Method for preparation of waterless lithographic printing plate by electrophotographic process

Abstract

A method for preparation of a waterless lithographic printing plate by an electrophotographic process comprising forming a non-fixing toner image by an electrophotographic process using a liquid developer on a surface of an electrophotographic light-sensitive element, providing a peelable transfer layer (T) containing a thermoplastic resin (A) on the surface of electrophotographic light-sensitive element having the toner image, transferring the toner image together with the transfer layer (T) from the electrophotographic light-sensitive element onto a support for lithographic printing plate, providing on the transfer layer (T) bearing the toner image a non-tacky resin layer having adhesion to the transfer layer (T) larger than adhesion between the toner image and the non-tacky resin layer, and selectively removing the non-tacky resin layer provided on the toner image. The method is suitable for a scanning exposure system using a laser beam of a low power, and provides a waterless lithographic printing plate excellent in image qualities and printing durability in a simple, rapid and laborsaving manner. Also, according to the method of the present invention the non-tacky resin layer can be selectively removed in the toner image portion by a dry process and a highly accurate image is obtained in a stable manner even when a condition of the removing step is fluctuated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.