Abstract: The present invention includes an imageable element, which can be: (a) an imageable element comprising an imaging layer which comprises: an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound having an alkoxy substituent and an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound free of an alkoxy substituent; a polyvinyl acetal binder; and a sheet substrate; or (b) an imageable element comprising an imaging layer which comprises: an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound having an alkoxy substituent and an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound free of an alkoxy substituent; and a sheet substrate. The imaging layer includes a total aromatic diazonium salt containing compound content of at least 10 weight percent. The molar ratio of the aromatic diazonium salt containing compound having an alkoxy substituent to the aromatic diazonium salt containing compound that is free of an alkoxy substituent is from about 1.0:1 to 70:1.

Abstract: Predicting a reflectance spectrum of a photographic print based on data from a scanned color negative. The technique uses dye concentration, providing a channel-independent basis for the spectral model. The spectral model includes three conceptual sections: scanner and film models, a photographic printer model, and a photographic paper model. The scanner and film section converts digital data from a scan of a color negative on a calibrated scanner into predictions of the spectral transmittance for each pixel. The photographic printer section uses an exposure schedule and optionally a color temperature and computes the spectrum of the exposing illumination as a function of time. The photographic paper section converts the illuminated negative's spectral power first into dye concentration estimates and subsequently into a predicted reflectance spectrum for the simulated print.

Abstract: Imageable precursors for masks and for electronic parts comprise a polymeric layer applied to a substrate. The layer comprises at least one polymer having infra-red absorbing groups carried as pendent groups on the polymer backbone. Certain infrared absorbing groups may also act to insolubilize the polymer in a developer, until it is imagewise exposed to infra-red radiation. Imagewise application of heat, resulting from imagewise exposure of the precursor to infra-red radiation, renders the polymer layer more soluble in the developer than prior to exposure to the infra-red radiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithographic printing plate in which images can be inscribed by laser beams, and which has high resolving power, high sensitivity, and the improved reservation stability, and relates to its image-producing method, and a photosenstitive composition which can preferably be used as an original plate for lithographic printing. The photosenstitive composition includes an aqueous resin composition including fine particles (a) of a resin having at least one neutralized anionic group and having a heat fusion property, and a water soluble resin (b) having at least one neutralized anionic group, wherein the water soluble resin (b) is included in a range of 1 to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the aqueous resin composition; and a substance (c) which absorbs light and generates heat.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compensating for imaging aberrations that result from repeated passes by an imaging laser array. The aberrations may result from swath lines formed by thermal heating and from the ruling and screen angle of the image. The techniques described herein reduce the undesirable aberrations in thermal laser generated images by breaking up and/or reducing the swath lines. In general, the techniques provide for overlapping swaths and providing masking for one or both passes that print the overlapped region.

Abstract: A precursor for preparing a resist pattern comprises an imageable layer which includes a relatively volatile compound that can be volatilized by application of heat, wherein imaging radiation can be applied to the precursor to heat areas thereof and volatilizes said compound so that properties, for example, the ink accepting abilities of heated and non heated areas, are different.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for calibrating an imaging system having multiple imaging outputs such as a plurality of laser diodes. Calibration is achieved by driving each imaging output to form a test pattern on an imaging element, each test pattern having one or more image regions and each image region having a target optical property such as a target optical density. Next, an optical property, such as optical density, is measured for each image region. A response curve is generated for each set of image regions having substantially equal target optical properties. The imaging outputs are adjusted by reducing a difference between the measured optical property and the generated response curve, thereby reducing optical variations between regions that are imaged by the multiple imaging outputs.

Abstract: Infra-red absorbing polymers useful in imageable products and the lithographic printing field comprise infra-red absorbing groups carried as pendent groups on a polymer backbone. Certain infra-red absorbing groups may also act to insolublize the polymer in a developer, until it is imagewise exposed to infra-red radiation. The resulting heat renders the polymer soluble in the developer. Imageable products employing the infra-red absorbing polymers may include positive working lithographic printing plates.

Abstract: Positive-working imageable elements and methods for their preparation are disclosed. The elements comprise a hydrophilic substrate; a bottom layer, which contains a positive-working photosensitive composition; and a protective overlayer, which has an overlayer material that reduces the solubility of the photosensitive composition in an aqueous alkaline developer. The overlayer may be conveniently applied by a dip and rinse procedure.

Abstract: A direct-to-press imaging method comprises: (a) applying an imageable coating to a printing cylinder, wherein the imageable coating comprises a composition such as a thermally switchable polymer which changes affinity for a printing fluid upon exposure to imaging radiation such as infrared radiation delivered imagewise via a laser, and the imageable coating is substantially insoluble in the printing fluid; (b) imagewise exposing the imageable coating to actinic radiation to obtain an imaged coating; (c) printing a plurality of copies of an image from the imaged coating; and (d) reapplying the imageable coating as desired by repeating steps (a) through (c) at least once without substantially removing the prior imaged coating before reapplying the imageable coating.

Abstract: A method for imaging patterning compositions comprising the steps of:

Abstract: A method of characterizing a color imaging system is provided. The method comprises obtaining first data indicative of output of the color imaging system. The first data is processed, to yield second data, according to a color appearance model that varies in accordance with neutrality of colors indicated by the first data. Other methods are provided as well as systems and computer program products for characterizing color imaging systems and devices and for producing colors.

Abstract: A process for making thermally imageable negative working compositions comprising the steps of: (1) providing a patterning composition layer on a substrate, said patterning composition comprising: (a) at least one thermal-generator acid generator, (b) at least one cross-linking resin or compound; (c) at least one binder resin comprising a polymer containing at least one reactive pendent group selected from the group, consisting of hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, sulfonamide, alkoxymethylamide and mixtures thereof; and (d) at least one infrared absorber; (2) subjecting the patterning composition layer to a two-stage radiation exposure; (a) one stage being a flood UV-exposure; and (b) the other stage being a imagewise infrared exposure stage; (3) treating the exposed patterning composition with heat energy; and (4) developing the heat treated, exposed patterning composition with an aqueous alkaline developer to remove the non-imaged areas of the patterning composition and leaving the imaged areas substanti

Abstract: The invention is directed to compensating for imaging aberrations that result from repeated passes by an imaging laser array. The techniques described herein reduce the undesirable aberrations. In general, the techniques provide for printing a first line of image data and a set of contiguous lines as a function of the image data and a first mask. On a subsequent pass, these lines are overlapped. The line that overlaps the first line prints the image data again, but masked. The lines that overlap the contiguous lines print the image data normally.

Abstract: A method of making a mask or an electronic part, for example a printed circuit, comprises the steps of delivering heat in a desired pattern to a precursor of the mask or electronic part, the precursor comprising a surface coated with a coating, the coating comprising a heat-sensitive composition itself comprising an aqueous developer soluble polymeric substance and a compound which reduces the aqueous developer solubility of the polymeric substance, wherein the aqueous developer solubility of the composition is not increased by incident UV radiation but is increased by the delivery of heat; then developing the precursor to remove the heat-sensitive composition in regions to which the heat was delivered. In the case of a printed circuit precursor the surface may be then etched in conventional manner to yield the required printed circuit.

Abstract: A copolymer useful in radiation sensitive compositions for lithographic printing plates comprises the units A, B, C and D, wherein A is present in an amount of 0.5 to 30 wt.-% and is of the formula wherein R is hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, —CH═COOH or B is present in an amount of 5 to 35 wt.-% and is of the formula C is present in an amount of 10 to 55 wt.

Abstract: Copolymers containing the units A, B, C, D and optionally E are used to prepare radiation sensitive compositions and lithographic printing plates. The copolymer contains about 25 to 55 mol % of unit A which has the formula The copolymer contains about 0.5 to 25 mol % of unit B which has the formula wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl and aralkyl. The copolymer contains about 0.5 to 40 mol % of unit C which has the formula wherein X is an aliphatic or aromatic spacer group, and Ac is an acidic group selected from the group consisting of —COOH, —SO3H, —SO2NR9R10 with R9 and R10 independently being selected from hydrogen and alkyl; and when X is phenylene, Ac can also be OH.

Abstract: Multi-layer thermally imageable elements, useful as a lithographic printing plate precursors, are disclosed. The elements contain a top layer, an absorber layer that contains a photothermal conversion material and a hydrophilic substrate. An optional underlayer may also be present between the absorber layer and the hydrophilic substrate. The elements can be thermally imaged and processed with an aqueous alkaline developer.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate substrate is conditioned for imaging in a printer engine by attaching a leader to the leading edge. The leader is sufficiently flexible to be drawn into the printer engine and is adapted to pull the plate substrate through the printer engine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for calibrating a multi-color imaging system are provided. The multi-color imaging system is capable of applying different colorants to a substrate based on a plurality of input color values. The input color values control amounts of the colorants to be applied to the substrate by the imaging system. A subset of the input color values is selected and used to control the imaging system to apply one or more of the different colorants to the substrate, thereby forming a plurality of different color patches on the substrate. The subset of input color values is selected such that one of more of the different color patches is formed by application of a combination of at least two of the different colorants to the substrate. Color values are measured for each of the different color patches, and compared to reference color values, representing a calibrated condition of the imaging system. An error value is calculated.