Abstract: A method for developing a printing plate precursor comprising the step of immersing the precursor in an aqueous alkaline developing solution comprising a (co) polymer comprising a monomeric unit which is represented by the following formula (I): wherein L is a linking group; R1, R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen or an alkyl group; R4 represents an optionally substituted hydroxyaryl group; x=0 or 1; y=0 or 1 and when y=0 then x=1 and L is further bound to C* to form a cyclic structure.

Abstract: A method for making a heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor including the steps of providing a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and applying onto the support a coating solution including an infrared absorbing agent, hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, a hydrophilic binder, and a polymer including siloxane and/or perfluoroalkyl monomeric units.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a photopolymerizable coating on said support, b) image-wise exposing said coating in a plate setter, c) developing the precursor, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the coating from the support, whereby the developing step is carried out off-press in a gumming unit by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising an image-recording layer, said image-recording layer being photopolymerizable upon exposure to light having a wavelength of from 300 to 500 nm and containing a mixture of sensitizers.

Abstract: A composition that is photopolymerizable upon absorption of light and/or heat, the composition including a binder, a polymerizable compound, a sensitizer, and a photoinitiator, characterized in that the composition includes, with respect to its non-volatile compounds, at least about 0.01 wt. % of a polythiol compound, and wherein the composition when coated on a support has a sensitivity of about 150 ?J/cm2 or higher, in combination with a high hardness.

Abstract: A step-wise medium transport system is provided having high accuracy for transporting recording media in a digital printer, the medium is transported using accurately moving tables to which the medium is attached during printing steps the working area of the medium, on which the printing is done by the printer, is at all times fully supported by a static table avoiding disturbances.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising an image-recording layer, said image-recording layer being photopolymerizable upon exposure to light having a wavelength of from 300 to 500 nm and containing a mixture of sensitizers.

Abstract: An output color profile, such as an ICC output profile, contains a look-up table to separate the color of a pixel, for example a CIELAB color, into a set of colorant values, for example CMYK colorants. In practice, most CMYK images have been separated using one of a limited set of standardized output profiles. The problem to be solved is guessing which one of these standardized output profiles has been used to separate a specific image. For this purpose the CMYK values of the image are analyzed. The analysis involves calculating a distance in the CMYK space between the CMYK values of an image, and the CMYK values produced by different output profiles. A profile is selected based on these distances, for example by selecting the profile yielding the shortest distance. This profile is then used for converting the CMYK colorant values of the image into CIELAB color values.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate support is disclosed comprising the steps of: (i) providing an aluminum support; (ii) treating said support in an aqueous solution; (iii) graining said treated support in an electrolyte solution by applying an alternating voltage thereby inducing a local current density J; characterized in that said local current density J at time t fulfills the following equation: J(t)??+bQ(t) for t=o to t=tf and wherein Q(t) is the integrated value of the absolute value of the local current density at time t:(I)—a is equal to 5—b is equal to 10—and tf is the time necessary to obtain a value of Q(t) equal to 50 C/dm2.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed comprising the steps of a. providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, a photopolymerizable coating comprising a photopolymerizable composition, and an overcoat layer comprising a water soluble low molecular weight acid, wherein said overcoat layer has a surface pH-value ranging between 1 to 6; b. image-wise exposing the precursor; c. optionally heating the exposed precursor; d. processing the obtained precursor by applying a gum solution and optionally brushing the precursor, and/or by mounting the precursor on a plate cylinder of a lithographic printing press and rotating the plate cylinder while feeding dampening liquid and/or ink to the coating.

Abstract: A non-aqueous pigment dispersion includes a Naphthol AS pigment or a mixed crystal thereof and a Naphthol AS colorant according to Formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, halogen, methoxy, ethoxy, —CONH-phenyl, and —NO2; wherein the group Q is phenyl substituted by either one sulphonic acid group, two carboxylic acid groups, or salts thereof. Also, non-aqueous inkjet inks and use of the non-aqueous pigment dispersions for making colored layers.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed which comprises a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and a coating thereon, said coating comprising an IR absorbing agent and a contrast enhancing compound, characterized in that said contrast enhancing compound has the structure of formula (I). The printing plate comprising the contrast enhancing compound improves the thermoresponsivity of the coating and is capable of improving the resistance of the coating in the non-exposed areas against the alkaline developer.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising an image-recording layer, said image-recording layer being photo-polymerizable upon exposure to actinic light and containing a mixture of sensitizers characterized in that said mixture of sensitizers has in 1-methoxy-2-propanol at 80° C. a solubility of at least 30 wt. %. and preferably a MetaStable Zone Width (MSZW) of at least 8.5° C., said MSZW measured at a cooling and heating rate of 0.2° C./minute.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support, including a photopolymerizable layer and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator and a binder, b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter, c) optionally, heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit, d) treating the precursor in a gumming station, including a first and at least a second gumming unit, wherein the precursor is consecutively developed in the first and the second gumming unit with a gum solution, thereby removing non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support and gumming the plate in a single step.

Abstract: A non-aqueous pigment dispersion includes a color pigment, a polymeric dispersant, and a dispersion synergist in a dispersion medium wherein the dispersion synergist is represented by Formula (I): wherein AR1 and AR2 represent a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, and R represents a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group, with the proviso that one of R, AR1, and AR2 contains at least one carboxylate anion and that the molecular weight of the anionic part of the dispersion synergist is smaller than 98% of the molecular weight of the color pigment. Also, methods of preparing the non-aqueous pigment dispersions.

Abstract: A non-aqueous ink not curable by UV radiation includes an organic color pigment and between 12 to 98 wt % of tetraethylene glycol dimethylether based on the total weight of the inkjet ink. Also, a method for preparing a non-aqueous inkjet ink is provided.

Abstract: A polymeric dispersant having a block copolymer structure or a segmented oligomer structure wherein the block copolymer structure or segmented oligomer structure includes a segment polymerized by monomers according to Formula (I): wherein; R1 represents hydrogen or methyl; Y represents O, S, or NH; Aryl represents an aromatic group or a heteroaromatic group; and X represents hydrogen, an alkyl group, or a cation. A process for manufacturing the polymeric dispersant and the application of the polymeric dispersant in pigment dispersions, inkjet inks, and colored layers.

Abstract: A pigment dispersion includes a pigment and a block copolymer having ionic aromatic monomers. The pigment dispersions can be used for manufacturing inkjet inks and for the coating of colored layers. A process for preparing the pigment dispersion is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pigment dispersion includes a pigment with at least one carboxylic acid group and a block copolymer including aromatic monomers having at least one carboxylic acid group or a salt thereof and aromatic monomers having at least one sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof. The pigment dispersions can be used for manufacturing inkjet inks and for the coating of colored layers.

Abstract: According to the present invention a non-ablative, negative-working, heat-sensitive printing plate precursor is disclosed capable of switching from a hydrophilic state into a hydrophobic state upon exposure to heat and/or infrared light. The printing plate precursor is obtainable by the method comprising the step of providing on a support a titanium oxide layer by reactive physical vacuum deposition of titanium, characterised in that said vacuum deposition is carried out under a partial oxygen pressure of 10% or more and less than 25%.