Method and apparatus for applying surface treatments to photosensitive printing elements during thermal development

A method of applying a surface treating composition to an imaged and exposed surface of a photosensitive printing element during thermal processing, the method comprising the steps of:

• supporting the photosensitive printing element on a supporting means;
• melting or softening non-crosslinked photopolymer on the imaged and exposed surface of the photosensitive printing element;
• causing contact between the imaged and exposed surface of the photosensitive printing element and a web of absorbent material that is supported by at least a portion of at least one roll at the point of contact and is capable of absorbing non-crosslinked photopolymer that is melted or softened from the imaged and exposed surface of the photosensitive printing element wherein the web of absorbent material is coated with a surface treating composition that is transferable from the web of absorbent material to the imaged and exposed surface of the photosensitive printing element;
• and
• maintaining contact between the web of absorbent material on the at least one roll and the imaged and exposed surface of the photosensitive printing element;
• wherein the non-crosslinked photopolymer on the imaged and exposed surface of the photosensitive printing element is softened by heating the at least one roll that supports the web at the point of contact between the web and the imaged and exposed surface of the photosensitive printing element, wherein the at least one roll is heated to and operated at a temperature of between about 150 and about 250° C.;
• wherein when the web of absorbent material contacts at least a portion of the imaged and exposed surface of the photosensitive printing element, the web of absorbent material absorbs the melted or softened non-crosslinked photopolymer from the imaged and exposed surface of the photosensitive printing element and the surface treating composition is transferred from the web of absorbent material to at least the portion of the imaged and exposed surface of the photosensitive printing element.