Abstract: A prepress color proof can be prepared using suitable donor elements and an intermediate receiver element that has a roughened outer image receiving layer so that the color image is transferred with high image resolution. The intermediate receiver element can also have a cushioning layer beneath the outer image receiving layer that reduces the tendency for entrapped dirt particles to form minus density spot defects. In addition, a unique carrier plate can be used to carry the donor and intermediate receiver elements through laminating equipment. This carrier plate has a thermoplastic adhesive layer with sufficient tackiness to prevent irreversible dimensional change during lamination.

Abstract: A laminating system for bonding, to receiver stock, a lamination sheet of the type including a carrier and a material to be applied to the receiver stock, and for subsequently de-laminating the carrier from the receiver stock after the material has been applied to the receiver stock, includes a fuser to apply the material to the receiver stock. The leading edge of the carrier has a de-lamination leader to separate the carrier from the receiver stock as the leading edge of the sandwich emerges from the fuser. A first portion of the carrier is manually directed through a pair of idler rollers as the sandwich emerges from the fuser to form the carrier into a generally S-shaped curve so that operator attention is thereafter not needed to separate the remainder of the carrier and receiver stock.