A presensitized lithographic plate comprises a support and a hydrophilic
image-recording layer. The hydrophilic image-recording layer contains a
hydrophilic polymer and an agent capable of converting hydrophilic to
hydrophobic when the agent is heated. The hydrophilic polymer comprises a
main chain and branched chains. Each of the branched chain comprises a
hydrophilic chain having a molecular weight in the range of 200 to
1,000,000. A hydrophilic substrate and a lithographic printing process
are also disclosed.