A thermal development apparatus for forming a relief structure on a photosensitive printing element. The apparatus comprises conveying means upon which the photosensitive printing element is securable, (b) a heatable roller mounted in the enclosure, wherein the heatable roller is heated to and maintained at an operating temperature at which the uncured portions of photosensitive material begins to liquefy or soften; (c) an absorbent material covering at least a portion of the heatable roller that is capable of absorbing liquefied or softened uncured portions of photosensitive material from the photosensitive printing element when the photosensitive printing element comes into contact with the absorbent material on the portion of the heatable roller; and (d) an auxiliary heating zone arranged relative to the conveying means that is configured to heat the photosensitive printing element from a first temperature at a location at which the photosensitive printing element enters or re-enters the thermal development apparatus to the operating temperature of the heatable roller.

A thermal development apparatus for forming a relief structure on a photosensitive printing element. The apparatus comprises conveying means upon which the photosensitive printing element is securable, (b) a heatable roller mounted in the enclosure, wherein the heatable roller is heated to and maintained at an operating temperature at which the uncured portions of photosensitive material begins to liquefy or soften; (c) an absorbent material covering at least a portion of the heatable roller that is capable of absorbing liquefied or softened uncured portions of photosensitive material from the photosensitive printing element when the photosensitive printing element comes into contact with the absorbent material on the portion of the heatable roller; and (d) an auxiliary heating zone arranged relative to the conveying means that is configured to heat the photosensitive printing element from a first temperature at a location at which the photosensitive printing element enters or re-enters the thermal development apparatus to the operating temperature of the heatable roller.