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 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 and an infrared light absorbing dye; characterized in that: said image-recording layer further comprises a compound, said compound comprising an aromatic moiety and at least one acidic group or salt thereof and having a most bathochromic light absorption peak at a wavelength between 300 nm and 450 nm.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter, c) optionally, heating the precursor in a preheating unit, and d) developing the precursor off-press in a gumming unit by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the coating from the support, wherein the coating further includes a compound capable of interacting with the support, the compound being present in the photopolymerizable layer and/or in the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive imaging element includes an IR dye, and more particularly a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor includes the IR dye. A method for making the lithographic printing plate produces a print-out image of high contrast upon exposure to IR-radiation or heating.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: (a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and a coating on the support, the coating including (i) at least one image-recording layer which includes a photocurable composition, and (ii) on top thereof, an oxygen-barrier layer including a water-soluble or water-swellable polymer, b) image-wise exposing the coating, (c) optionally, heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit, (d) treating the image-wise exposed precursor with water or an aqueous solution to remove at least a portion of the oxygen-barrier layer, (e) mounting the treated precursor on a plate cylinder of a lithographic printing press, and (f) developing the precursor by rotating the plate cylinder while feeding dampening liquid and/or ink to the coating, thereby removing non-exposed areas of the image-recording layer.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator, and a reactive binder; b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter; c) optionally, heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit; d) developing the precursor off-press in a gumming unit by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support, wherein the reactive binder is a polymer containing a monomeric unit which includes a group having an ethylenically unsaturated bond.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including an imaging layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the imaging layer and the support, wherein the imaging layer includes a switchable polymer, b) image-wise exposing the coating, whereby the polymer undergoes a chemical reaction induced by the exposing step thereby creating a lithographic image consisting of printing areas and non-printing areas wherein the non-printing areas are removable from the support by a gum solution, and c) developing the precursor by treating the coating of the precursor with the gum solution thereby removing the non-printing areas.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor is provided which comprises an aluminum support having a hydrophilic surface and a coating provided thereon, said coating comprising a photopolymerisable composition having a polymerisable compound, a pigment dispersed with a dispersant, a polymerization initiator and a binder, characterized in that the dispersant is a compound free of —COOH, —PO3H2 or —OPO3H2 groups, and the polymerization initiator is a trihalomethyl-aryl sulphone wherein the aryl group is substituted by at least one electron-donating group and wherein the sum of the Hammett constants (sigma) of the substituting groups on said aryl group has a negative value. The printing plate precursor exhibits an excellent daylight stability and shelf-life.

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 composition that is photopolymerizable upon absorption of light and/or heat, the composition including a binder, a polymerizable compound, a sensitizer, and a photoinitiator, characterized in that the composition includes, with respect to its non-volatile compounds, at least about 0.01 wt.-% of a polythiol compound and has a very high sensitivity and hardness.

Abstract: A composition that is photopolymerizable upon absorption of light and/or heat, the composition including a binder, a polymerizable compound, a sensitizer, and a photoinitiator, characterized in that the composition includes, with respect to its non-volatile compounds, at least about 0.01 wt. % of a polythiol compound and has a very high sensitivity and hardness.

Abstract: A composition that is photopolymerizable upon absorption of light and/or heat, the composition including a binder, a polymerizable compound, a sensitizer, and a photoinitiator, characterized in that the composition includes, with respect to its non-volatile compounds, at least about 0.01 wt. % of a polythiol compound and has a very high sensitivity and hardness.

Abstract: A method of preparing a lithographic printing plate including the steps of providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a photopolymerizable coating provided on a hydrophilic support;—image-wise exposing the precursor;—pre-heating the exposed precursor;—developing the exposed precursor in a gum solution; wherein after pre-heating and before developing the precursor an accelerated cooling of the precursor is carried out and the cooling does not essentially remove a part of the coating of the precursor.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and a coating provided thereon, said coating comprising (i) a contiguous photopolymerisable layer having a photopolymerisable composition, or (ii) a contiguous intermediate layer and thereon a photopolymerisable layer having a photopolymerisable composition, wherein said photopolymerisable composition comprises a polymerisable compound, a polymerization initiator and a first polymer, b) image-wise exposing said coating, c) optionally, heating the precursor, d) developing the precursor by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution or by mounting the exposed precursor on a plate cylinder of a lithographic printing press and rotating the plate cylinder while feeding dampening liquid and/or ink to the coating, wherein said contiguous photopolymerisable or intermediate layer furt

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a photopolymerizable coating on said support, b) image-wise exposing said coating in a plate setter, c) developing the precursor, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the coating from the support, whereby the developing step is carried out off-press in a gumming unit by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising an image-recording layer, said image-recording layer being photopolymerizable upon exposure to light having a wavelength of from 300 to 500 nm and containing a mixture of sensitizers.

Abstract: A composition that is photopolymerizable upon absorption of light and/or heat, the composition including a binder, a polymerizable compound, a sensitizer, and a photoinitiator, characterized in that the composition includes, with respect to its non-volatile compounds, at least about 0.01 wt. % of a polythiol compound, and wherein the composition when coated on a support has a sensitivity of about 150 ?J/cm2 or higher, in combination with a high hardness.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising an image-recording layer, said image-recording layer being photopolymerizable upon exposure to light having a wavelength of from 300 to 500 nm and containing a mixture of sensitizers.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising an image-recording layer, said image-recording layer being photo-polymerizable upon exposure to actinic light and containing a mixture of sensitizers characterized in that said mixture of sensitizers has in 1-methoxy-2-propanol at 80° C. a solubility of at least 30 wt. %. and preferably a MetaStable Zone Width (MSZW) of at least 8.5° C., said MSZW measured at a cooling and heating rate of 0.2° C./minute.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive imaging element includes an IR dye, and more particularly a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor includes the IR dye. A method for making the lithographic printing plate produces a print-out image of high contrast upon exposure to IR-radiation or heating.