Method of processing lithographic printing plate precursors

A method for forming an image, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) imaging an imageable element, the imageable element comprising an imageable layer over a hydrophilic support, and forming an imaged element comprising exposed regions and unexposed regions in the imageable layer;
• and
• (b) simultaneously developing and gumming the imaged element by contacting the imaged element with an aqueous alkaline developing-gumming solution and removing one of the exposed regions and the unexposed regions of the imageable layer;
• in which:
• the aqueous alkaline developing-gumming solution comprises one or more water-soluble polyhydroxy compounds of the following structure:
• R1(CHOH)nR2
• in which n is 4 to 7;
• and
• either (i) R1 is hydrogen, aryl, or CH2OH;
• and R2 is hydrogen, alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, CH2OR3 in which R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, CH2N(R4R5) in which R4 and R5 are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or CO2H, or (ii) R1 and R2 together form a carbon—carbon single bond;
• the aqueous alkaline developing-gumming solution has a pH of about 10.0 to about 14;
• the one or more polyhydroxy compounds comprise about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % of the aqueous alkaline developing-gumming solution, and
• the method does not comprise either a rinsing step or a further gumming step following step (b).