Thermal digital lithographic printing plate

A thermally imageable element comprising, in order:

• a top layer;
• an underlayer;
• and
• a hydrophilic substrate;
• in which:
• the underlayer comprises a first polymeric material;
• the top layer comprises a second polymeric material;
• the second polymeric material comprises phenolic hydroxyl groups or substituted sulphonamide groups;
• the second polymeric material is removable by the aqueous alkaline developer;
• the top layer is free of materials that function as a solubility-suppressing component for the second polymeric material;
• and
• the top layer is ink-receptive.

A method of printing, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) thermally imaging a thermally imageable element and producing exposed and unexposed regions in the thermally imageable element;
• b) developing the thermally imageable element with an aqueous alkaline developer and removing the exposed regions;
• c) applying ink to the unexposed regions;
• and
• d) transferring the ink to a receiver;
• in which:
• the thermally imageable element comprises, in order:
• a top layer;
• an underlayer;
• and
• a hydrophilic substrate;
• the underlayer comprises a first polymeric material;
• the top layer comprises a second polymeric material;
• the second polymeric material comprises phenolic hydroxyl groups or substituted sulphonamide groups;
• the second polymeric material is removable by the aqueous alkaline developer;
• the top layer is free of materials that function as a solubility-suppressing component for the second polymeric material;
• the top layer is ink-receptive;
• and
• the aqueous alkaline developer has a pH of at least 7 to about 11.