Abstract: A printing plate includes a plurality of relief areas which stand proud of a floor of the plate, each of the relief areas having an uppermost surface to which, in use, is applied a liquid which is borne by the uppermost surface and subsequently contactingly transferred to a substrate material. A predetermined pattern of depressions define a corresponding pattern of islands within the uppermost surface. The depressions within the uppermost surface include at least primary depressions of a first size and substantially geometric first cross-sectional shape, and secondary depressions, being of smaller cross-sectional area than the primary depressions and having a second cross-sectional shape which is distinctly more elongate than the first cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A printing plate includes a plurality of relief areas which stand proud of a floor of the plate, each of the relief areas having an uppermost surface to which, in use, is applied a liquid which is borne by the uppermost surface and subsequently contactingly transferred to a substrate material. A predetermined pattern of depressions define a corresponding pattern of islands within the uppermost surface. The depressions within the uppermost surface include at least primary depressions of a first size and substantially geometric first cross-sectional shape, and secondary depressions, being of smaller cross-sectional area than the primary depressions and having a second cross-sectional shape which is distinctly more elongate than the first cross-sectional shape.