Abstract: The invention provides a lithographic printing for precursor having an imagable coating on an aluminum support, wherein the imagable coating comprises a polymeric substance comprising colorant groups, and wherein the aluminum support on which the coating is provided is anodized but not subsequently modified by means of a post-anodic treatment compound, and the coating does not comprise a colorant dye. The polymeric substance may also comprise pendent infra-red or developer dissolution inhibiting groups, and these groups may also be the colorant groups themselves.

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: The invention is directed to a method for producing a predetermined resist pattern on a substrate. The method includes the patternwise application of infrared radiation to a precursor which contains the substrate, having a coating thereon, wherein the coating contains a positive working composition; and the development of the pattern using a developer. The composition contains a polymeric substance having functional groups Q thereon, such that the functionalized polymeric substance has the property that it is developer insoluble prior to delivery of infrared radiation and developer soluble thereafter.

Abstract: An imagable article comprises a thermally imagable coating on a substrate, the coating comprising a radiation absorbing compound and a metal compound which is thermally decomposable, to form a metal. The imagable article is imagewise exposed to electromagnetic radiation, which is converted to heat by the radiation absorbing compound. The imaged article is then subjected to a developer, and in regions that have been exposed the thermally decomposable metal compound is decomposed to elemental metal, and regions that have not been exposed dissolve in the developer leaving behind the regions of elemental metal.

Abstract: Thermally imageable lithographic printing plate precursors and heat-sensitive compositions for use in these printing plate precursors are disclosed. The compositions contain an aqueous developer soluble polymer, such as a phenolic resin; a compound that reduces the aqueous developer solubility of the polymer; and optionally, and infrared absorber. Examples of compounds that reduce the aqueous developer solubility of the polymer are those that contain at least one quarternized nitrogen atom, such as quinolinium compounds, benzothiazolium compounds, pyridinium compounds, and imidazoline compounds. On thermal imaging, the irradiated areas become more soluble in the aqueous developer and can be removed to form a positive image.

Abstract: The invention provides a lithographic printing for precursor having an imagable coating on an aluminum support, wherein the imagable coating comprises a polymeric substance comprising colorant groups, and wherein the aluminum support on which the coating is provided is anodized but not subsequently modified by means of a post-anodic treatment compound, and the coating does not comprise a colorant dye. The polymeric substance may also comprise pendent infra-red or developer dissolution inhibiting groups, and these groups may also be the colorant groups themselves.

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 said delivery of heat; then developing the precursor to remove heat-sensitive composition in regions to which the heat was delivered. In the case of a printed circuit precursor the surface may then be etched in conventional manner to yield the required printed circuit.

Abstract: Thermally imageable lithographic printing plate precursors and heat-sensitive compositions for use in these printing plate precursors are disclosed. The compositions contain an aqueous developer soluble polymer, such as a phenolic resin; a compound that reduces the aqueous developer solubility of the polymer; and optionally, and infrared absorber. Examples of compounds that reduce the aqueous developer solubility of the polymer are those that contain at least one quarternized nitrogen atom, such as quinolinium compounds, benzothiazolium compounds, pyridinium compounds, and imidazoline compounds. On thermal imaging, the irradiated areas become more soluble in the aqueous developer and can be removed to form a positive image.

Abstract: Thermally imageable lithographic printing plate precursors and heat-sensitive compositions for use in these printing plate precursors are disclosed. The compositions contain an aqueous developer soluble polymer, such as a phenolic resin; a compound that reduces the aqueous developer solubility of the polymer; and optionally, and infrared absorber. Examples of compounds that reduce the aqueous developer solubility of the polymer are those that contain at least one quarternized nitrogen atom, such as quinolinium compounds, benzothiazolium compounds, pyridinium compounds, and imidazoline compounds. On thermal imaging, the irradiated areas become more soluble in the aqueous developer and can be removed to form a positive image.

Abstract: There is described a lithographic plate which comprises a base coated with a photopolymerisable composition which comprises a polymeric binder, at least one free-radically polymerisable ethylenically unsaturated compound and as the photoinitiator combination a metallocene compound, N-phenyl glycine or a substituted N-phenyl glycine or an N-phenyl glycine derivative together with a third component which is a substance which helps in the reaction initiation but also increases the sensitivity of the photopolymerisable composition to a desired region of the spectrum.