Abstract: An apparatus comprising means for processing exposed photographic film and means for digitizing the processed photographic film is disclosed. According to a preferred mode, the apparatus for processing exposed radiographic film and for digitizing the processed film on-line is characterized in that the digitizing section of the apparatus is connected directly to the dryer section and that the length of the digitizing section is not more than 10% of the total length of the processing section of the apparatus. The apparatus is particularly dedicated for the rapid processing and digitizing of medical radiographic film.

Abstract: An electrophotographic recording material comprising a conductive support and a photosensitive layer containing a photoconductive crystalline substituted metal-free phthalocyanine compound and/or mixed crystals of said substituted metal-free phthalocyanine compounds with unsubstituted metal-free phthalocyanine, wherein said substituted metal-free phthalocyanine compound represented by general formula (I) defined herein contains a halogen, nitro or cyano substituent, and the major part by weight of said substituted metal-free phthalocyanine compound and the mixed crystals of said substituted metal-free phthalocyanine compound with unsubstituted metal-free phthalocyanine is (are) present in the X-morphological form.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recording material having a substrate and a radiation-sensitive, water-insoluble layer which contains a component absorbing IR radiation and which, after the action of infrared radiation, becomes soluble or at least swellable in an aqueous alkaline developer. A top layer which is opaque to white light but transparent to radiation in the IR range and can be removed with water or an aqueous solution is present on the radiation-sensitive layer. The recording material is substantially insensitive to daylight. By imagewise exposure to IR radiation and subsequent development with an aqueous alkaline developer, it is possible to produce a printing plate for offset printing from the recording material. If the top layer is washed off beforehand, the recording can also be carried out using conventional UV radiation.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for lithographic printing comprising the following steps:preparing a lithographic printing plate by image-wise laser exposing a heat-sensitive non-ablatable wasteless imaging element comprising a compound capable of transferring light into heat and having on a support as top layer a heat sensitive image forming layer comprising a heat-switchable binder which layer becomes more hydrophilic or more hydrophobic under the action of image-wise laser exposure;mounting said printing element on the press prior to or after the exposure; andapplying a fountain solution and ink, characterized in that said fountain solution comprises at least one water insoluble compound selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, titanium oxide, tin oxyde, china clay, smectic clay and zirconium oxide.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for making lithographic printing plates including the following steps:a) preparing a light sensitive imaging element having on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface a first layer including a polymer, soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer which top layer is unpenetrable for an alkaline developer containing SiO.sub.2 as silicate;b) exposing imagewise said light sensitive imaging element to actinic light;c) developing said imagewise exposed light sensitive imaging element with said alkaline developer so that the exposed areas of the top layer and the underlying areas of the first layer are dissolved and the unexposed areas of the first layer remain undissolved characterized in that said top layer includes a diazonium salt and for at least 20% of its weight one or more non-proteinic hydrophilic film-forming polymers.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat-sensitive non-ablatable wasteless imaging element for providing a lithographic printing plate, having on a support as top layer an image forming layer comprising a heat-switchable binder, characterized in that said image forming layer becomes more hydrophobic under the influence of heat.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of a heat mode recording element of the DRAW type (Direct Read After Write), said process comprising the following steps:(A) providing a material having following layer arrangement, in order:(1) a transparent support optionally subbed,(2) a thin metal layer coated from an aqueous medium containing metal particles,(3) a coated single top layer curable by radiation,(B) radiation curing said coated single top layer (3).In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the metal layer is a bismuth layer.

Abstract: A photosensitive image-forming element has been provided, comprising on a support at least one photosensitive layer containing silver halide crystals which are internally doped with a transition metal complex (more preferably a metal halide chalcogenic cyanate complex, further called a `MHCC`-complex) forming a deep and permanent electron trap, wherein said transition metal complex satisfies the general formula (1) as disclosed in the claims and in the description.

Abstract: A photosensitive image-forming element comprising on a support at least one photosensitive layer containing silver halide crystals internally doped in the center of the crystal volume with a transition metal complex while satisfying equation (I):0<FORM<10.sup.+5 (I)where ##EQU1## and where d.sub.1 represents a spherical equivalent diameter (SED), expressed in .mu.m, corresponding with a central crystal part doped with the said transition metal complex, d expressed in .mu.m represents the SED of the whole crystalvolume, while Q represents the concentration of the transition metal complex, expressed in 10.sup.-9 mole per mole of silver halide and wherein the said transition metal complex has the following general formula (1):[MX.sub.n Y.sub.m L.sub.q ].sup.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for verifying the printing quality of a lithographic printing plate which is obtained by a plate-making process whereby an ink-receptive silver image is formed at the printing areas, characterized in that said method comprises the step of matching the color of the silver image of said plate with a plurality of reference colors contained in a color reference system that provides information regarding the quality of silver-based lithographic printing plates having said reference colors. The color reference system may also provide information regarding the parameter(s) of the plate-making process so that said parameter(s) can be adjusted in order to improve the quality of the plates obtained by said process.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for digitizing a color negative picture and correcting the image signals in a way that they are linearly related to the luminance of the photographed scene for grey tones in the scene. A second embodiment allows obtaining on the basis of the color-corrected image signals a reproduction of true color of the scene on a color display unit. For determining the correction, use is made of the characteristic system curve indicating for each of the color components the relation between the luminance of a neutral color swatch in the scene and the density sensed by the scan system. Several methods for drafting said system curve are described. Furthermore, the way of obtaining the color-corrected image signals by means of a color transformation and the way of determining the transformation are explained.

Abstract: A transfer foil comprising a support with a thickness equal to or lower than 75 .mu.m and, directly adjacent to the support, an image receiving layer with a polymeric binder and having thickness d, a cohesive force F.sub.coh and adhering to the support with a force F.sub.rel characterised in that F.sub.rel >F.sub.coh. Preferably between the support and the image receiving layer a release layer is present.The cohesive force of the image receiving layer is controlled by adding a "promotor for cohesive break" to the layer. Such a promotor is selected from the group consisting of spacing particles with an average volume diameter d.sub.v50 >0.9d, waxes, polymers, different from the polymeric binder and cross-linking agents for the polymeric binder.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat mode imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate having on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface a first layer including a polymer, soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer which top layer is unpenetrable for or insoluble in an alkaline developer containing SiO.sub.2 in the form of silicates; characterized in that said first layer and said top layer comprise a compound capable of converting IR-light into heat.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a heat mode imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate including on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface, a first layer including a polymer, soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution, and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer. The top layer is IR-sensitive and unpenetrable for an alkaline developer. The first layer and the top layer may be one and the same layer. The top layer is characterized in that it contains at least one compound containing epoxy units in an amount between 20 and 500 mg/m.sup.2 and a hardener.

Abstract: It was found that good sensitizing activity in the red spectral region and without residual stain can be obtained with dyes of the general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a heterocyclic ring, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are hydrogen, methyl, or methoxy, but at least one of the groups R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is not hydrogen, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms that can be substituted with hydroxyl groups, and X.sup.- is an anion.The invention can be used for preparing silver images, for example, for reproduction in preprint operations for black and white or multicolor printing.

Abstract: A color photographic material, the cyan coupler of which is of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sub.11 means an alkyl, aryl, acylamino, alkylcarbamoyl, arylcarbamoyl or a heterocyclic group,R.sub.12 means a group having electron-attracting characteristics,R.sub.13 means a group having electron-attracting characteristics,R.sub.14 means an alkyl or aryl group,R.sub.15 means a divalent linking member having 2 to 4 linking atoms,X means .dbd.O or .dbd.N--SO.sub.2 R.sub.21 andY means a group eliminable by hydrolytic or intramolecular (nucleophilic) attack,is distinguished by improved processing stability.

Abstract: Developer liquids for negative working radiation sensitive compositions are provided, the developers including an alkyl ester of a hydroxy carboxylic acid, preferably the n-butyl ester of glycolic acid. The developer liquids have a pH in the range of from 7.0 to 9.5 and preferably also comprise an alkaline material, an anionic surfactant, a hydrotrope or solubilising agent and an etching agent and optionally include sequestering agents, buffering agents biocides and the like. The developer liquids are biodegradable and do not persist in the environment, thereby facilitating the avoidance of effluent and disposal problems and associated health, safety and environmental concerns. A method for the development of an imagewise exposed, negative working photosensitive composition is also provided, with particular reference to precursors for lithographic printing plates.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for preparing a silver salt diffusion transfer imaging element comprising the steps of coating in the order given on a grained and anodized side of an aluminum support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (ii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer and (iii) optionally an antistress layer being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer, characterized in that said element before and/or after being coated with said image-receiving layer and before being coated with another layer is wetted with a fluidum with a conductivity of at least 1 .mu.S/cm at 25.degree. C. and then the wetted element is brought in contact with an earthed discharging means and dried before coating the following layer.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for preparing a silver salt diffusion transfer imaging element comprising the steps of coating in the order given on a grained and anodized side of an aluminum support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (ii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer and (iii) optionally an antistress layer in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer, characterized in that said aluminum support, provided with said image receiving layer, is kept at a relative humidity of at least 45% in an area of a machine, the said area being ahead of a coating head used for coating said photosensitive layer.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate comprising on a support having a hydrophilic surface a photosensitive layer and a thermosensitive layer, said thermosensitive layer being opaque to light for which said photosensitive layer has spectral sensitivity and said thermosensitive layer being capable of rendered transparent upon exposure to laser light characterised in that said thermosensitive layer is soluble or swellable in an aqueous medium.