Abstract: A maintenance liquid for inkjet printers includes at least 50 wt % of at least one ether solvent according to Formula (I) or (II) with the wt % based on the total weight of the maintenance liquid: R1(CO)x(OR2)yOR3??Formula (I), and R4CO(OR5)zOCOR6??Formula (II), wherein R1, R4 and R6 independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 rand R5 independently represent an ethylene group or a propylene group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; x represents an integer of 0 or 1; y and z independently represent an integer of 1 to 4; and wherein the maintenance liquid contains no more than 25 ppm of peroxide expressed as hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A maintenance liquid for inkjet printers includes at least 50 wt % of at least one ether solvent according to Formula (I) or (II) with the wt % based on the total weight of the maintenance liquid: R1(CO)x(OR2)yOR3 ??Formula (I), and R4CO(OR5)zOCOR6 ??Formula (II), wherein R1, R4 and R6 independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 rand R5 independently represent an ethylene group or a propylene group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; x represents an integer of 0 or 1; y and z independently represent an integer of 1 to 4; and wherein the maintenance liquid contains no more than 25 ppm of peroxide expressed as hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making an offset printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of: (a) image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising (i) a hydrophilic base, (ii) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (iii) an intermediate layer, and (iv) a silver halide emulsion layer,(b) applying an aqueous alkaline solution to the imaging element in the presence of (a) developing agent(s) and (a) silver halide solvent(s) to form image-wise in said image receiving layer a silver image,(c) treating the imaging element to remove the layer(s) on top of said image receiving layer,characterized in that said imaging element has been stored before image-wise exposure in a surrounding having at 22.degree. C. a relative humidity between 20% and 50%.According to the present invention there is also provided a package of the imaging element, making said imaging element suitable for use in the above defined method.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic base (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (ii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer and (iii) an antistress layer being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer and comprising gelatin, characterized in that said antistress layer comprises at least 30 mg/m.sup.2 of a matting agent with a weight average diameter of at least 3 .mu.m.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (ii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer (iii) a first antistress layer and (iv) a second antistress layer, said antistress layers being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer and each independently comprising unhardened gelatin, characterized in that said second antistress layer comprises at least 30 mg/m.sup.2 of a matting agent with a weight average diameter of more than 3 .mu.m.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making an offset printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of:image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei and (ii) a photosensitive layer comprising a photosensitive silver halide emulsion said photosensitive layer being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer,applying an aqueous alkaline solution to the imaging element in the presence of (a) developing agent(s) and (a) silver halide solvent(s) to form a silver image in said image receiving layer,treating the imaging element to remove the layer(s) on top of the image receiving layer, thereby exposing the imaged surface of the support by uncovering said silver image formed in said image receiving layer,characterized in that said aqueous alkaline solution comprises less than 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei and (ii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer, characterized in that said photosensitive layer comprises a substituted or unsubstituted 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone in an amount between 0.2 mg/g and 15 mg/g of silver halide expressed as an equivalent amount of silver nitrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising in the order given (i) a hydrophilic base, (ii) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (iii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer and (iv) an intermediate layer between said image receiving layer and said photosensitive layer, characterized in that said intermediate layer comprises particles of a water insoluble inorganic compound having a number average size not lower than 0.02 .mu.m and lower than 3 .mu.m.According to the present invention there is also provided a method for making an offset printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process by using said imaging element.sup.+.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (ii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer and (iii) an antistress composition in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer, said antistress composition comprising unhardened gelatin in an amount ranging from 0.60 to 1.75 g/m.sup.2, characterized in that at least 50% by weight of said unhardened gelatin belongs to one or more gelatin species whereof a 10% by weight aqueous solution at 36.degree. C. and pH 6 has a viscosity lower than 35 mPa.s at a shearing rate of 1000 s.sup.-1.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising in the order given (i) a hydrophilic base, (ii) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei and (iii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer, characterized in that said photosensitive layer or another optional layer being in water permeable relationship therewith contains at least one gelatin species whereof a 10% by weight aqueous solution at 36.degree. C. and pH 6 has a viscosity lower than 20 mPa.s at a shearing rate of 1000 s.sup.-1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making an offset printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process having improved printing properties comprising the step of developing an imaging element comprising in the order given (i) a hydrophilic base, (ii) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei and (iii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion in the presence of a 1-phenyl-5-mercapto-tetrazole, being substituted by one or two substituents from the group consisting of:(i) a --COOM group with M representing hydrogen, a metal cation, or an ammonium group,(ii) a --SO.sub.3 M.sup.1 group, M.sup.1 representing hydrogen, a metal cation, or an ammonium group,(iii) an acylamido group,(iv) and a substituent containing at least one of the aforementioned substituents (i)-(iv).