A method for manufacturing a substrate for presensitized plates for use in making lithographic printing plates comprises the steps of electrolytically surface-roughening an aluminum plate or an aluminum alloy plate in a nitric acid-containing electrolyte and then etching the surface with an alkali or an acid to thus form irregularity in the order of not more than 0.1 .mu.m within pits formed on the surface during the electrolytic surface roughening treatment. The method makes it possible to provide a lithographic printing plate stably and simultaneously having excellent printing durability and good resistance to background contamination of non-image areas.