Abstract: The present invention provides an aluminum alloy plate for use as a lithographic printing plate having an improved uniformity of a surface roughened by electrolytic etching and wherein streaking does not occur, and a method for producing the same. The present invention is characterized in comprising, in wt %, Fe: 0.1 to 0.6%; Si: 0.02 to 0.2%; Cu: 0.001 to 0.02%; Zn: 0.01 to 0.1%; Mg: 0.005 to 0.1%; Ti: 0.001 to 0.05%, and the remainder Al and inevitable impurities, and an average value of the crystal particle size is 60 ?m or less in a direction perpendicular to the rolling direction.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of making an article bearing a relief image using a removable film. First, an imageable film that contains at least a mask substrate and an imageable material is imagewise exposed to imaging radiation to form an imaged film. The imaged film is then transferred to an imageable article, such as a flexographic printing plate precursor. The resulting assembly is exposed to curing radiation resulting in exposed and unexposed areas of photosensitive material on the imageable article. Following exposure to curing radiation, the imaged film is then removed from the imageable article. The imageable article is then developed with a suitable developer to form a relief image. The imaged film may then be reused to make additional articles bearing the relief image.

Abstract: Techniques for customer charge accounting in a soft proofing system take into account one or more factors associated with a hard copy proofing job simulated by the soft proofing system. The charge for the soft proofing job can be correlated, at least in part, to the overall cost of the hard copy proofing job emulated by the soft proofing job. The factors use to calculate the customer charge for a soft proofing job may include, for example, comparable hard copy equipment costs, comparable hard copy media costs, hard copy delivery costs, avoidance of delivery and production delays relative to hard copy proofing, and the number of users that view the hard copy proofing job. A value scale factor may be applied to a base cost for a given soft proof, thereby yielding a cost that can be charged to the customer.

Abstract: Imageable elements, useful as on press developable lithographic printing plate precursors, are disclosed. The elements comprise an imageable layer over a substrate and an one or more adhesion promoting ingredients. The imageable layer comprises a polymerizable compound and a polymeric binder. The adhesion promoting ingredients are titanium chelate and/or co-polymers of a monomer having a polethylene oxide side chain with a monomer having either an acidic group or an anhydride group that has been ring opened to form an acidic group or groups.

Abstract: Heat-sensitive element comprising (a) an optionally pre-treated substrate (b) a positive working heat-sensitive coating comprising (i) at least one novolak resin, (ii) at least one component which reduces the aqueous alkaline developer solubility of novolak, wherein said reduction in solubility is reversed upon the application of heat, and (iii) at least one acidic polyvinyl acetal comprising the structural units (A), (B), (C) (A) (B) (C) and (D) wherein (D) is at least one unit selected from (D-1), (D-2), and (D-3): (D-1) (D-2) (D-3) wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C4 alkyl group, R2 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C18 alkyl group, R3 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C4 alkyl group, R4 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C4 alkyl group, R5 is —COOH, —(CH2)a—COOH, —O—(CH2)a—COOH, —SO3H, —PO3H2 or —PO4H2, a is an integer from 1 to 8, and X is selected from —(CR6R7)n— and —CR8?CR9— wherein n is an integer of 1 to 6, each R6 and R7 is independently selected from a hydrogen atom and C1-C6 alkyl group, and R8 and R9 are indepen

Abstract: A single-step process for the production of meso-substituted cyanine dyes is provided comprising the reaction of a dye (III), with (a) a methylene compound (IV) or (V) or a quaternary salt (VI) or (VII) and (b) a compound selected from functionalized (hetero)aromatic compounds Ar—B, saturated cyclic amines (IV) and heteroaromatic compounds (V).

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive-working, thermally imageable element generally comprising a multi-layered imageable coating. The invention provides an imageable element comprising a substrate, an ink-receptive top layer, and an underlayer, the underlayer including a specific copolymer described herein. The copolymer can be a polymer comprising constitutional units derived from: a) a monomer having a cyclic urea group; b) a monomer comprising an N-substituted maleimide; c) a (meth)acrylamide or (meth)acrylate monomer; and d) a (meth)acrylic acid or vinyl benzoic acid monomer. In another embodiment, the copolymer can be a polymer comprising constitutional units derived from: a) a monomer having a cyclic urea group; b) a (meth)acrylic acid or vinyl benzoic acid monomer; c) and a (meth)acrylonitrile monomer. The imageable element may be used to prepare a lithographic printing plate that is resistant to press chemistry and can optionally be baked to increase press runlength.

Abstract: Multilayer, positive working, thermally imageable, bakeable imageable elements are disclosed. The elements have a substrate, an underlayer, and a top layer. The underlayer comprises a resin or resins having activated methylol and/or activated alkylated methylol groups, such as a resole resin, and a polymeric material that comprises, in polymerized form about 5 mol % to about 30 mol % of methacrylic acid; about 20 mol % to about 75 mol % of N-phenylmaleimide, N-cyclohexylmaleimide, N-benzylmaleimide, or a mixture thereof; optionally, about 5 mol % to about 50 mol % of methacrylamide; and about 3 mol % to about 50 mol % of a compound represented by the formula: CH2C(R2)C(O)NHCH2OR1, in which R1 is C1 to C12 alkyl, phenyl, C1 to C12 substituted phenyl, C1 to C12 aralkyl, or Si(CH3)3; and R2 is H or methyl. The elements produce bakeable lithographic printing plates that are resistant to press chemistries.

Abstract: Radiation-sensitive elements are described whose radiation-sensitive coating comprises both a photopolymerizable oligomer with a biuret structural unit and a photopolymerizable phosphazene oligomer.

Abstract: The invention relates to radiation-sensitive elements comprising an aluminum substrate that has been roughened electrochemically with hydrochloric acid, and a radiation-sensitive coating comprising a coumarin sensitizer (I), a coinitiator a free-radical polymerizable monomer one or more P—OH groups and a biuret oligomer.

Abstract: Radiation-sensitive element comprising (a) a substrate with at least one hydrophilic surface and (b) a radiation-sensitive coating on at least one hydrophilic surface of the substrate, wherein the coating comprises: (i) at least one free-radical polymerizable monomer and/or oligomer and/or polymer with at least one ethylenically unsaturated group each, (ii) at least one absorber selected from photoinitiators and sensitizers, which is capable of absorbing radiation of a wavelength in the range of 250 to 1,200 nm and (iii) at least one stabilizer comprising in its molecule at least one group capable of inhibiting free-radical polymerization, and at least one other group capable of sorption at the hydrophilic surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A process for the production of lithographic printing plate precursors with a coating comprising a diazo resin is described, wherein a solvent mixture comprising (i) 2 to 9.9 wt.-% 1-methoxy-2-propanol, (ii) 20 to 50 wt.-% of at least one ketone with a boiling point below 130° C., (iii) 20 to 60 wt.-% of at least one alkanol with a boiling point below 120° C., and (iv) 10 to 30 wt.-% ethyl lactate, and a slot coater are used to produce the printing plate precursors.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive patterning composition comprising: (1) at least one acid generating compound selected from the group of compounds of formulae (I) or (II): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6, are individually selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, nitro group, hydroxyl group, a carbonyl group, a halogen atom, a cyano group and an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group, an unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl group; an unsubstituted or substituted alkoxy group, or an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group; wherein X+ represents an onium ion selected from the group consisting of diazonium, iodonium, sulfonium, phosphonium, bromonium, chloronium, oxysulfoxonium, oxysulfonium, sulfoxonium, selenium, tellurium and arsenium; and wherein n is an integer from 4 to 100; (2) at least one cross-linking agent cross-linkable by an acid; (3) at least one polymer compound capable of reacting with the cross-linking agent; and (4) at least one infrared absorbing compound.

Abstract: A UV-mask, a system and method for making the mask and a method of using the mask for producing an image a print medium are disclosed. The system includes a donor element having a substrate coated with a layer of IR-sensitive material and a layers of UV-absorbing material, and a receptor element. The IR-sensitive material is capable of detaching a significant portion of the itself and the UV-absorbing material from the donor element and transfer the detached materials to the receptor element when irradiated by an IR radiation. The method for making a UV-mask includes irradiating such a donor element with an IR radiation. The method of using includes overlaying a digital UV mask on a UV-sensitive medium, exposing the medium to a UV radiation through the UV mask, and developing the UV-sensitive medium.

Abstract: An optical head having a laser source of beams at an input end and image forming beams at an output end and a plurality of optical components arranged along the beams between the input and output ends to obtain an image on a photosensitive printing plate from the beams. The optical components include reflecting surfaces adapted to fold the beams several times between the input and output ends times in such a way as to reduce the width and height of the optical head. The folded beams are located in a plurality of parallel surfaces perpendicular to the image formed on the photosensitive printing plate. The optical head further includes optical components adapted to adjust the width, location, orientation and intensity of the image from the beams.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive-working, thermally imageable element generally comprising a multi-layered imageable coating. The invention provides an imageable element comprising a substrate, an ink-receptive top layer, and an underlayer, the underlayer including a specific copolymer described herein. The copolymer can be a polymer comprising constitutional units derived from: a) a monomer having a cyclic urea group; b) a monomer comprising an N-substituted maleimide; c) a (meth)acrylamide or (meth)acrylate monomer; and d) a (meth)acrylic acid or vinyl benzoic acid monomer. In another embodiment, the copolymer can be a polymer comprising constitutional units derived from: a) a monomer having a cyclic urea group; b) a (meth)acrylic acid or vinyl benzoic acid monomer; c) and a (meth)acrylonitrile monomer. The imageable element may be used to prepare a lithographic printing plate that is resistant to press chemistry and can optionally be baked to increase press runlength.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing substantially intimate rolling contact between a portion of a donor sheet and a portion of an acceptor element in a laser-induced thermal transfer printer comprises a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum, an acceptor element affixed to and supported by the cylindrical drum, a rotatably mounted dispensing roller for dispensing a donor sheet, and a rotatably mounted receiving roller for receiving the donor sheet, so that the donor sheet is extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller. A plurality of rotatably mounted contact rollers configured to bring a portion of the donor sheet extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller into contact with a portion of the acceptor element is also included. Alternatively, contact rollers need not be utilized, and the dispensing roller and receiving roller are configured to bring a portion of the donor sheet extended therebetween into contact with a portion of the acceptor element.

Abstract: Negative working imageable compositions and imageable elements comprising a layer of the imageable composition over a support are disclosed. The imageable compositions comprise a free-radical polymerizable system and an effective amount of curcumin. The curcumin is effective as an antihalation agent, but does not substantially reduce the photospeed of the imageable composition.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method for making a relief image. A film that includes a carrier sheet and an imageable material is used to form a mask image that is opaque to a curing radiation. In one embodiment, the mask image is formed on the carrier sheet while in another embodiment, the mask image is formed on a receptor sheet. The mask image is then transferred to a photosensitive material, such as a flexographic printing plate precursor. The resulting assembly is exposed to the curing radiation resulting in exposed and unexposed areas of the photosensitive material. The carrier sheet or the receptor sheet may be removed from the mask image either before or after exposure to the curing radiation. Finally, the photosensitive material and mask image assembly is developed with a suitable developer to form a relief image.

Abstract: Thermally imageable elements useful as on-press developable lithographic printing plate precursors are disclosed. The elements comprise a substrate and a layer of an imageable composition over the substrate. The imageable composition comprises a photothermal conversion material, particles of a polyurethane polymer, and, optionally, a water soluble polymer. The polyurethane polymer comprises urethane linkages in the main chain, but does not comprise side chain urethane groups.