Abstract: Process for the manufacture of a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of:(1) information-wise projecting droplets of liquid, onto a receiving material having a hydrophilic surface to form a silver image by bringing into working relationship on said hydrophilic surface a reducible silver compound (A), a reducing agent (B) for said silver compound and physical development nuclei (C) that catalyze the reduction of said silver compound to silver metal, and(2) hydrophobizing the silver image that has been obtained through said step (1) e.g. by overall contacting the printing surface with a hydrophobizing substance for said silver image or hydrophobizing said silver image by imagewise depositing said hydrophobizing substance thereon.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus for linewise reproducing an image on one face of a transparent image carrier onto light-sensitive means, which comprises support means (10) defining a support surface for the image carrier (12), an elongated light source (21b), a rod-like aspherical lens (23) disposed between said light source (21b) and said support means (10) for focussing said elongated light source onto an image carrier located on said support means, the characteristics of said lens (23) and its position with respect to said support means being such that the illuminating angle (.alpha.) of an image carrier on said support means (10) is at least 20 angular degrees and that light intensity variations over said angle are smaller than 15%, and an imaging lens (26) for forming an image of a scanned line (24) of an image on said carrier onto said light-sensitive means.

Abstract: A process is provided for forming an image involving a photosensitive element comprising a photopolymerisable monomer and a reducible metal salt, preferably silver behenate, and a donor element containing a reducing agent. After lamination to a cover sheet, photopolymerisation and delamination, the image density is built up by lamination to the donor element, transfer of reducing agent and peeling-apart, possibly followed by heating the photosensitive element.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of a hybrid direct positive silver halide emulsion comprising the steps of (1) forming an essentially cubic host grain emulsion consisting of silver bromide or silver iodobromide, with a iodide content between 0 and 10 mole %, by a balanced double jet, (2) depositing epitaxially on the corners of said formed essentially cubic host grains a silver iodide crystallographic phase wherein said silver iodide phase contains at most 5 % of the total crystal silver halide, either by precipitating a silver chloride epitaxial phase and converting it to silver iodide, or by adding silver ions and an organic iodide releaser.The organic iodide releaser is preferably mono-iodoacetic acid.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of a chloride rich tabular grain emulsion having (100) major crystal faces, characterized in that the precipitation is performed in the presence of a phenylmercaptotetrazole compound.The scope of the invention further comprises photographic materials comprising an emulsion thus prepared.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on a flexible hydrophobic support (i) a hardened hydrophilic layer, containing a hydrophilic synthetic homocopolymer or copolymer and being hardened with a hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate crosslinking agent, (ii) a receiving layer containing physical development nuclei contiguous to said hydrophilic layer, (iii) an intermediate layer comprising a non-proteinic hydrophilic film-forming polymer or hydrophobic polymer beads having an average diameter not lower than 0.2 .mu.m and having been prepared by polymerization of a ethylenically unsaturated monomer and (iv) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said receiving layer. The invention also relates to a method for making lithographic plates with said imaging element.

Abstract: A sheet or web material being a subbed or unsubbed hydrophobic resin support or paper support coated with at least one hydrophobic resin layer and having at least on one side thereof an antistatic layer containing for at least 70% by weight colloidal silica having an average particle size not larger than 10 nm and a surface area of at least 300 m.sup.2 per gram, the colloidal silica being present in said antistatic layer at a coverage of at least 50 mg per m.sup.2, characterized in that said antistatic layer is coated with a covering layer having a smaller sticking power to a gelatin layer than said silica containing layer, said covering layer containing at least 50% by weight of a water-insoluble synthetic polymer being applied at a dry coverage in the range of 0.01 to 2 g/m.sup.2.

Abstract: A phantom for determining attenuation by a combination of materials of polychromatic X-rays comprises a number of tubes that can be positioned in between a source emitting said X-rays and an X-ray detector. The tubes are held in a position so that they are directed towards the position of a source of radiation. In each tube a combination of thicknesses of said materials is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides triazene dyes according to formula (I) for use in thermal transfer printing:A--N.dbd.N--NR.sup.1 R.sup.2 (I)wherein A is the residue of a diazotisable heteroaromatic amine, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represent hydrogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a substituted alkenyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a cycloalkyl group, a substituted cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent the atoms necessary to complete a ring system or a substituted ring system.

Abstract: A vacuum table (10) for holding a document in position e.g. during scanning comprises a supporting surface (11) and a vacuum distribution line (13) which, in the absence of such a document, is in gas flow communication with the ambient atmosphere over a vacuum zone (A, B, C, D) on the table surface (11) via an array of openings (12) distributed over that surface. The table (10) further comprises means (20) such as a flexible curtain for obstructing such gas flow communication over a selected length of such array of openings (12) whereby the length (A, B) of the vacuum zone (A, B, C, D) may be matched to the length of a said document, and means (32) for selectively obstructing such gas flow communication over the width of the array whereby the width (B, C) of the vacuum zone may be matched to the width of such document.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing exposed sheets of photographic material has a developing tank and a fixing tank which are separated by a vertical dividing wall, Each of the tanks has a transporting system for continuously transporting the exposed sheets through the respective tank, A transferring unit is located adjacent the upper end of the dividing wall and functions to transfer the sheets from the developing tank to the fixing tank without interruption, The transferring unit includes a pair of withdrawing rollers which grip the sheets as they emerge from the developing tank and a pair of feeding rollers which receive the sheets from the withdrawing rollers and advance the sheets into the fixing tank, The axes of the rollers are parallel to one another.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making direct-positive photographic images comprising the steps of image-wise exposing a photographic light-sensitive silver halide material comprising a support and a layer of an internal latent image-type silver halide emulsion the pAg of which has been adjusted to a value of at least 8.5 before coating, and developing said exposed photographic silver halide material in a surface developer in the presence of at least one development nucleator which is not able to react with but which is able to adsorb weakly on the surface of the silver halide emulsion crystals prior to development, but which contains a group protected against reaction with silver halide and which is transformed during development in a nucleating derivative with an enhanced reactivity for the silver halide crystals. Photographic materials comprising these novel development nucleators are also described.

Abstract: A photographic sheet material processing apparatus comprises a pair of processing rollers, means for feeding sheet material to be processed between the processing rollers. Processing liquid distribution means supply processing liquid to the rollers. The processing liquid distribution means comprise an open-topped distributor channel positioned adjacent the processing rollers, and means for feeding processing liquid to the distributor channel along the length thereof. The distributor channel is formed with a plurality of apertures through which processing liquid passes to the rollers. Overflow means associated with the distributor channel maintain a constant liquid head therein.

Abstract: The synthesis and the application of new dyes is described. In particular said new dyes can be incorporated in non-migratory state in hydrophilic colloid layers of photographic materials wherefrom they can be rapidly removed after being quickly decolorized in alkaline aqueous liquids used in the processing of said materials. In photographic applications dyes of the general formula (I) are provided with at least one ionizable group which permits solubilization in aqueous and/or alkaline medium.

Abstract: Heat-sensitive imaging element comprising a support carrying a binder layer, optionally an intermediate adhesive layer, and and a barrier layer that is ablatable by a laser beam or permeabilizable under the influence of a laser beam, wherein said binder layer contains at least one hydrophobizing agent capable of diffusing under the influence of heat through holes made in said barrier layer or through permeabilized parts of said barrier layer and capable of reacting with the oleophobic surface of a printing plate precursor brought in face-to-face contact with said barrier layer. The present invention also relates to a process for producing a lithographic printing plate, wherein use is made of such heat-sensitive imaging element.

Abstract: New types of polymer latices and their use in photographic materials are disclosed. They are obtained by subjecting to radical emulsion polymerisation one or more radical-polymerisable monomers, whose emulsifier-free homopolymers or copolymers possess a glass transition temperature below 65.degree. C., preferably below 30.degree. C., in the presence of a water-soluble polymer of a particular chemical formula.These new types of latices are preferably used in graphic arts contact materials, e.g. daylight materials. They can be used in relative high amounts thus improving dimensional stability without deteriorating the scratch resistance too strongly.A preferred radical-polymerisable monomer mixture comprises n.-butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and acrylic acid.

Abstract: A photographic processor for treating an image-wise exposed photographic sheet material with a processing liquid, which comprises:developing (12), a fixing (13) and a rinsing (14) station,driven pressure roller pairs (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) in the rinsing station for conveying sheet material through a body of rinsing water in said station, the lower rollers of the roller pairs dipping completely in the liquid and the upper rollers dipping only partially therein, andcleaning rollers (26, 27, 29) with a circumferential covering of a pile fabric, which are in frictional contact with the upper rollers of said roller pairs, and the peripheral speed of which is equal to that of the corresponding upper roller(s).

Abstract: A method has been found for the preparation of tabular silver halide emulsions having a tabularity, defined as the ratio between the aspect ratio and the thickness of the emulsion crystals, of at least 25 and a homogeniety of the distribution of said silver halide emulsion crystals, defined as a hundred times the ratio between the standard deviation and the average projective crystal diameter of said crystals of less than 30, characterized by the steps of forming silver halide grain nuclei by introduction of an aqueous silver salt solution and an aqueous halide salt solution, both solutions optionally comprising at least one non-aqueous solvent, in a reaction vessel containing water, a protective colloid and at least one non-aqueous aprotic solvent or a protic solvent having a dissociation constant smaller than that of water in a ratio by weight of solvent versus water from 5 to 60%; adding an aqueous silver salt solution and an aqueous halide salt solution to the said reaction vessel containing the said silv

Abstract: A light-sensitive photographic silver halide material is disclosed comprising a support and on one or both sides thereof at least one silver halide emulsion layer, at least one gelatin antistress layer and, optionally, a substantially gelatin free antistatic surface layer coated thereover, characterised in that said emulsion layer(s) comprise(s) at least one synthetic clay. As a result the said material is less sensitive to roller marks in automatic processing machines.

Abstract: Black colored dye mixture for use in thermal dye sublimation transfer composed of at least four dyes and comprising two dyes having absorption maxima in the spectral range between 470 and 600 nm that are at least 30 nm apart from each other.