An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording
material exhibiting an excellent exposure visualization property as well
as an image formation process employing the image recording material, and
further to provide not only a printing plate material exhibiting
excellent on-press developability and printing durability, but also an
image formation process employing the printing plate material,
accompanied with an excellent exposure visualization property. Also
disclosed is an image recording material possessing a support and
provided thereon, a thermosensitive image formation layer, wherein the
thermosensitive image formation layer contains thermoplastic spherical
particles having an average particle diameter of 100-500 nm, and exhibits
a structural color originated with the thermoplastic spherical particles.