a process for making printing plate material suitable for imaging by laser radiation . a metal substrate is electrocoated in a bath containing a polymeric resin and laser - sensitive particles , thereby depositing a laser ablatable layer on a principal surface of the metal substrate . in one embodiment , the laser - ablatable layer is treated with a corona discharge for a time sufficient to render the layer non - ink wettable . in other preferred embodiments , the laser - ablatable layer is overcoated with an overlayer such as a non - ink wettable silicone layer or a water - wettable layer comprising an organophosphorus polymer , preferably a copolymer of acrylic acid and vinylphosphonic acid .