Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors have been designed so that they can be stored, shipped, and used in stacks without interleaf paper between individual precursors. This is achieved by incorporating polymeric particles having an average diameter of from about 3 to about 20 ?m into the outermost precursor layer such as an imageable layer or topcoat. The polymeric particles comprise a core of a crosslinked polymer and have grafted hydrophilic polymeric surface groups that are grafted onto the particle surfaces by polymerizing hydrophilic monomers in the presence of the crosslinked polymeric particles. The lithographic printing plates can be either negative- or positive-working elements.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive composition and negative-working imagable element includes a polymeric binder that has a hydrophobic backbone and pendant salt groups that comprise a cation covalently attached to the hydrophobic backbone and a boron-containing anion forming a salt with the cation. The use of these particular polymers provides fast digital speed (high imaging sensitivity) and good printability (good shelf-life) even when the preheat step normally used between exposure and development, is omitted.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive composition includes a free-radically polymerizable component, an initiator composition capable of generating free radicals sufficient to initiate polymerization upon exposure to imaging radiation, an infrared radiation absorbing compound, and a polymeric binder. The initiator composition includes a unique polyonium borate comprising a polyvalent onium cation with multiple onium moieties and sufficient organic borate counterions to provide a net neutral charge. The radiation-sensitive composition can be used to prepare a negative-working imageable element that is sensitive to suitable imaging infrared radiation, can be imaged at relatively low energy, and can be developed either on-press or off-press.

Abstract: Lithographic printing plates can be prepared with enhanced contrast between the image and background by coloring the imaged or exposed regions using a coloring fluid containing a water-insoluble colorant (dye or pigment) and an organic solvent that swells the imaged regions sufficiently for the colorant to be embedded or diffused therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to negative-working imageable elements that can be used for the manufacture of printing plates. These imageable elements can be developed on on-press by the action of a lithographic printing ink used in combination with either water or a fountain solution. The imageable elements comprise an imageable layer that is not removable in water or fountain solution alone. The imageable layer includes a free radically polymerizable compound, a free radical initiator composition, an infrared radiation absorbing compound, and a polymeric binder comprising poly(alkylene oxide) pendant groups, and preferably additionally pendant cyano groups.

Abstract: A negative-working imageable element has an imageable layer and a topcoat layer that contains a composition that will change color upon exposure to imaging infrared radiation. The imageable element can be imaged and developed on-press to provide images with improved contrast for print-out.

Abstract: An imageable element can be imaged using non-ablative processes. This element has a non-silicone, non-crosslinked layer contiguous to and under an ink-repelling crosslinked silicone rubber layer. These elements can be used for providing lithographic printing plates useful for waterless printing (no fountain solution). Processing after imaging is relatively simple with either water or an aqueous solution consisting essentially of a surfactant or mechanical means to remove the crosslinked silicone rubber layer and a minor portion of the non-silicone, non-crosslinked layer in the imaged regions.

Abstract: A non-ablative negative-working imageable element has first and second polymeric layers under a crosslinked silicone rubber layer. These elements can be used in a simple method to provide lithographic printing plates useful for waterless printing (no fountain solution). Processing after imaging is relatively simple using either water or an aqueous solution containing very little organic solvent to remove the imaged regions. The crosslinked silicone rubber layer is ink-repelling and only the first layer that is closest to the substrate contains an infrared radiation absorbing compound to provide thermal sensitivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to negative-working imageable elements that can be used for the manufacture of printing plates. These imageable elements can be developed on on-press by the action of a lithographic printing ink used in combination with either water or a fountain solution. The imageable elements comprise an imageable layer that is not removable in water or fountain solution alone. The imageable layer includes a free radically polymerizable compound, a free radical initiator composition, an infrared radiation absorbing compound, and a polymeric binder comprising poly(alkylene oxide) pendant groups, and preferably additionally pendant cyano groups.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product that accepts raw polygon geometry and view parameters from the visualization API, sorts the polygons in back-to-front order, and then supplies the sorted triangles to graphics API such as OpenGL.

Abstract: A negative-working imageable element has an imageable layer that includes an initiator composition including an iodonium cation and a boron-containing anion at a molar ratio of at least 1.2:1, an infrared radiation absorbing compound, a primary polymeric binder, and a spirolactone or spirolactam colorant precursor. The imaged element exhibits improved print-out.

Abstract: Lithographic substrate comprising (a) a dimensionally stable plate- or foil-shaped support, (b) an aluminum oxide layer provided on at least one side of the support (a), and (c) an interlayer applied onto the aluminum oxide layer comprising a hydrophilic polymer comprising structural units derived from the following compounds: (a1) at least one compound comprising both polyalkylene oxide chains and at least one structural unit which is free-radical polymerizable, and (a2) at least one monomer capable of copolymerizing with the free-radical polymerizable structural unit of (a1) and furthermore comprising at least one acidic functional group with pKs<5, wherein the acidic functional group can be present as a free acid group or in the form of a salt.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing substantially intimate rolling contact between a portion of a donor sheet and a portion of an acceptor element in a laser-induced thermal transfer printer comprises a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum, an acceptor element affixed to and supported by the cylindrical drum, a rotatably mounted dispensing roller for dispensing a donor sheet, and a rotatably mounted receiving roller for receiving the donor sheet, so that the donor sheet is extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller. A plurality of rotatably mounted contact rollers configured to bring a portion of the donor sheet extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller into contact with a portion of the acceptor element is also included.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive composition includes a free-radically polymerizable component, an initiator composition capable of generating free radicals sufficient to initiate polymerization upon exposure to imaging radiation, an infrared radiation absorbing compound, and a polymeric binder. The initiator composition includes a unique polyonium borate comprising a polyvalent onium cation with multiple onium moieties and sufficient organic borate counterions to provide a net neutral charge. The radiation-sensitive composition can be used to prepare a negative-working imageable element that is sensitive to suitable imaging infrared radiation, can be imaged at relatively low energy, and can be developed either on-press or off-press.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for producing a visualization format from CAD data comprising producing a BREP model for visualization, wherein said BREP model has a topology component and a geometry component; removing a plurality of redundant control points from said geometry component; normalizing a plurality of knot vectors and a plurality of weight components from said geometry component; recognizing an analytic geometry from said geometry component; recognizing a plurality of equivalents from said geometry component; and converting said analytic geometry to said light model representation, and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive composition and negative-working imageable element includes a polymeric binder that has a hydrophobic backbone and pendant salt groups that comprise a cation covalently attached to the hydrophobic backbone and a boron-containing anion forming a salt with the cation. The use of these particular polymers provides fast digital speed (high imaging sensitivity) and good printability (good shelf-life) even when the preheat step normally used between exposure and development, is omitted.

Abstract: A defoamer solution is introduced into a pre-rinsing solution, developer, or post-rinsing solution in a lithographic processing apparatus in relation to the surface area of processed imageable element. Surfactants can then be used in the developer if desired, and the recirculation rates of various solutions can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radiation sensitive composition suitable for us in on-press developable printing plates. The radiation sensitive composition comprises an initiator system including an onium salt and a radiation absorber. The initiator system is combined with a polymerizable material, and a polymeric binder including polyethylene oxide segments.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for for organizing elements for compression, comprising nesting a hierarchical topological structure having a plurality of elements; arranging said plurality of elements in a pattern to facilitate data compression; representing said pattern as four arrays; and compressing said plurality of elements from said arrays, and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for tessellation, comprising tessellating a curve having a plurality of polygons; connecting said plurality of polygons in a preferred direction; decomposing polygons into a plurality of triangles; and whereby a mesh representation is creating from said plurality of triangles, and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.