo-semiconducting compounds on an electrically conductive support material comprising aluminum or an aluminum alloy;
• and
• removing, by electrochemical treatment with an aqueous electrolyte developer, those parts of the exposed layer which correspond to the non-image areas, wherein said electrolyte developer comprises at least one salt of an organic or inorganic acid and/or at least one weak acid or base.

A process for developing exposed light-sensitive reproduction layers using an aqueous electrolyte developer;

• said process comprising removing by electrochemical treatment those parts of the exposed layer which correspond to the non-image areas, wherein said aqueous electrolyte developer comprises at least one salt of an organic or inorganic acid in a concentration from 0.1 weight percent up to the saturation limit of the solution for said salt.