Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor includes: an aluminum support; an intermediate layer; and an image-recording layer, in this order, wherein at least one of the intermediate layer and the image-recording layer contains a compound having an amino group and a functional group capable of interacting with the aluminum support in a molecule.

Abstract: A photosensitive composition containing a compound having a specific structure as described in the specification, a pattern-forming method using the photosensitive composition and the compound having a specific structure used in the photosensitive composition.

Abstract: A color contrast image in imaged lithographic printing precursors can be obtained by contacting the imaged precursor with a coloration solution containing a colorless form of a photochromic compound. Residual amounts of this compound attached to the oleophilic surface of the imaged precursor can be changed to its colored form when exposed to UV light. The coloration solution can be an alkaline or acidic developer or an alkaline or acidic solution used separately after development. The coloration solution can also be a gum solution.

Abstract: A resist composition including a base material component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid, and an acid generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the acid generator component (B) including an acid generator (B1) consisting of a compound represented by general formula (b1-1) shown below: wherein RX represents a hydrocarbon group which may have a hetero atom; R1 represents a divalent linking group; Y1 represents an alkylene group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a fluorinated alkylene group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; n represents an integer of 1 to 3; and Z represents an organic cation (exclusive of an amine ion and a quaternary ammonium ion) having a valence of n.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a composition for forming a resist protection film, which shows less damage to a resist film, can form a good, rectangular resist pattern, and can be used regardless of the structure of a resin used in a resist composition; and a method for forming a resist pattern by using the composition. Specifically, disclosed are: a composition for forming a resist protection film, which comprises (a) an alkali-soluble polymer and (b) an ether-based solvent; and a method for forming a resist pattern by using the composition.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor comprising: a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer; and an image-recording layer comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, an infrared light absorbing dye and a dye; wherein said dye has a specified structure and a most bathochromic light absorption peak between 451 nm and 750 nm.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the durability of an image on an imaging material, including increasing the press run length or a printing plate. The apparatus and method can involve the use of, as an example but not restricted to, an imaging device, a pre-bake oven, a processor, and a post-process treatment unit that employs infrared lamps adapted to irradiate the image.

Abstract: An improved relief printing plate and method for producing said plate is disclosed. Substantially all sizes of relief features resolve a fixed pattern which improves print quality. The pattern is applied to image areas in halftone data used to produce an image mask that is subsequently used to convert a plate precursor into a relief plate. The accuracy, ink density and tonal response of printed images corresponding to relief features that include the pattern are comparable or better than relief features produced without the pattern.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resist composition prepared by dissolving components in an organic solvent containing ethyl lactate, which suppresses deterioration of sensitivity with time and also has required lithographic characteristics, and a method for forming a resist pattern. The resist composition is prepared by dissolving a resin component (A) which exhibits changeable alkali solubility under an action of an acid, an acid generator component (B) which generates an acid upon exposure, an amine (D) and acetic acid in an organic solvent (S) containing ethyl lactate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a relief image arrangement, usable especially in the fields of flexography, embossing and heliogravure, and comprising a base layer and a layer of photosensitive material fixed on the base layer. The method is of the type according to which an image is produced on the photosensitive layer by causing selective curing by irradiating the zones that are to be in relief with light of a predetermined wavelength. The method is characterized in that the image is produced in the form of a set of points to which a substantially pyramidal shape is given, widening out in the direction of the base layer (5). The invention is usable for producing relief images, in the field of flexography.

Abstract: A sulfonium salt has formula (1) wherein R1 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group except vinyl and isopropenyl, R2, R3, and R4 are alkyl, alkenyl, oxoalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or aryloxoalkyl or may bond together to form a ring with the sulfur atom, and n is 1 to 3. A chemically amplified resist composition comprising the sulfonium salt is capable of forming a fine feature pattern of good profile after development due to high resolution, improved focal latitude, and minimized line width variation and profile degradation upon prolonged PED.

Abstract: A resin composition for laser engraving includes a binder polymer including a polyester, and an oxy compound of at least one of metal and metalloid selected from Groups 1 to 16 of periodic table.

Abstract: Particular embodiments include method embodiments and apparatus embodiments. One method embodiment comprises: placing a printing plate on an imaging device; imaging the plate according to imaging data; and applying UV radiation using a plurality of UV emitting LEDs during the process of imaging of the printing plate. In one embodiment, the plate initially has ablatable material, and wherein the imaging includes ablating ablatable material on the plate according to the imaging data to form an ablated plate, and wherein the applying the UV radiation includes exposing the ablated plate to UV radiation to cure the plate. In one embodiment, the imaging device is an external drum imager that includes a drum that rotates during imaging.

Abstract: An electro-optical printed circuit board contains electrical conductor tracks on the one hand and optical waveguide structures on the other hand. The optical waveguide structures comprise a bottom layer, a core layer and a cladding layer. Visible areas are applied to the printed circuit board, and the core layer is applied later both to the bottom layer as well as the visible areas and structured both on the bottom layer as well as the visible areas. This structure is then transferred to the visible areas, e.g. by etching. Reference marks are thus produced which contain the information on the actual position of the optical waveguide structures.

Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors have been designed so that they can be stored, shipped, and used in stacks without interleaf paper between individual precursors. This is achieved by incorporating polymeric particles having an average diameter of from about 3 to about 20 ?m into the outermost precursor layer such as an imagable layer or topcoat. The polymeric particles comprise a core of a crosslinked polymer and have grafted hydrophilic polymeric surface groups that are grafted onto the particle surfaces by polymerizing hydrophilic monomers in the presence of the crosslinked polymeric particles. The lithographic printing plates can be either negative- or positive-working elements.

Abstract: A method of preparing a lithographic printing plate in which no pre-heat step is used comprising the steps of:—providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support and a photopolymerizable image-recording layer, the image-recording layer comprising a monomer and a binder;—image-wise exposing the precursor in an exposure unit;—off press developing the exposed precursor with an aqueous solution in a processing unit; characterized in that the ratio of the total amount of monomer to the total amount of binder is at least 1 and the time lapse between exposing an image-area of the precursor and contacting the image-area with the aqueous solution is at least 1 minute.

Abstract: A method of on-press development of a lithographic printing plate having an imaged photosensitive (PS) coating by (a) applying an emulsive film of press ink and fountain onto the entire PS coating; (b) transferring all nonimage areas of the inked PS coating and all of the ink film on the nonimage areas of the PS coating from the plate to a blanket roll while the image areas of the PS coating remain on the substrate, wherein the nonimage areas are transferred to the blanket roll in particulate form without dissolution or dispersion in any ink or fountain; and (c) contacting the blanket roll with a paper leader to further transfer all the ink, fountain water, and particles of nonimage PS coating that were transferred to the blanket roll, from the blanket roll to the paper leader.

Abstract: Negative-working imageable elements have a hydrophilic substrate and a single thermally-sensitive imageable layer. This layer can include an infrared radiation absorbing compound and polymeric particles that coalesce upon thermal imaging. These coalesceable polymeric particles comprise a thermoplastic polymer and a colorant to provide improved visible contrast between exposed and non-exposed regions in the imaged element, such as lithographic printing plates.

Abstract: A resin composition for laser engraving comprising a binder polymer contains at least one polyester (A) selected from the group consisting of a polyester containing a hydroxycarboxylic acid unit, polycaprolactone, poly(butylene succinic acid), and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: Method for producing an imaged lithographic printing plate comprising the step of developing an imagewise exposed negative working precursor with a developer comprising an alkylene oxide derivative of formula (A), wherein R1 is a linear or branched C1 to C6 alkyl group or H, (n+m) is an integer from 2 to 30, and R2 R3 R4 and R5 are each independently selected from H, methyl and ethyl, with the proviso that at least one of R2 and R3 is not H, and with the further proviso that at least one of R4 and R5 is not H.