A method of roughening a surface of a printing form precursor. The method comprises subjecting at least a part of the surface to energy in the form of pulses of electromagnetic radiation to produce a uniformly hydrophilic roughened surface on at least a part of the printing form precursor and optionally converting the uniformly hydrophilic roughened surface of the printing form precursor to a uniformly hydrophobic roughened surface. The method is useful for providing a surface for use in a subsequent imaging and/or printing process in lithographic printing. Methods of providing a printing form comprising an image formed of hydrophobic regions and hydrophilic regions using said method and a method of printing using said method are also described, as are printing forms so produced and imaging devices and apparatus for carrying out the said methods.