PURPOSE: To provide an exposure method for performing laser exposure to an area shielded by a mechanical means and an area other than an RIP image.

CONSTITUTION: This 'direct printing type' printing plate has an ink receiving area, a mechanical grasping area having ink removing property and a boundary area having the ink removing property. A DTR(diffusion transfer reversal process) photolithographic web 62 is exposed by a laser image setting device 60 while controlling a recording beam 66 and the carrying of the web 62 by the device 60. By exposing an area which can not be exposed by the device 60 on a recording base material, the positive lithographic printing plate is made without necessitating extra peeling operation or an extra exposure stage after recording by the device 60.