Method for forming image and apparatus for forming image

Abstract

A method for forming an image, which comprises subjecting a photosensitive layer of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate having a photosensitive layer comprising a photopolymerizable composition formed on a support surface to scanning exposure with a laser light having a wavelength in a range of from 650 to 1,300 nm, developing an image, and then further subjecting the photosensitive lithographic printing plate having the developed image to whole image exposure with a light exposure energy of from 1 to 70 times larger than the light exposure energy at the time of the laser light scanning exposure.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for forming an image, which comprises continuously connecting the following steps (1) to (3): 
 (1) a scanning exposure step of subjecting a photosensitive layer of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate having a photosensitive layer comprising a photopolymerizable composition formed on a support surface to scanning exposure with a laser light having a wavelength in a range of from 650 to 1,300 nm,    (2) a developing step of developing an image on the photosensitive lithographic printing plate after the scanning exposure, and    (3) a whole image exposure step of subjecting the photosensitive lithographic printing plate after the development to whole image exposure with a light exposure energy of from 1 to 70 times larger than the light exposure energy at the time of the laser light scanning exposure used at the step (1).    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for forming an image according to  claim 15 , wherein the light exposure energy at the whole image exposure step (3) is at most 50 times larger than the light exposure energy at the scanning exposure step (1).  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for forming an image according to  claim 16 , wherein the light exposure energy at the whole image exposure step (3) is from 1 to 30 times larger than the light exposure energy at the scanning exposure step (1).  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for forming an image according to  claim 17 , wherein the light exposure energy at the whole image exposure step (3) is from 1.2 to 25 times larger than the light exposure energy at the scanning exposure step (1).  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for forming an image according to  claim 15 , wherein a light intensity on the image-forming surface at the whole image exposure step (3) is at least 10 mW/cm 2 .  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for forming an image according to  claim 19 , wherein the light intensity on the image-forming surface at the whole image exposure step (3) is from 15 to 700 mW/cm 2 .  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus for forming an image according to  claim 15 , wherein a temperature of the image-forming surface at the whole image exposure step (3) is from 20 to 300° C.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus for forming an image according to  claim 15 , wherein a light source at the whole image exposure step (3) is a mercury lamp.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus for forming an image according to  claim 15 , wherein the light exposure energy at the whole image exposure step (3) is from 10 mJ/cm 2  to 10 J/cm 2 .  
     
     
         24 . An image produced by the process comprising: 
 subjecting a photosensitive layer of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate to scanning exposure with a laser light having a wavelength in a range of from 650 to 1,300 nm, the photosensitive layer comprising a photopolymerizable composition formed on a support surface;    developing an image on the photosensitive lithographic printing plate after the scanning exposure; and    subjecting the photosensitive lithographic printing plate after the developing to whole image exposure with a light exposure energy of from 1 to 70 times larger than a light exposure energy at the scanning exposure.    
     
     
         25 . An image according to  claim 24 , wherein the light exposure energy at the whole image exposure is at most 50 times larger than the light exposure energy at the scanning exposure.  
     
     
         26 . An image according to  claim 25 , wherein the light exposure energy at the whole image exposure is from 1 to 30 times larger than the light exposure energy at the scanning exposure.  
     
     
         27 . An image according to  claim 26 , wherein the light exposure energy at the whole image exposure is from 1.2 to 25 times larger than the light exposure energy at the scanning exposure.  
     
     
         28 . An image according to  claim 24 , wherein a light intensity on the image-forming surface at the whole image exposure is at least 10 mW/cm 2 .  
     
     
         29 . An image according to  claim 24 , wherein the light intensity on the image-forming surface at the whole image exposure is from 15 to 700 mW/cm 2 .  
     
     
         30 . An image according to  claim 24 , wherein a temperature of the image-forming surface at the whole image exposure is from 20 to 300° C.  
     
     
         31 . An image according to  claim 24 , wherein a light source at the whole image exposure is a mercury lamp.  
     
     
         32 . An image according to  claim 24 , wherein the light exposure energy at the whole image exposure is from 10 mJ/cm 2  to 10 J/cm 2 .  
     
     
         33 . An apparatus for forming an image, comprising: 
 a photosensitive lithographic printing plate having a support surface on which a photosensitive layer comprising a photopolymerizable composition is formed;    a scanning exposure device configured to expose the photosensitive layer with a laser light having a wavelength in a range of from 650 to 1,300 nm;    a developer configured to develop an image on the photosensitive lithographic printing plate; and    a whole image exposure device configured to subject the photosensitive lithographic printing plate with a light exposure energy of from 1 to 70 times larger than a light exposure energy of the scanning exposure device.    
     
     
         34 . The apparatus for forming an image according to  claim 33 , wherein the whole image exposure device comprises a mercury lamp.