Abstract: A method for fabricating a flexographic printing plate for printing image patterns including one or more uniform image regions includes defining a repeating tile having a pattern of feature shapes positioned at pseudo-random feature locations. A plate formation pattern corresponding to the image pattern is determined wherein the repeating tile is applied in a tiled arrangement to the uniform image regions. The plate formation pattern is used to form a flexographic printing plate, wherein regions of the flexographic printing plate corresponding to the uniform image regions of the image pattern include a pattern of raised features in positions corresponding to the feature positions in the repeating tile.

Abstract: A flexographic printing system prints image patterns including one or more uniform image regions on a substrate. A flexographic printing plate includes a pattern of raised features for transferring ink to the substrate in accordance with the image pattern. An anilox roller having a plurality of anilox cells is configured to transfer ink to the flexographic printing plate. Uniform image regions of the flexographic printing plate corresponding to the uniform image regions of the image pattern include a pattern of raised feature shapes positioned in a pattern of pseudo-random feature locations. An average spacing between the raised feature shapes in the uniform image regions is less than an anilox cell size such that a plurality of the raised feature shapes receive ink from a single anilox cell of the anilox roller.

Abstract: A printed electrical device is formed using a flexographic printing system. A flexographic printing plate having a pattern of raised features includes an active region having a plurality of parallel traces separated by a trace spacing of between 5-40 microns that are used to form active micro-traces that provide an electrical function, and an inactive region adjacent to the active region having one or more protective features that are used to form electrically-inactive features. The protective features are separated from an outermost trace of the plurality of traces by a gap distance of between 60% and 250% of the trace spacing. The flexographic printing plate is used to transfer ink from an anilox roller to a substrate to provide a printed pattern corresponding to the pattern of raised features on the flexographic printing plate.

Abstract: A thermal dye image receiver element has a substrate comprising a voided compliant layer and metalized layer. Disposed on the metalized layer is an opacifying layer that includes an opacifying agent and a dye receiving layer. This thermal dye image receiver element can be a duplex element with image receiving layers on both sides of the substrate, and it can be used in association with a thermal donor element to provide a thermal image on either or opposing sides of the receiver element. The metalized layer provides increased specular reflectance under resulting thermal dye images.

Abstract: A thermal dye image receiver element has a substrate comprising a voided compliant layer and metalized layer. Disposed on the metalized layer is an opacifying layer that includes an opacifying agent and a dye receiving layer. This thermal dye image receiver element can be a duplex element with image receiving layers on both sides of the substrate, and it can be used in association with a thermal donor element to provide a thermal image on either or opposing sides of the receiver element. The metalized layer provides increased specular reflectance under resulting thermal dye images.

Abstract: A thermal dye image receiver element has, in order, a cellulosic raw base support, an antistatic subbing layer, and a thermal dye receiving layer. The cellulosic raw base support has an internal electrical resistance (WER) that is at least 1 log ohm/square greater than the surface electrical resistance (SER) of the antistatic subbing layer. This arrangement of antistatic properties overcomes a static problem in the thermal dye image receiver elements by properly balancing the conductivity between the two antistatic locations.

Abstract: A thermal dye image receiver element has, in order, a cellulosic raw base support, an antistatic subbing layer, and a thermal dye receiving layer. The cellulosic raw base support has an internal electrical resistance (WER) that is at least 1 log ohm/square greater than the surface electrical resistance (SER) of the antistatic subbing layer. This arrangement of antistatic properties overcomes a static problem in the thermal dye image receiver elements by properly balancing the conductivity between the two antistatic locations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of ordering images at an imaging device which permits a user to print images immediately, and simultaneously with the printing of the images, access further images for editing. The method of the present invention also provides a running account to the user as the user decides to print an image that details the cost of the jobs as they are being performed. Further, the system provides an ability to check the transaction cost versus the deposit for a fulfillment session and update the cost as the jobs are fulfilled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of aligning comprising providing a support, applying a transparent layer, patterning at least the transparent layer to produce a pattern and an alignment feature capable of scattering light, illuminating the support and the transparent layer with oblique lighting, providing an analysis system capable of sensing scattered light from the alignment feature and referencing, sensing the scattered light from the alignment feature; referencing the scattered light from the alignment feature to a position on said support; and aligning a second operation to the position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging member comprising poultry gelatin. In one embodiment, the poultry gelatin is located preferably in at least one layer in the upper half of said imaging member comprising poultry gelatin. Another embodiment provides an aqueous coating composition comprising poultry gelatin.

Abstract: A mobile retail signage management system includes a communication device capable of transmitting a specific location for which a corresponding sign needs to be positioned at the specific location; a portable workstation including a product database that associates product information with the specific location, wherein the product information includes display information for a corresponding sign positioned at the location. Moreover, the portable workstation communicates to the communication device as the portable workstation comes within the communication range of the communication device, wherein the communication range corresponds to the near vicinity of the portable workstation with respect to the communication device. A sign writer for imaging the corresponding sign in real-time, in the near vicinity of the specific location; and a computer network for updating the database are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging member comprising poultry gelatin. In one embodiment, the poultry gelatin is located preferably in at least one layer in the upper half of said imaging member comprising poultry gelatin. Another embodiment provides an aqueous coating composition comprising poultry gelatin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging member comprising poultry gelatin. In one embodiment, the poultry gelatin is located preferably in at least one layer in the upper half of said imaging member comprising poultry gelatin. Another embodiment provides an aqueous coating composition comprising poultry gelatin.

Abstract: An aqueous coating fluid is described comprising gelatin at a concentration of at least 1 wt % and a colloidal particle dispersed material phase at a volume fraction of at least 0.01, wherein at least 20% of the gelatin comprises a gelatin prepared from hydrolysis of ossein using sodium or potassium hydroxide. The present invention enables increasing the concentrations of a coating fluid containing gelatin and dispersed sub-micron colloidal materials, reducing the size of the sub-micron colloidal materials in such a coating fluid, and/or including higher molecular weight gelatin in such a coating fluid without detrimentally increasing the viscosity of such fluids. The invention further enables reducing the viscosity of an aqueous coating fluid containing gelatin and dispersed insoluble colloidal material, without needing to reduce the concentration of gelatin or colloidal materials, increase the size of the sub-micron colloidal materials, and/or reduce the molecular weight of the gelatin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging member comprising poultry gelatin. In one embodiment, the poultry gelatin is located preferably in at least one layer in the upper half of said imaging member comprising poultry gelatin. Another embodiment provides an aqueous coating composition comprising poultry gelatin.

Abstract: An aqueous coating fluid is described comprising gelatin at a concentration of at least 1 wt % and a colloidal particle dispersed material phase at a volume fraction of at least 0.01, wherein at least 20% of the gelatin comprises a gelatin prepared from hydrolysis of ossein using sodium or potassium hydroxide. The present invention enables increasing the concentrations of a coating fluid containing gelatin and dispersed sub-micron colloidal materials, reducing the size of the sub-micron colloidal materials in such a coating fluid, and/or including higher molecular weight gelatin in such a coating fluid without detrimentally increasing the viscosity of such fluids. The invention further enables reducing the viscosity of an aqueous coating fluid containing gelatin and dispersed insoluble colloidal material, without needing to reduce the concentration of gelatin or colloidal materials, increase the size of the sub-micron colloidal materials, and/or reduce the molecular weight of the gelatin.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a photographic element is described comprising a support bearing one or more hydrophilic colloid layers including at least one photographic silver halide emulsion layer, wherein sequestered silver ions are incorporated into at least one hydrophilic colloid layer in the form of a silver ion containing material which sequesters silver ions prior to photographic processing and releases silver ions upon exposure to photographic processing solutions. Method for preparing and processing such photographic element are also described. In accordance with particular embodiments of the invention, the silver ion containing material comprises a silver ion-exchanged zeolite material or an intercalation composition comprising a layered host material having silver ions inserted as guest ions between the layers of the host material.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a photographic element is described comprising a support bearing one or more hydrophilic colloid layers including at least one photographic silver halide emulsion layer, wherein sequestered silver ions are incorporated into at least one hydrophilic colloid layer in the form of a silver ion containing material which sequesters silver ions prior to photographic processing and releases silver ions upon exposure to photographic processing solutions. Method for preparing and processing such photographic element are also described. In accordance with particular embodiments of the invention, the silver ion containing material comprises a silver ion-exchanged zeolite material or an intercalation composition comprising a layered host material having silver ions inserted as guest ions between the layers of the host material.

Abstract: An imaging element is described comprising one or more hydrophilic colloid layers which include gelatin as a film forming binder which has been chemically crosslinked with a gelatin hardener, wherein at least 20% of the gelatin of at least one of the one or more hydrophilic colloid layers comprises a gelatin prepared from hydrolysis of ossein using sodium or potassium hydroxide, and the gelatin is chemical crosslinked with a gelatin hardener at a level from 70 to 120 effective &mgr;mole hardener per gram of gelatin. Improvements are obtained in the wet mechanical strength of an imaging element comprising gelatin as a binder, without needing to increase the amount of chemical crosslinker with respect to the gelatin. The invention further enables the use of relatively low molecular weight gelatins without compromising the wet mechanical strength of imaging elements and without needing to increase the amount of crosslinker relative to the amount of gelatin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a silver halide direct view multicolor photographic element comprising a red record containing (1) a red light sensitized silver halide emulsion, (2) a cyan dye-forming NB first coupler, and (3) a second coupler selected from (a) a magenta dye forming coupler in an amount of 2-30 mole % of the total coupler in the red record and (b) a cyan dye-forming coupler having a greater absorption in the green spectra than the first coupler in an amount sufficient to provide a Status A green density in the range of 0.27 to 0.40 using a red light separation exposure at a Status A red density of 1.0. Such an element exhibits improved flesh tone reproduction and good dye dark stability.