Method for making an imaging element and a printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for obtaining an imaging element suitable for use in a silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of coating a support with a layer comprising physical development nuclei and a photosensitive layer comprising a photosensitive silver halide emulsion, said photosensitive layer being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer, characterized in that said physical development nuclei consist of a substantially homogeneous solid solution of two or more different metals and are prepared by pulsed high flux radiolysis. According to the invention there is further provided a method for making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of image-wise exposing an imaging element prepared as defined above and subsequently developing a thus obtained image-wise exposed imaging element by means of an alkaline processing solution in the presence of a developing agent and a silver halide solvent.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.