Method of improving print performance in flexographic printing plates

A method of tailoring the shape of a plurality of relief printing dots created in a photosensitive printing blank during a platemaking process, said photosensitive printing blank comprising at least one photocurable layer disposed on a backing layer, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) selectively exposing the at least one photocurable layer to a source of actinic radiation to selectively crosslink and cure portions of the at least one photocurable layer;
• and
• b) developing the exposed at least one photocurable layer to reveal a relief image therein, said relief image comprising the plurality of relief printing dots;
• wherein the source of actinic radiation comprises at least one source of UV light in a UV-A range and at least one source of light in a UV-C range, wherein the at least one photocurable layer is simultaneously exposed to the at least one source of UV light in the UV-A range and the at least one source of UV light in the UV-C range;
• whereby printing dots are produced having at least one geometric characteristic selected from the group consisting of a desired planarity of a top surface of the relief printing dots, a desired shoulder angle of the relief printing dots and a desired edge sharpness of the relief printing dots.