Method for preparing a printing form from a photopolymerizable element

A method for preparing a printing form from a photopolymerizable element comprising:

• a) providing a photopolymerizable element comprising a layer of a photopolymerizable composition comprising at least one elastomeric block copolymer having one or more non-elastomeric blocks and one or more elastomeric blocks of polybutadiene having 1,2-coupled units, an ethylenically unsaturated compound and a photoinitiator, wherein the photopolymerizable composition layer is capable of being partially liquefied, and wherein the photopolymerizable element further comprises an actinic radiation opaque layer disposed thereon forming an in-situ mask on the element;
• b) imagewise exposing the photopolymerizable element through the in-situ mask to actinic radiation in the presence of atmospheric oxygen;
• c) heating the element of b) to a temperature sufficient to cause a portion of the layer to liquefy;
• and
• d) contacting an exterior surface of the photopolymerizable element with a development medium to allow at least a portion of the liquefied layer to be removed by the development medium;
• wherein the 1,2-coupled butadiene units comprise less than 15% by weight of the one or more polybutadiene blocks, and the elastomeric block copolymer is at least 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the photopolymerizable composition,
• wherein the photopolymerizable composition further comprises a plasticizer, wherein the plasticizer is selected only from liquid polythene plasticizers having a vinyl content of not less than 60% by weight of the polydiene, and
• wherein the printing form resulting from the method has a textured printing surface.