Abstract: A method of processing imageable elements useful as alkaline-developable lithographic printing plate precursors that does not require either a rinsing step or a further gumming step is disclosed. The method comprises simultaneously developing and gumming the imaged element with an aqueous alkaline developing-gumming solution comprising one or more water-soluble polyhydroxy compounds of the following structure: R1(CHOH)nR2 in which n is 4 to 7; and either (i) R1 is hydrogen, aryl, or CH2OH; and R2 is hydrogen, alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, CH2OR3 in which R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, CH2N(R4R5) in which R4 and R5 are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or CO2H, or (ii) R1 and R2 together form a carbon—carbon single bond.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive composition for use in printing plates is described. The composition comprises: (a) at least one novolak; (b) at least one naphthoquinone diazide derivative; and (c) a copolymer comprising units A, B, and a unit C comprising a cyclic terminal urea group, wherein unit A is present in an amount of about 5 to about 50 mol % and has the formula wherein R1 is selected such that the homopolymer of A is alkali-soluble, unit B is present in an amount of about 20 to about 70 mol % and has the following formula wherein R2 is selected such that the homopolymer of B has a glass transition temperature greater than 100° C., preferably a glass transition temperature in the range from about 100 to about 380° C.

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline developing system for alkaline-developable lithographic printing plates and a method for its use are disclosed. The developing system comprises one or more water-soluble suppressors of the following structure: R1(CHOH)nR2 in which: n is 4 to 7; and either (i) R1 is hydrogen, aryl, or CH2OH; and R2 is alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, CH2OR3 in which R3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, CH2N(R4R5) in which R4 and R5 are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or CO2H; or (ii) R1 and R2 together form a carbon—carbon single bond. The developing system is especially suited for developing imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plates. The developing system is especially suited for use with elements in which (1) the imageable layer comprises at least one phenolic resin or at least one polymeric compound having pendent sulfonamide groups, and (2) the substrate is aluminum or and an aluminum alloy.

Abstract: Several optical heads are mounted on a common carriage adapted to scan a photosensitive printing plate. Each head is equipped with a laser source, a modulator and projection optics and can project a segment containing a plurality of pixels. The optical track of beams in each head is folded several times in such a way as to reduce the width of the head as well as its height. When the carriage moves from one edge of the plate to the other edge a swath of pixels is projected. Each head includes means to adjust the width, location, orientation and intensity of the segment it generates. Each head is accurately positioned on the carriage so that at least two abutting swaths are projected during each sweep of the carriage to produce a wider swath.

Abstract: A precursor that may be imaged by heat is made up of a substrate, for example a copper board, and a composite layer structure composed of two layers. Preferably, the first layer is composed of an aqueous developable polymer mixture containing a photothermal conversion material, which is contiguous to the substrate. The second layer of the composite is composed of one or more non-aqueous soluble polymers, which are soluble or dispersible in a solvent which does not dissolve the first layer. The precursor is exposed with an infrared laser or a thermal print head, and upon aqueous development, the exposed regions are removed, revealing regions of the substrate surface able to be etched or otherwise treated. The second layer may also contain a photothermal conversion material. Alternatively, the composite layer may be free of photothermal conversion material when thermal imaging is carried out using a thermal print head. The precursor may be used, for example, as a mask precursor or electronic part precursor.

Abstract: The present invention includes an imageable element, which can be: (a) an imageable element comprising an imaging layer which comprises: an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound having an alkoxy substituent and an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound free of an alkoxy substituent; a polyvinyl acetal binder; and a sheet substrate; or (b) an imageable element comprising an imaging layer which comprises: an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound having an alkoxy substituent and an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound free of an alkoxy substituent; and a sheet substrate. The imaging layer includes a total aromatic diazonium salt containing compound content of at least 10 weight percent. The molar ratio of the aromatic diazonium salt containing compound having an alkoxy substituent to the aromatic diazonium salt containing compound that is free of an alkoxy substituent is from about 1.0:1 to 70:1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive working imageable composition, which includes a hydroxyfunctional resin comprising a covalently bound radiation sensitive group capable of increasing the solubility of the imageable composition in an alkaline developer upon exposure to radiation; and an isocyanate crosslinking agent. The present invention further provides an imageable element, which includes a substrate and an imageable composition according to the present invention coated on a surface of the substrate and a method of producing an imaged element according to the present invention. Also provided is a radiation sensitive hydroxyfunctional resin including a covalently bound radiation sensitive group capable of increasing solubility in an alkaline developer of an imageable composition derived therefrom upon exposure of the imageable composition to radiation.

Abstract: Predicting a reflectance spectrum of a photographic print based on data from a scanned color negative. The technique uses dye concentration, providing a channel-independent basis for the spectral model. The spectral model includes three conceptual sections: scanner and film models, a photographic printer model, and a photographic paper model. The scanner and film section converts digital data from a scan of a color negative on a calibrated scanner into predictions of the spectral transmittance for each pixel. The photographic printer section uses an exposure schedule and optionally a color temperature and computes the spectrum of the exposing illumination as a function of time. The photographic paper section converts the illuminated negative's spectral power first into dye concentration estimates and subsequently into a predicted reflectance spectrum for the simulated print.

Abstract: Imageable precursors for masks and for electronic parts comprise a polymeric layer applied to a substrate. The layer comprises at least one polymer having infra-red absorbing groups carried as pendent groups on the polymer backbone. Certain infrared absorbing groups may also act to insolubilize the polymer in a developer, until it is imagewise exposed to infra-red radiation. Imagewise application of heat, resulting from imagewise exposure of the precursor to infra-red radiation, renders the polymer layer more soluble in the developer than prior to exposure to the infra-red radiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithographic printing plate in which images can be inscribed by laser beams, and which has high resolving power, high sensitivity, and the improved reservation stability, and relates to its image-producing method, and a photosenstitive composition which can preferably be used as an original plate for lithographic printing. The photosenstitive composition includes an aqueous resin composition including fine particles (a) of a resin having at least one neutralized anionic group and having a heat fusion property, and a water soluble resin (b) having at least one neutralized anionic group, wherein the water soluble resin (b) is included in a range of 1 to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the aqueous resin composition; and a substance (c) which absorbs light and generates heat.

Abstract: A precursor for preparing a resist pattern comprises an imageable layer which includes a relatively volatile compound that can be volatilized by application of heat, wherein imaging radiation can be applied to the precursor to heat areas thereof and volatilizes said compound so that properties, for example, the ink accepting abilities of heated and non heated areas, are different.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compensating for imaging aberrations that result from repeated passes by an imaging laser array. The aberrations may result from swath lines formed by thermal heating and from the ruling and screen angle of the image. The techniques described herein reduce the undesirable aberrations in thermal laser generated images by breaking up and/or reducing the swath lines. In general, the techniques provide for overlapping swaths and providing masking for one or both passes that print the overlapped region.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for calibrating an imaging system having multiple imaging outputs such as a plurality of laser diodes. Calibration is achieved by driving each imaging output to form a test pattern on an imaging element, each test pattern having one or more image regions and each image region having a target optical property such as a target optical density. Next, an optical property, such as optical density, is measured for each image region. A response curve is generated for each set of image regions having substantially equal target optical properties. The imaging outputs are adjusted by reducing a difference between the measured optical property and the generated response curve, thereby reducing optical variations between regions that are imaged by the multiple imaging outputs.

Abstract: Infra-red absorbing polymers useful in imageable products and the lithographic printing field comprise infra-red absorbing groups carried as pendent groups on a polymer backbone. Certain infra-red absorbing groups may also act to insolublize the polymer in a developer, until it is imagewise exposed to infra-red radiation. The resulting heat renders the polymer soluble in the developer. Imageable products employing the infra-red absorbing polymers may include positive working lithographic printing plates.

Abstract: Positive-working imageable elements and methods for their preparation are disclosed. The elements comprise a hydrophilic substrate; a bottom layer, which contains a positive-working photosensitive composition; and a protective overlayer, which has an overlayer material that reduces the solubility of the photosensitive composition in an aqueous alkaline developer. The overlayer may be conveniently applied by a dip and rinse procedure.

Abstract: A direct-to-press imaging method comprises: (a) applying an imageable coating to a printing cylinder, wherein the imageable coating comprises a composition such as a thermally switchable polymer which changes affinity for a printing fluid upon exposure to imaging radiation such as infrared radiation delivered imagewise via a laser, and the imageable coating is substantially insoluble in the printing fluid; (b) imagewise exposing the imageable coating to actinic radiation to obtain an imaged coating; (c) printing a plurality of copies of an image from the imaged coating; and (d) reapplying the imageable coating as desired by repeating steps (a) through (c) at least once without substantially removing the prior imaged coating before reapplying the imageable coating.

Abstract: A method for imaging patterning compositions comprising the steps of:

Abstract: A method of characterizing a color imaging system is provided. The method comprises obtaining first data indicative of output of the color imaging system. The first data is processed, to yield second data, according to a color appearance model that varies in accordance with neutrality of colors indicated by the first data. Other methods are provided as well as systems and computer program products for characterizing color imaging systems and devices and for producing colors.

Abstract: A process for making thermally imageable negative working compositions comprising the steps of: (1) providing a patterning composition layer on a substrate, said patterning composition comprising: (a) at least one thermal-generator acid generator, (b) at least one cross-linking resin or compound; (c) at least one binder resin comprising a polymer containing at least one reactive pendent group selected from the group, consisting of hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, sulfonamide, alkoxymethylamide and mixtures thereof; and (d) at least one infrared absorber; (2) subjecting the patterning composition layer to a two-stage radiation exposure; (a) one stage being a flood UV-exposure; and (b) the other stage being a imagewise infrared exposure stage; (3) treating the exposed patterning composition with heat energy; and (4) developing the heat treated, exposed patterning composition with an aqueous alkaline developer to remove the non-imaged areas of the patterning composition and leaving the imaged areas substanti

Abstract: Copolymers containing the units A, B, C, D and optionally E are used to prepare radiation sensitive compositions and lithographic printing plates. The copolymer contains about 25 to 55 mol % of unit A which has the formula The copolymer contains about 0.5 to 25 mol % of unit B which has the formula wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl and aralkyl. The copolymer contains about 0.5 to 40 mol % of unit C which has the formula wherein X is an aliphatic or aromatic spacer group, and Ac is an acidic group selected from the group consisting of —COOH, —SO3H, —SO2NR9R10 with R9 and R10 independently being selected from hydrogen and alkyl; and when X is phenylene, Ac can also be OH.