Abstract: An assembly can be used to provide flexographic printing plates. This assembly has (a) a flexographic photosensitive element consisting essentially of: a backing film, and a water-soluble or water-dispersible photosensitive layer comprising a photosensitive resin composition and having a front imaging surface and a backside imaging surface that is in contact with the backing film; and (b) a mask element directly in contact with the front imaging surface of the water-soluble or water-dispersible photosensitive layer. The water-soluble or water-dispersible photosensitive layer has a controlled release of at least 5 g/cm and up to and including 700 g/cm as established by ASTM D-3330 Method D, between the front imaging surface and the mask element.

Abstract: Flexographic printing members are prepared by developing an exposed flexographic printing member precursor with an aqueous flexographic developer. The aqueous flexographic developer comprises: a) a fatty acid composition consisting of one or more saturated or unsaturated fatty acids or alkali metal salts thereof, each saturated or unsaturated fatty acid or alkali metal salt thereof independently having 12 to 20 carbon atoms, the fatty acid composition being present in an amount of 0.25-2.0 weight %, and at least 85 weight % of the fatty acid composition is composed of one or more C18 mono- or poly-unsaturated fatty acids or alkali metal salts thereof; b) an aminopolycarboxylic acid or alkali metal salt thereof in an amount of 0.05-0.30 weight %; c) a buffer compound in an amount of 05-0.60 weight %; and d) water. Such aqueous flexographic developers can also be provided in concentrated form and appropriately diluted before or during use.

Abstract: Flexographic printing members are prepared by developing an exposed flexographic printing member precursor with an aqueous flexographic developer. The aqueous flexographic developer comprises: a) a fatty acid composition consisting of one or more saturated or unsaturated fatty acids or alkali metal salts thereof, each saturated or unsaturated fatty acid or alkali metal salt thereof independently having 12 to 20 carbon atoms, the fatty acid composition being present in an amount of 0.25-2.0 weight %, and at least 85 weight % of the fatty acid composition is composed of one or more C18 mono- or poly-unsaturated fatty acids or alkali metal salts thereof; b) an aminopolycarboxylic acid or alkali metal salt thereof in an amount of 0.05-0.30 weight %; c) a buffer compound in an amount of 05-0.60 weight %; and d) water. Such aqueous flexographic developers can also be provided in concentrated form and appropriately diluted before or during use.

Abstract: Flexographic printing members are prepared from a flexographic printing plate precursor consisting essentially of: backing film, water- or water-dispersible photosensitive layer, and cover sheet in contact with the photosensitive layer. The cover sheet is removed and a mask element is laminated directly in contact with the photosensitive layer. Exposure through the mask element provides exposed regions and non-exposed regions. The non-exposed regions are removed with an aqueous developer having: a) a C12-20 saturated or unsaturated fatty acid (or alkali metal salt) at 0.25-2.0 weight %, and at least 85 weight % of a C18 mono- or poly-unsaturated fatty acid (or alkali metal salt); b) an aminopolycarboxylic acid (or alkali metal salt) at 0.05-0.30 weight %; c) a buffer at 05-0.60 weight %; and d) water. The photosensitive layer has a controlled release of 5-500 g/cm using ASTM D-3330 Method D, between its front imaging surface and the mask element.

Abstract: Flexographic printing members are prepared by developing an exposed flexographic printing member precursor with an aqueous flexographic developer. The aqueous flexographic developer comprises: a) a fatty acid composition consisting of one or more saturated or unsaturated fatty acids or alkali metal salts thereof, each saturated or unsaturated fatty acid or alkali metal salt thereof independently having 12 to 20 carbon atoms, the fatty acid composition being present in an amount of 0.25-2.0 weight %, and at least 85 weight % of the fatty acid composition is composed of one or more C18 mono- or poly-unsaturated fatty acids or alkali metal salts thereof; b) an aminopolycarboxylic acid or alkali metal salt thereof in an amount of 0.05-0.30 weight %; c) a buffer compound in an amount of 05-0.60 weight %; and d) water. Such aqueous flexographic developers can also be provided in concentrated form and appropriately diluted before or during use.

Abstract: Flexographic printing members are prepared by developing an exposed flexographic printing member precursor with an aqueous flexographic developer. The aqueous flexographic developer comprises: a) a fatty acid composition consisting of one or more saturated or unsaturated fatty acids or alkali metal salts thereof, each saturated or unsaturated fatty acid or alkali metal salt thereof independently having 12 to 20 carbon atoms, the fatty acid composition being present in an amount of 0.25-2.0 weight %, and at least 85 weight % of the fatty acid composition is composed of one or more C18 mono- or poly-unsaturated fatty acids or alkali metal salts thereof; b) an aminopolycarboxylic acid or alkali metal salt thereof in an amount of 0.05-0.30 weight %; c) a buffer compound in an amount of 05-0.60 weight %; and d) water. Such aqueous flexographic developers can also be provided in concentrated form and appropriately diluted before or during use.

Abstract: Flexographic printing members are prepared from a flexographic printing plate precursor consisting essentially of: backing film, water- or water-dispersible photosensitive layer, and cover sheet in contact with the photosensitive layer. The cover sheet is removed and a mask element is laminated directly in contact with the photosensitive layer. Exposure through the mask element provides exposed regions and non-exposed regions. The non-exposed regions are removed with an aqueous developer having: a) a C12-20 saturated or unsaturated fatty acid (or alkali metal salt) at 0.25-2.0 weight %, and at least 85 weight % of a C18 mono- or poly-unsaturated fatty acid (or alkali metal salt); b) an aminopolycarboxylic acid (or alkali metal salt) at 0.05-0.30 weight %; c) a buffer at 05-0.60 weight %; and d) water. The photosensitive layer has a controlled release of 5-500 g/cm using ASTM D-3330 Method D, between its front imaging surface and the mask element.

Abstract: A structured surface is formed with the method of the present invention. The method of making this structured surface includes the steps of applying an ablatable radiation sensitive coating on the major surface of the substrate, and exposing the ablatable radiation sensitive coating to radiation such that exposed portions of the ablatable radiation sensitive coating ablate from the substrate to form a structured surface. The structured surface then includes a substrate and a pattern of structures framed by at least one separation bank. The method may also include the steps of depositing a flowable material on to the structures and the separation bank to form a pattern of flowable material in the structures.

Abstract: A black donor for use in a laser addressable thermal transfer system, wherein the black donor comprises a substrate having coated thereon at least one black color layer comprising a binder and colorants. The colorants include a non-infrared absorbing black dye or pigment and about 10% to about 50% of a carbon black pigment, based on the total weight of the colorants in the black color layer.

Abstract: 2-Methyl-4,4a-dihydro-3H-carbazolium salts that are useful as dye precursors and dyes derived from those precursors are disclosed. The salts are described by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl, aryl, sulfoalkyl, carboxyalkyl, sulfatoalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, acyloxyalkyl, dialkylaminoalkylene, cycloaminoalkylene, acyl, or alkenyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having up to 18 carbon atoms; R.sup.3 represents hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; R.sup.4 represents hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; R.sup.5 represents hydrogen, nitro, carboxyl, sulfo, hydroxy, halogen, phospho, or an alkoxy, thioalkoxy, oxyalkyl, acyl, alkyl, aryl, or amino group having up to 18 carbon atoms; wherein any two groups R.sup.5, or R.sup.4 and a group R.sup.5, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.

Abstract: 2-Methyl-4,4a-dihydro-3H-carbazolium salts that are useful as dye precursors and dyes derived from those precursors are disclosed. The salts are described by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl, aryl, sulfoalkyl, carboxyalkyl, sulfatoalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, acyloxyalkyl, dialkylarinoalkylene, cycloaminoalkylene, acyl, or alkenyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having up to 18 carbon atoms; R.sup.3 represents hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; R.sup.4 represents hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; R.sup.5 represents hydrogen, nitro, carboxyl, sulfo, hydroxy, halogen, phospho, or an alkoxy, thioalkoxy, oxyalkyl, acyl, alkyl, aryl, or amino group having up to 18 carbon atoms; wherein any two groups R.sup.5, or R.sup.4 and a group R.sup.5, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.