Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate is disclosed which comprises the steps of (1) 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; (2) exposing the precursor to IR-light or heat, thereby inducing coalescence of the thermoplastic polymer particles at exposed areas of the coating; (3) applying a hydrophilic protective layer on the coating; and then, (4) while the precursor is mounted on a print cylinder of a printing press, developing the precursor by supplying an aqueous dampening liquid and/or ink to said precursor while rotating said print cylinder whereby the coating and the hydrophilic protective layer are removed from the support on the non-exposed areas.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor which comprises on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, an oleophilic coating comprising an infrared absorbing agent, an alkali-soluble polymeric binder and a polysiloxane which comprises at least one carboxylic acid group or a salt thereof. The disclosed printing plate precursor has an improved sensitivity and at the same time a high under exposure latitude and a high developer resistance.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed which comprises (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and (ii) a coating provided thereon, the coating comprising an oleophilic layer which, upon image-wise exposure to heat or infrared light and subsequent immersion in an aqueous alkaline developer, dissolves in the developer at a higher dissolution rate in exposed areas than in unexposed areas, wherein the oleophilic layer comprises a polymer that is soluble in the developer and an organic dye in a amount sufficient to provide a visible color to the coating, characterized in that said organic dye does not reduce the dissolution rate of the unexposed areas in the developer. By using non-inhibiting dyes, the sensitivity of the precursor upon image-wise exposure is increased.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing system including at least one ink-jet ink and a means for jetting an ink-jet ink onto a surface of a substantially non-absorbing ink-jet ink-receiver, characterized in that the ratio ? Sd/? Ld of the dispersive surface energy of said ink-receiver surface ? Sd over the dispersive surface energy of said ink-jet ink ? Ld is greater than 0.9. A process for ink-jet printing is also claimed. High areal throughput ink-jet printing (e.g. >100 m2/hour) with curable inks can be performed on different kinds of ink-receiver surfaces with a good image quality and colour density due to a controlled spreading of the ink-drops which can be directly cured.

Abstract: Separation of a color into values for colorants in colorant space can be done easily when color correction and color separation are done in separate steps, where the color is defined as a set of values in a trajectory space, and trajectories include points for which ink behavior during color separation is known. Colorant values for the color are determined by interpolation using values of the color located in trajectory space, and known values and corresponding colorant values of the trajectory points. Trajectories are preferably color axes dividing the trajectory space into tetrahedral. Colorant values may be corrected using techniques such as colorant replacement or colorant splitting prior to color separation. The color separation process can be calibrated using a test target.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining a characteristic of a printing system, the printing system including a printing device and a receiving substrate. Data from a pattern printed on the receiving substrate by the printing device are analyzed. Based on the analysis, an artifact characteristic of the printing system is determined automatically.

Abstract: A composition that is photopolymerizable upon absorption of light in the wavelength range from 300 to 450 nm, the composition comprising a binder, a polymerizable compound, a sensitizer and a photoinitiator, wherein the sensitizer is a fluorene compound that is conjugated via a double or triple bond with an aromatic or heteroaromatic group, and is characterized by a high sensitivity.

Abstract: A method is used for constructing a look up table for characterizing a printing device, and a system therefore, wherein the look up table is an inverse look up table for obtaining for the printing device colorant values in a colorant space as a function of given color values in a color space. The method includes: (a) selecting an axis in the color space; (b) selecting a path in the color space; (c) determining a particular point on the path having a predetermined colorant value; (d) projecting the particular point on the axis, thus obtaining a projected point; and (e) adding the projected point to the look up table as a sampling point.