Abstract: A method and computer software for creating an encoded image and which can optionally include a method for decoding the encoded image. The encoded image is preferably formed from at least one symmetric image but can be formed from a plurality of symmetric images. Embodiments of the present invention can be performed with physical paper and writing utensils or can be performed via computer software. Embodiments of the present invention can be used for art authentication based on results obtained by decoding an image. In one embodiment, one or more encoded image elements can be revealed simultaneously. Optionally, however, encoded image elements can be caused to be revealed in a series that gives a sense of motion in a manner similar to that of motion picture animation.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a three-dimensionally structured member which can be made by a simpler process. The method for manufacturing a three-dimensionally structured member includes shaping a flat plate-shaped base member to produce a three-dimensionally structured member having a plurality of sections that are different from one another in thickness. The manufacturing method comprises: a mask formation step for forming a mask over the whole of at least one main surface of the base member; a mask removal step for removing a part of the mask; and an etching step for etching an exposed part of the base member wherein a combination of the mask removal step and the etching step is performed on the mask and the base member that correspond to each of the plurality of sections of the three-dimensionally structured member, in the order from thinnest to the thickest of thicknesses of the three-dimensionally structured members.

Abstract: Bulk metallic catalyst precursor compositions are provided that include a Group VIB metal, a Group VIII metal, an organic-compound based component, and an organo-metalloxane polymer or gel. The catalyst precursor compositions can further include a binder. Amorphous sulfided catalysts formed from the catalyst precursor compositions are also provided. The catalyst precursor compositions can have a surface area of about 20 m2/g or less.

Abstract: A substrate is irradiated by primary electrons and secondary electrons generated from the substrate are detected by a detector. A reference die is placed on the stage to obtain a pattern matching template image including feature coordinates of the reference die. A pattern matching is performed with an arbitrary die in a row or column including the reference die using the template image to obtain feature coordinates of the arbitrary die. An angle of misalignment is calculated between the direction of the row or column including the reference die and one of the directions of movement of the substrate on the basis of the feature coordinates of the arbitrary die and those of the reference die. The stage is rotated to correct the angle of misalignment to conform the direction of the row or column including the reference die with the one of the directions of movement of the substrate.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to the use of molybdenum (VI) peroxo complex containing an amino acid, such as MoO(O2)2(GLY)(H2O), in marking applications, as well as to ink formulations comprising such complexes.

Abstract: Water soluble marking compounds comprising a transition metal oxyanion and at least one ammonium cation, comprising a nitrogen atom at least one further group selected from the group consisting of OH, COOH, NH2, NHC1-5 alkyl, and N(C1-5 alkyl)2, wherein the two C1-5 alkyl may be the same type of alkyl or different alkyls, may be used to obtain clear imageable coatings.

Abstract: A method of improving conductivity of a metal pattern (18) includes providing a developed silver pattern (14) formed from a photographic silver salt provided in a binder coated on a substrate (12); and selectively heating the silver pattern with electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a determination method of determining a light intensity distribution to be formed on a pupil plane of an illumination optical system in an exposure apparatus, the method including a step of setting a cut line used to evaluate an image of a pattern of a mask, which is formed on an image plane of a projection optical system, and a target value of a dimension of the image, and a step of obtaining the dimension of the image of the pattern on the cut line, and determining a weight to be applied to each of a plurality of element light sources such that the obtained dimension comes close to the target value of the dimension, thereby determining, as the light intensity distribution, light sources obtained by combining the plurality of element light sources applied with the weights.

Abstract: A lower-layer film to which a fluorine-doped polymer is added is formed on a film to be processed. The lower-layer film is baked. An intermediate film is formed on the lower-layer film. A resist film is formed on the intermediate film. The resist film is baked. A resist protection film is formed. The resist film is immersion-exposed. The resist film is developed to form a resist pattern.

Abstract: The method comprises a first step (S1 in FIG. 1) of obtaining a transmission image, a second step (S2) of applying a quadratic differential filter to the transmission image, thereby to emphasize a part of large luminance change as a quadratic differential filter image, a third step (S3) of binarizing the quadratic differential filter image with a predetermined threshold value, and then storing the resulting binarized image, a fourth step (S4) of binarizing the transmission image with another predetermined threshold value, and then storing the resulting binarized image, a fifth step (S5) of performing the measurement of binary feature quantities for the binarized image stored at the third step (S3) and the binarized image stored at the fourth step (S4), and a sixth step (S6) of deciding the quality of the object to-be-inspected from the binary feature quantities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a silver halide photographic photosensitive material which includes a support and at least one silver halide photosensitive layer on the support, wherein the average equivalent sphere diameter of the silver halide of the silver halide photosensitive layer is 0.30 ?m or less, the silver halide photosensitive layer includes four or more kinds of silver halide grains having mutually different average equivalent sphere diameters, and the thickness between a surface of the support at a side at which the silver halide photosensitive layer is provided and a surface of the silver halide photosensitive layer at a side opposite to the support is 10 ?m or less.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member, a toner image forming unit, a color forming information applying unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit and a color forming unit, the color forming information applying unit exposing a toner image formed on a surface of the image holding member from a back surface side of the image holding member, light transmitted through the image holding member applying color forming information to the toner image.

Abstract: The invention describes a glass and a glass-ceramic which at least includes the constituents SiO2, Al2O3 and Y2O3 and is preferably doped with rare earth ions. The weight ratio between the weight of Y2O3 and the total weight of SiO2, Al2O3 and Y2O3 is at least 0.2, preferably at least 0.4 or more. The rare earth ions can preferably be incorporated in crystal phases which are precipitated out of glass with a high yttrium content.

Abstract: A method of deactivating and on-press developing an exposed lithographic printing plate is disclosed. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer developable with ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a radiation. The plate is exposed with the radiation, deactivated, and then on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution. The deactivation of the exposed plate allows the handling of the plate under regular office light or any other light without causing the hardening of the non-exposed areas of the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating depth-of-field effects includes receiving information specifying an input image rendered using a pinhole camera. A first set of circles of confusion associated with portions of the input image are determined based a set of parameters associated with the pinhole camera. The first set of circles of confusion are then associated with heat conductivity of a medium. The portions of the input image are blurred according to heat diffusion in the medium to generate a first output image having a first depth-of-field effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to barrier layer compositions that are applied above a photoresist composition for immersion lithography processing. In a further aspect, new methods are provided for immersion lithography processing.

Abstract: A method of on-press developing a thermosensitive lithographic printing plate with ink and/or fountain solution is described. The lithographic plate comprises on a substrate a thermosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to an infrared radiation. The printing plate can be a pre-coated plate in the form of sheet or web, or can be prepared on press by coating a thermosensitive layer onto a substrate that is a sheet material or a seamless sleeve mounted on a plate cylinder or is the surface of a plate cylinder of the lithographic press.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized to provide a hologram silver halide photographic material having high sensitivity and diffraction efficiency, providing an excellent image and having less color residue and noise in a transparent part, a hologram, a method for producing the same. In the present invention, a hologram silver halide photographic material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer formed on a support, wherein an average particle diameter of silver halide particles in a silver halide emulsion is 0.03 ?m to 0.07 ?m; a film thickness of the silver halide emulsion layer is 4 ?m to 9 ?m; a silver/gelatin ratio of the silver halide emulsion layer is 0.3 to 0.6; and the silver halide emulsion layer contains sensitizing dye of specific structure.

Abstract: A system and method for performing high flow rate dispensation of a chemical onto a photolithographic component are disclosed. The system and method includes providing a photolithographic component in a manufacturing tool. The photolithographic is positioned at a predetermined distance from a nozzle dispensing a chemical. Dispensation of a chemical at a high flow rate onto a photolithographic component, the rate of flow operable to reduce harmful effects from occurring on the surface of the photolithographic substrate.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention can provide a method of fabricating an organometallic compound film capable, by stably forming a film with the organometallic compound, of increasing bonding forces of junction interfaces and of realizing a hyper thin film, the organometallic compound film, and an organoelectronic device (e.g., an organic electroluminescence device, an organic solar battery, or an organic thin film transistor) and an electronic device equipped with the organometallic compound film are provided. The method of fabricating a thin film of an organometallic compound on a substrate, can include the step of forming an organic material by a liquid phase process and the step of forming metal by a vapor phase process to form a thin film of an organometallic compound composed of the organic material and the metal.

Abstract: The invention provides a photostorage solid drawing medium comprising a solvent, a resin soluble in the solvent, a photostorage pigment and a gelling agent, wherein the photostorage pigment comprises a long afterglow fluorescent substance comprising an alkaline earth aluminosilicate as a matrix activated with a rare earth element wherein the alkaline earth element is at least one selected from the group consisting of strontium, calcium, magnesium and barium. The solvent used is a polar solvent, particularly a mixture of water and a water-soluble organic solvent, or at least one alcoholic solvent selected from the group consisting of glycols, glycol ethers, glycol ether esters and monovalent alcohols.

Abstract: A reusable printing plate, in particular for use both in wet offset printing and in dry offset printing, includes a printing area and a metal oxide surface treated with at least one fluorinated phosphonic acid. A printing press and a printing unit having the printing plate, a process for imaging the printing plate and a process for preparation of a fluorinated organic phosphonic acid are also provided.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a planographic printing plate material as well as a printing method in which excellent properties of on-press development, exposure image visualization, scratch resistance, background contamination resistance, and printing durability are exhibited. Disclosed is a planographic printing plate material possessing a hydrophilic layer and an image formation layer provided on a plastic support, wherein the image formation layer contains polyolefin wax having a melting point of 105-120° C. and a melt viscosity of 1-1200 mPa·s, the hydrophilic layer contains spherical silica particles having a particle diameter of 5.0-7.0 ?m, and a content ratio of the spherical silica particles having a particle diameter of 5.0-7.0 ?m is not less than 60% by volume, based on a total volume of particles having a particle diameter of 2-10 ?m contained in the hydrophilic layer.

Abstract: A presensitized lithographic plate comprises a support and a hydrophilic image-recording layer. The hydrophilic image-recording layer contains a hydrophilic polymer and an agent capable of converting hydrophilic to hydrophobic when the agent is heated. The hydrophilic polymer comprises a main chain and branched chains. Each of the branched chain comprises a hydrophilic chain having a molecular weight in the range of 200 to 1,000,000. A hydrophilic substrate and a lithographic printing process are also disclosed.

Abstract: A printing method comprising: imagewise exposing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support and an image recording layer being removable with a fountain solution or a combination of a printing ink and a fountain solution and loading the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor on a plate cylinder of a printing press, or loading the lithographic printing plate precursor on a plate cylinder of a printing press and imagewise exposing the loaded lithographic printing plate precursor, supplying at least a fountain solution comprising a compound represented by the formula (I) defined herein to the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor so as to remove an unexposed area of the image recording layer; and performing printing.

Abstract: A method of on-press developing a laser sensitive lithographic printing plate with ink and/or fountain solution is described. The printing member comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser. The plate is exposed with a laser and on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution. The exposure and development are performed with the plate under lightings that contain no or substantially no radiation below a wavelength selected from 400 to 650 nm, or in the dark or substantially dark.

Abstract: A planographic printing plate precursor, including: a substrate; a photosensitive layer containing an IR absorber, a polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound and a binder polymer; and a protective layer containing a UV absorber, disposed in this order. The photosensitive layer exhibits reduction in solubility in an alkaline developing solution upon being exposed to light having a wavelength of 750 nm to 1400 nm.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate is disclosed which comprises the steps of: (i) providing a negative-working, heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and a coating provided thereon, the coating comprising an image-recording layer which comprises hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and a hydrophilic binder, wherein the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle size in the range from 45 nm to 63 nm, and wherein the amount of the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles in the image-recording layer is at least 70% by weight relative to the image-recording layer; (ii) exposing the coating to heat or infrared light, thereby inducing coalescence of the thermoplastic polymer particles at exposed areas of the coating; (iii) developing the precursor by applying an aqueous alkaline solution, thereby removing non-exposed areas of the coating from the su

Abstract: A laser imageable flexographic printing plate precursor comprises a thermoset elastomeric upper layer that is at least partially ablatable and comprises a radiation sensitive compound, and a non-ablatable elastomeric underlayer. This flexographic printing plate precursor can be imaged to provide a printing plate that is primarily useful for “high quality” printing because the resulting relief image is generally not greater than 600 ?m and has an extremely even “floor”. The imaged flexographic printing plate also can have a high visual contrast between the imaged areas and the non-imaged background areas.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a method of selectively positioning sub-resolution assist features (SRAF) in a photomask pattern for an interconnect. The method comprises determining if a first interconnect pattern option will result in improved circuit performance compared with a second interconnect pattern option, where the first option is designed to be formed with SRAF and the second option is designed to be formed without SRAF. If it is determined that the first option will result in improved circuit performance, the first pattern option is selected as a target pattern and one or more SRAF patterns are positioned to facilitate patterning of the first pattern option. If it is not determined that the first option will result in improved performance, the second pattern option is selected as a target pattern.

Abstract: A relief printing original plate including a substrate, a photosensitive resin layer thereon that is photosensitive to ultraviolet radiations, and a mask layer thereon having both ultraviolet and non-ultraviolet absorbability, the ultraviolet absorbability being deactivatable in response to receiving non-ultraviolet radiation. A method for producing a relief printing plate by using the original plate is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved compressible flexographic printing plate that uses a compressible layer comprising a polyurethane (meth)acrylate resin and microspheres. The process of the invention produces a chemically fused printing plate that eliminates the need for an adhesive to secure the compressible layer to the back of the printing plate.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate is disclosed which comprises the steps of providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and (ii) a coating provided thereon which comprises hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles; exposing the coating to heat, thereby inducing coalescence of the thermoplastic polymer particles at exposed areas of the coating; developing the precursor by applying a gum solution to the coating, thereby removing non-exposed areas of the coating from the support. According to the above method, the plate precursor can be developed and gummed in a single step.

Abstract: A planographic printing method including: providing a planographic printing plate precursor including a substrate and an image recording layer which is disposed on the substrate and contains (A) an infrared absorber, (B) a polymerization initiator and (C) a polymerizable compound; imagewise exposing the planographic printing plate precursor with an infrared laser; and supplying oil-based ink and an aqueous component to the exposed planographic printing plate precursor without any development treatment, so as to print an image. A region of the planographic printing plate precursor that has not been exposed with an infrared laser is removed during the printing. The polymerizable compound of (C) is represented by the following formula (1): wherein Ar1, R1, Z and n are as defined in the claims and the specification.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor capable of forming an image without alkali development, comprising a hydrophilic support and a laser-sensitive photopolymerizable layer, wherein the photopolymerizable layer or other layer included in the lithographic printing plate precursor contains a copolymer containing at least a repeating unit having at least one ethylenically unsaturated bond and a repeating unit having at least two functional groups capable of interacting with a surface of the support or a copolymer containing at least a repeating unit having at least two ethylenically unsaturated bonds and a repeating unit having at least one functional group capable of interacting with a surface of the support.

Abstract: A heat sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed comprising on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, a coating comprising an infrared light absorbing agent and a copolymer which comprises a plurality of recurring units X having a hydrophilic polymeric pendant group and a plurality of recurring units Y having a hydrophobic polymeric pendant group. Said coating is capable of switching from a hydrophilic state into a hydrophobic state after exposure to heat and/or infrared light.

Abstract: A lithographic printing process which comprises the steps of: imagewise exposing to infrared light a presensitized lithographic plate which comprises a hydrophilic support and a removable image-forming layer containing an infrared absorbing agent having the absorption maximum within an infrared region and a dye precursor having substantially no absorption within a visible region to change the dye precursor to a visible dye having an absorption within a visible region within the exposed area, and to make the image-forming layer irremovable within the exposed area; removing the image-forming layer within the unexposed area of the lithographic plate mounted on a cylinder of a printing press; and then printing an image with the lithographic plate mounted on the cylinder of the printing press. The other processes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for eliminating unwanted ink-receptive sections in positive working printing plates resulting from shading of the surface layer during exposure by the clamps holding the plate on the exposure apparatus following development of an imagewise exposed precursor. Accordingly the areas that are shaded are identified prior to development and the surface layer is scored in those areas to a depth and density sufficient to result in the scored layer being removed during development but not deep enough to damage the underlying hydrophilic layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are a planographic printing plate material and a planographic printing plate preparing process, the planographic printing plate material comprising a support and provided thereon, an image formation layer containing a colorant (a) having an absorption band in a wavelength region of from 700 to 1200 nm, a polymerization initiator (b) and a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated compound (c), wherein the polymerization initiator (b) is a compound represented by the formula R1—CX2—(C?O)—R2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photopolymerizable composition containing an addition-polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated compound, a photopolymerization initiator, a polymer binder, and a sensitizing dye represented by the following formula (A), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and X are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: An organic anti-reflective coating composition and a method for forming a photoresist pattern using the same in order to improve uniformity of the pattern in an ultra-fine pattern formation process of the photoresist. In one aspect, organic anti-reflective coating composition contains a light absorbent agent, a cross-linking agent, a thermal acid generator, and a formanilide photo-base generator.

Abstract: A resist composition for liquid immersion lithography process, which comprises: (A) a polymer comprising (a1) alkali-soluble constitutional units each comprising an alicyclic group having both (i) a fluorine atom or a fluoroalkyl group and (ii) an alcoholic hydroxyl group, wherein the polymer changes in alkali-solubility due to the action of acid; and (B) an acid generator which generates acid due to exposure to light, and a method for forming a resist pattern using the resist composition. By the resist composition or the method, an adverse effect of the immersion liquid can be avoided while achieving high resolution and high depth of focus.

Abstract: A positive-working lithographic printing starting plate for an infrared laser is provided that includes a support having a hydrophilic surface and a heat-sensitive layer provided above the support. The heat-sensitive layer includes a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin, an infrared-absorbing dye, and a sulfonium salt represented by Formula below. The heat-sensitive layer increases its solubility in aqueous alkaline solution upon exposure to an infrared laser.

Abstract: A planographic printing plate precursor includes a substrate and an image recording layer provided thereon, the image recording layer being capable of recording through exposure to an infrared ray and containing at least (A) an infrared absorbing agent, (B) a polymerization initiator comprising an onium salt formed by an onium cation and a carboxylic acid anion, where the carboxylic acid anion has an acid group, a hetero atom and an aromatic group, (C) a polymerizable compound and (D) a binder polymer. The planographic printing plate precursor is exposed imagewise with an infrared laser. Then, printing is carried out using the exposed planographic printing plate precursor, which is set in a printer without being subjected to any developing process, by feeding an oil based ink and an aqueous component onto the planographic printing plate precursor. Unexposed areas of the planographic printing plate precursor are removed during the printing process.

Abstract: This invention provides an undercoating layer material and a filler material containing a resin component having at least a substituent group which is capable of releasing a terminal group to form a sulfonic acid residue upon application of predetermined energy, and a solvent. The resin component has at least a repeating unit represented by formula (1): wherein n is an integer of 1 or more, X represents a C1 to C10 linear or branched alkyl chain, an aromatic or alicyclic alkyl chain or an alkyl ester chain, and Y is a substituent group forming a sulfonic acid residue upon application of predetermined energy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photosensitive flexographic printing element for the production of flexographic newspaper printing plates, comprising at least a flexible, metallic support, an adhesive layer applied thereto, a photopolymerizable layer which can be developed in organic media and which itself comprises at least one elastomeric binder, ethylenically unsaturated monomers, a photoinitiator or photoinitiator system and a plasticizer, a transparent substrate layer, and optionally a removable protective film, where the total thickness of the flexographic printing element is from 300 to 1000 ?m, the elastomeric binder has a weight average molecular weight Mw of from 80,000 to 150,000 g/mol and a Shore A hardness of from 50 to 80, and the amount of plasticizer is from 5 to 50% by weight, based on the amount of all constituents of the photopolymerizable layer, and to a process for the production of flexographic newspaper printing plates by imagewise exposure of the flexographic printing element to act

Abstract: An improved method of manufacturing a photosensitive printing element that minimizes relief variation and improves image fidelity. The method involves a step of pre-curing the first (floor layer) of photocurable material prior to depositing an additional layer or layers of photocurable material that may be imaged and developed to produce a desired relief image on the surface of the photosensitive printing element. The photosensitive printing element is then thermally developed by contacting the photosensitive printing element with at least one roll that is capable of moving over at least a portion of the imaged surface of the flexographic printing element to remove the softened or melted non-crosslinked photopolymer.

Abstract: A method for preparing lithographic printing plates is disclosed. Imaged positive-working, thermally imageable, multi-layer imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors are developed using solvent based developers. Development may be carried out by immersing the imaged imageable element in the developer.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide that printing plate materials of the present invention exhibit excellent printing durability, less “out of color” registration, and improved printing image quality. Disclosed is a printing plate material possessing an image formation layer on one surface of a polyester support and not less than two backing layers on the other surface, wherein at least one of the backing layers is an electrically conductive layer, at least one of the backing layer is a layer containing at least one resin selected from polyester resin, acryl resin, acryl modified polyester resin and cellulose ester resin provided on the electrically conductive layer, and at least one of the backing layers contains an organic matting agent.

Abstract: In a laser-engravable flexographic printing element, the relief-forming layer comprises a conductivity carbon black having a specific surface area of at least 150 m2/g and a DBP number of at least 150 ml/100 g. Flexographic printing plates are produced by a process in which a printing relief is engraved into said flexographic printing element by means of a laser system.