The present invention provides an imageable element including a lithographic substrate and an imageable layer disposed on the substrate. The imageable layer includes a radically polymerizable component, an initiator system capable of generating radicals sufficient to initiate a polymerization reaction upon exposure to imaging radiation, and a polymeric binder having a hydrophobic backbone and including both constitutional units having a pendant cyano group attached directly to the hydrophobic backbone, and constitutional units having a pendant group including a hydrophilic poly(alkylene oxide) segment. The invention also provides a method for preparing a suitable polymeric binder. The method comprises contacting a combination of co-monomers in a solvent mixture consisting essentially of a (C.sub.1 C.sub.6) alkanol and water.