Abstract: A highlight microdot mask element includes: at least one imaged region having at least one imaged block and being optically transmissive; at least one opaque island formed by at least one non-imaged block, wherein an arrangement of the plurality of imaged regions and the at least one opaque island defines the highlight microdot print surface pattern; and an opaque void region surrounds the highlight microdot pattern. A flexographic plate highlight microdot printhead includes: at least one elevated region, each elevated region having at least one elevated block forming a print surface; at least one internal recess formed by at least one recessed block, wherein an arrangement of the plurality of elevated regions and the at least one recess define a the highlight microdot print surface pattern of a highlight microdot structure; and an recess void region surrounding the highlight microdot structure.

Abstract: A mask element for flexographic printing is provided. The mask element can be used for preparing a mask that has a mask image. The mask element can include: a transparent polymeric carrier sheet; a barrier layer on the transparent polymeric carrier sheet, wherein the barrier layer comprises non-crosslinked nitrocellulose; and an imaging layer on the barrier layer, wherein the imaging layer includes a non-silver halide thermally-ablatable material comprising non-crosslinked nitrocellulose, carbon black, and an infrared (IR) dye. In some aspects, the mask element further includes a transparent overcoat layer on the imaging layer. The mask can include: imaged regions in the imaging layer, wherein the imaged regions have optical apertures that are substantially devoid of the carbon black and non-crosslinked nitrocellulose thereof; and non-imaged regions in the imaging layer, wherein the non-imaged regions have the non-crosslinked nitrocellulose, carbon black, and infrared dye.

Abstract: A processing system for processing a flexographic printing plate can include a processing path for processing the flexographic printing plate. A hollow tube can be positioned to be extended across the processing path. A pressurized processing liquid supply system is provided. A plurality of pressure-compensating emitters are coupled to the hollow tube Each pressure-compensating emitter can include a casing having a fluidic flow path that is fluidly coupled with the hollow tube and having an outlet. Also, each emitter can include a resilient planar member in the casing and positioned to form at least one resilient surface of the fluidic flow path. Each pressure-compensating emitter is configured to control flow rate of the pressurized processing liquid to produce processing liquid drips from the outlet. The resilient planar member can be positioned to provide a variable outlet cross-sectional profile to the outlet in response to pressure inside the casing.

Abstract: A mask element for flexographic printing can include: a substrate; a polymeric layer on the substrate and having a first infrared absorbing material; a non-silver halide thermally-ablatable imaging layer on the polymeric layer and having a second infrared absorbing material and an ultraviolet absorbing material in an thermally-ablatable polymeric binder; and a particulate-treated protective topcoat on the non-silver halide thermally-ablatable imaging layer and having a thermally-ablatable polymer containing inorganic particles of from about 0.25% to about 20% by dry weight of the particulate-treated protective topcoat. The inorganic particles include silicon dioxide or metal dioxide or combinations thereof. The inorganic particles can be thermally-ablatable particles, such as iron oxide, or be not thermally ablatable particles, such as silica, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or combinations thereof. the inorganic particles are present from about 0.5% to 10%. The inorganic particles have a size range from 0.

Abstract: A processing system includes a processing unit that processes the flexographic printing plate with a processing liquid. The processing unit includes a hollow tube having a length extending across a cross-track dimension of the flexographic printing plate. A processing liquid supply system supplies pressurized processing liquid into an interior of the hollow tube. A plurality of pressure-compensating emitters is distributed along the length of the tube which deliver processing liquid onto a surface of the flexographic printing plate, wherein processing liquid flows from the interior of the hollow tube through the pressure-compensating emitters at a controlled flow rate.

Abstract: A system is for processing a photosensitive flexographic printing plate having a latent image formed by image-wise exposure of an aqueous-processable photopolymer. The system can use a first aqueous processing solution with the latent image for cleaning and then washing a resulting relief image with a second aqueous processing solution, where the second aqueous processing solution is devoid of the photopolymer. A processing solution tank is configured to combine the first used aqueous processing solution with the second used aqueous processing solution to form a combined used aqueous processing solution. A processing solution removal can include: a holding tank configured for receiving the combined used aqueous processing solution; and a conduit from the processing solution tank to the holding tank. The processing solution tank includes the combined used aqueous processing solution at less than a predefined maximum volume and having the photopolymer at less than a predefined maximum concentration.

Abstract: A relief image is prepared by: A) imaging an imageable material to form a mask element; B) exposing a relief-forming precursor through the mask element; C) removing the mask element; and D) developing the imaged relief-forming precursor. The imageable material has, in order: (a) a transparent polymeric carrier sheet; (b) a non-ablatable light-to-heat converting having an average dry thickness of 1-5 ?m and comprising: (i) an infrared radiation absorbing material at 0.1-5 weight %; (ii) a thermally crosslinked organic polymeric binder material; and (iii) non-thermally ablatable particles having an average particle size of 0.1-20 ?m in an amount of 0.2-10 weight %; and (c) a non-silver halide thermally-ablatable imaging layer (IL) disposed on the LTHC layer, the IL comprising a second infrared radiation absorbing material and a UV-light absorbing material dispersed within one or more thermally-ablatable polymeric binder materials. The imageable material can be included in a relief image-forming assembly.

Abstract: An imageable material can be used to form a mask element that in turn is useful for providing relief images such as in flexographic printing plates. The imageable material has, in order: (a) a transparent polymeric carrier sheet; (b) a non-ablatable light-to-heat converting having an average dry thickness of 1-5 ?m and comprising: (i) an infrared radiation absorbing material at 0.1-5 weight %; (ii) a thermally crosslinked organic polymeric binder material; and (iii) non-thermally ablatable particles having an average particle size of 0.1-20 ?m in an amount of 0.2-10 weight %; and (c) a non-silver halide thermally-ablatable imaging layer (IL) disposed on the LTHC layer, the IL comprising a second infrared radiation absorbing material and a UV-light absorbing material dispersed within one or more thermally-ablatable polymeric binder materials.

Abstract: A method for processing a photosensitive flexographic printing plate having an aqueous-processable photopolymer. A main processing unit is used to develop a relief image by removing unexposed photopolymer using an aqueous processing solution including a first dispersing agent while the photosensitive flexographic printing plate is being subjected to mechanical cleaning. Used aqueous processing solution containing the removed photopolymer is returned back into a processing solution tank. A secondary processing unit is used to wash the developed relief image with secondary aqueous processing solution including a second dispersing agent to remove debris from the developed relief image. Used secondary aqueous processing solution containing the removed photopolymer is directed into the processing solution tank. A portion of the aqueous processing solution from the processing solution tank is removed to keep a volume of aqueous processing solution in the processing solution tank below a predefined maximum volume.

Abstract: A method for processing a photosensitive flexographic printing plate having an aqueous-processable photopolymer. A main processing unit is used to develop a relief image by removing unexposed photopolymer using an aqueous processing solution including a first dispersing agent while the photosensitive flexographic printing plate is being subjected to mechanical cleaning. Used aqueous processing solution containing the removed photopolymer is returned back into a processing solution tank. A secondary processing unit is used to wash the developed relief image with secondary aqueous processing solution including a second dispersing agent to remove debris from the developed relief image. Used secondary aqueous processing solution containing the removed photopolymer is directed into the processing solution tank. A portion of the aqueous processing solution from the processing solution tank is removed to keep a volume of aqueous processing solution in the processing solution tank below a predefined maximum volume.

Abstract: A method for processing a photosensitive flexographic printing plate having an aqueous-processable photopolymer. A main processing unit is used to develop a relief image by removing unexposed photopolymer using an aqueous processing solution including a first dispersing agent while the photosensitive flexographic printing plate is being subjected to mechanical cleaning. Used aqueous processing solution containing the removed photopolymer is returned back into a processing solution tank. A secondary processing unit is used to wash the developed relief image with secondary aqueous processing solution including a second dispersing agent to remove debris from the developed relief image. Used secondary aqueous processing solution containing the removed photopolymer is directed into the processing solution tank. A portion of the aqueous processing solution from the processing solution tank is removed to keep a volume of aqueous processing solution in the processing solution tank below a predefined maximum volume.