Abstract: An imageable material can be used to form a mask image for providing a relief image. This imageable material has a simplified structure and consists essentially of, in order: a transparent polymeric carrier sheet and a barrier layer comprising a first infrared radiation absorbing compound. A first ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound is provided in the transparent polymeric carrier sheet or the barrier layer. A non-silver halide thermally sensitive imageable layer is disposed on the barrier layer and comprises a second infrared radiation absorbing compound and a second ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound. A relief image is formed by imaging the imageable material to form an imaged mask material, exposing a relief-forming material with curing radiation through the imaged mask material to form exposed regions and non-exposed regions, and developing the imaged relief-forming material to form a relief image by removing its non-exposed regions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a positive working lithographic printing plate precursor, comprising: (1) a substrate; and (2) an imaging layer, formed on the substrate, comprising a water-insoluble and an alkaline aqueous solution-soluble or dispersible resin and a photo-thermal converting material, wherein the imaging layer comprises either polyurethane or polyurethane urea or both of the polyurethane and the polyurethane urea, the polyurethane and the polyurethane urea comprising a unit having a substituent having an acidic hydrogen atom and a unit having a polysiloxane moiety in a side or main chain. The present invention can provide a lithographic printing plate precursor which has high printing durability, good scratch resistance, and good developing properties, as well as enhanced ink receptivity.

Abstract: A positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor exhibits satisfactory developability and has long print run length, satisfactory scratch resistance, and exhibits improved ink receptivity. This precursor has an image forming layer comprising a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble or alkali-dispersible resin. The image forming layer comprises at least a lower layer and an upper layer. A resin in at least one of the lower layer and the upper layer is a polyurethane including a recurring unit comprising a substituent having an acidic hydrogen atom and a recurring unit represented by the following formula: wherein Rf is an alkyl or polyether group in which at least 50% of hydrogen atoms have been fluorinated, R1 is a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group, m is 0 or 1 to 10, n is 1 to 30, and x is 1 to 4.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a printing element having at least one polymer layer which has photoimageable constituents and a chemically functionalized polymer to make the polymer layer either more hydrophobic or hydrophilic. In one embodiment, the printing element comprises two adjacent polymer layers on a substrate in which the photoimaged layer comprises a polymer chemically modified with hydrophobic fluoroalkyl side groups to provide differential wetting with hydrophilic inks.

Abstract: A method for forming a flexographic plate includes providing a halftone image; detecting an edge region of image features and an interior region of image features; applying fine pixel mask pattern to the edge regions; applying coarse pixel mask pattern to the interior regions; combining the fine patterned edge and the coarse patterned interior into a patterned image; and imaging the flexographic plate.

Abstract: Lithographic printing plate are formed by imagewise exposing a positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor with infrared radiation to form an imaged precursor comprising exposed regions and non-exposed regions, and processing the imaged precursor to remove the exposed regions using a processing solution having a pH of 12 or more, that contains a metal cation M2+ selected from barium, calcium, strontium, and zinc cations, and is substantially silicate-free. The positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor comprises a grained and anodized aluminum-containing substrate, a first ink receptive layer comprising at least one water-insoluble, alkali solution-soluble or -dispersible first resin, a second ink receptive layer disposed over the first receptive layer, and an infrared radiation absorber in an amount of at least 0.5 weight %, in either or both of the first ink receptive layer and the second ink receptive layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal display wherein the liquid crystal composition includes: a compound of general formula (I) including 1%-50% of the total weight of the liquid crystal composition; a compound of general formula (II) including 1%-60% of the total weight of the liquid crystal composition; a compound of general formula (III) including 1%-60% of the total weight of the liquid crystal composition; and a compound of general formula (IV) including 0-50% of the total weight of the liquid crystal composition—wherein the liquid crystal composition has a suitably wider nematic phase scope, a suitable optical anisotropy, a favorable low-temperature storage stability a faster response speed, can be used for outdoor work, has a good image display effect, and substantially free of streaking phenomenon.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flexographic printing plate includes designing a photomask patterned design. The photomask patterned designed is laser-ablated into a thermal imaging layer. The laser-ablated thermal imaging layer is laminated to a top side of a flexographic printing plate substrate. A bottom side of the flexographic printing plate substrate is exposed to UV-A radiation. The top side of the flexographic printing plate substrate is exposed to UV-A radiation. The thermal imaging layer is removed. The flexographic printing plate substrate is developed. A flexographic printing system for printing a photomask includes an ink roll, an anilox roll, a printing plate cylinder, a flexographic printing plate disposed on the printing plate cylinder, and an impression cylinder. The flexographic printing plate comprises embossing patterns corresponding to a photomask patterned design. The flexographic printing plate may be used in a flexographic printing system to manufacture a photomask with flexography.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor in a positive-type with an infrared-sensitivity, having a support and an image recording layer provided on the support, the support having a hydrophilic surface, the recording layer having a particular resin, an amphoteric surfactant and/or an anionic surfactant, and an infrared absorbing agent, wherein the particular resin being at least one of resins selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane resin, a poly(vinyl acetal) resin, and maleimide resin A.

Abstract: A method of developing a photocurable printing blank to produce a relief pattern comprising a plurality of relief dots having desired characteristics. The photocurable printing blank comprises a backing layer having at least one photocurable layer disposed thereon and a barrier layer disposed on the at least one photocurable layer. The method includes the steps of (1) placing a negative of a desired relief image on top of the barrier layer; (2) exposing the printing blank to actinic radiation through the barrier layer and negative to selectively crosslink and cure portions of the at least one photocurable layer, wherein the at least one photocurable layer is crosslinked and cured in the portions not covered by the negative, thereby creating the relief pattern; and (3) developing the printing blank to remove the barrier layer and uncured portions of the photocurable layer and reveal the relief pattern.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing a flexographic printing blank to produce a relief image printing element capable of printing cleanly. The method provides a flexographic printing blank comprising: (i) a support layer; (ii) at least one photocurable layer disposed on the support layer, and (iii) a laser ablatable mask layer disposed on the at least one photocurable layer. The laser ablatable mask layer is laser ablated to create an in situ negative in the laser ablatable mask layer. Thereafter, a barrier layer is disposed on the laser ablatable mask layer. The photocurable layer is exposed to actinic radiation through the barrier layer and the laser ablatable mask layer; and the imaged and exposed flexographic printing blank is developed to reveal the relief image therein. The resulting flexographic relief image printing element is capable of printing cleanly and of resisting paper fibers, dust, and ink during a print run.

Abstract: A presensitized plate having a long press life and excellent resistance to scum and corrosive micro-stains and capable of on-press development is provided. The presensitized plate includes a photosensitive layer containing (A) a sensitizing dye, (B) a polymerization initiator, (C) a polymerizable compound, and (D) a binder polymer; and a protective layer which are formed on a support in this order. The support is prepared from an aluminum alloy plate containing intermetallic compound particles with a circle equivalent diameter of 0.2 ?m or more at a surface density of 35,000 pcs/mm2 or more and aluminum carbide particles with a maximum length of 1 ?m or more in an amount of up to 30,000 pcs/g.

Abstract: A waterless planographic printing plate precursor has, on a substrate, at least a photosensitive layer or heat sensitive layer and a silicone rubber layer, which is a waterless planographic printing plate precursor, wherein 1) a color pigment and a pigment dispersant are contained in the silicone rubber layer, 2) the a content of color pigment is 0.1 to 20 vol % in the silicone rubber layer, and 3) the pigment dispersant contains an organic complex compound including a metal and an organic compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel low pH developing solution which does not contain an inorganic strong alkali component.

Abstract: Negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors have improved bakeability and good shelf life and can be imaged using either UV or infrared radiation. These precursors have a negative-working imageable layer that has a unique polymeric binder comprising a polymeric backbone and further comprising at least (a) and (b) pendant groups distributed in random order along the polymeric backbone. The (a) pendant groups are ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable groups, and the (b) pendant groups are defined by Structures (I), (II), and (III) described in the disclosure.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy (??), and having at least one of characteristics such as a high stability to heat, light and so forth, a high clearing point, a suitable refractive index anisotropy (?n) and an excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds, and an intermediate thereof. A solution is a compound represented by formula (1): wherein, for example, R1 and R2 are alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons, alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons; ring A1, ring A2 and ring A3 are 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene; Z1, Z2 and Z3 are a single bond or —(CH2)2—; X is —CF2— or —CHF—; and l, m and n are 0 or 1.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a plate surface protecting liquid composition which enables an improvement in adhesion of a printing ink onto a lithographic printing plate at the beginning of printing, and to provide a method for treating a lithographic printing plate using the plate surface protecting liquid composition, which can reduce the generation of waste paper immediately after the beginning of printing. Disclosed is a plate surface protecting liquid composition for lithographic printing plate, including a polysiloxane compound having a polyether chain in the side-chain.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor having excellent printing durability, staining resistance and developability as well as processes for preparing lithographic printing plates therefrom. The lithographic printing plate precursor may comprise a primer layer and an image-recording layer in this order in a substrate, wherein the primer layer comprises a polymer containing a repeat unit having a carbon-carbon backbone, a —C(?O)— group directly attached thereto, a —C(?O)—NR0 — group, a carboxyl group or a salt thereof, and an ethylenically unsaturated bond.

Abstract: A cyclic compound of the present invention has a molecular weight of 500 to 5000, and is represented by the following formula (1):

Abstract: Stabilized precursor solutions can be used to form radiation inorganic coating materials. The precursor solutions generally comprise metal suboxide cations, peroxide-based ligands and polyatomic anions. Design of the precursor solutions can be performed to achieve a high level of stability of the precursor solutions. The resulting coating materials can be designed for patterning with a selected radiation, such as ultraviolet light, x-ray radiation or electron beam radiation. The radiation patterned coating material can have a high contrast with respect to material properties, such that development of a latent image can be successful to form lines with very low line-width roughness and adjacent structures with a very small pitch.