Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate including the steps of providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a heat sensitive image-recording layer, the image-recording layer including hydrophobic thermoplastic particles; image-wise exposing the precursor to infrared radiation having an energy density of 190 mJ/cm2 or less; mounting the exposed precursor on a printing press; developing the mounted precursor by supplying ink and/or fountain; and baking the plate by keeping the plate at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic particles during a period between 5 seconds and 2 minutes.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat mode imaging element for providing a lithographic printing plate consisting of a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface and a top layer that is sensitive to IR-radiation, comprises a polymer soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution, and is unpenetrable for an aqueous alkaline developer, characterized in that said top layer comprises a polysiloxane surfactant.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat mode imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate comprising on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface a first layer including a polymer, soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer which top layer is IR-sensitive and unpenetrable for an alkaline developer wherein said first layer and said top layer may be one and the same layer; characterized in that said top layer contains at least one blockcopolymer in an amount between 0.5 and 500 mg/m2.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat ode imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate having n a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface a first layer including a polymer, soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer which top layer is IR-sensitive and unpenetrable or insoluble for an alkaline developer wherein said first layer and said top layer may be one and the same layer and said first layer and said top layer being the imaging layers; characterized in that said imaging layers have a glass transition temperature of at least 57° C.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for the preparation of a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of exposing with IR light an imaging element comprising on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface a first layer including a polymer, soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer which top layer is IR-sensitive and unpenetratable for or insoluble in an alkaline developer wherein said first layer and said top layer may be one and the same layer, said imaging element comprising a siloxane surfactant; developing said exposed imaging element with an alkaline solution; gumming said developed imaging element with a baking gum solution; subjecting said gummed imaging element to a thermal treatment at a temperature above 50° C.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat mode imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate having on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface a first layer including a polymer soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution, and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer that is IR-sensitive and unpenetrable for an aqueous alkaline developer wherein said first layer and said top layer may be one and the same layer; characterized in that the surface of said element upon exposure and treatment with an aqueous alkaline developer is such that a) the contact angle between the unexposed areas of the imaging element and the aqueous alkaline developer changes for at most 6° during the first minute of contact with said developer; b) the contact angle between the exposed areas of the imaging element and the aqueous alkaline developer changes more than 15° during the first minute of contact with said developer; c) the difference in contact angle betwe

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat mode imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate having on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface a first layer including a polymer, soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution but not in water and less than 5% by weight versus the polymer, soluble in the aqueous alkaline solution of a hydrophilic polymer and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer which top layer is IR-sensitive and unpenetrable for or insoluble in an alkaline developer wherein said first layer and said top layer may be one and the same layer; characterized in that said top layer contains a compound selected from the group consisting of a polymer in an amount from 30 mg to 500 mg/m2, a triaryl methane dye and a phthalocyanine dye.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate, including on a first side of a flexible support a surface capable of being differentiated in oleophilic and oleophobic areas upon imaging and on a second side opposite to the first side a layer or a package of layers, characterized in that the layer or package of layers on the backside has a ratio of the squared value of the gravimetric water absorption (WA) in g/m2 over the mean roughness in &mgr;m greater than 20.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for making lithographic printing plates including the following steps a) preparing a heat mode imaging element consisting of a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface and a top layer which top layer is sensitive to IR-radiation, comprises a polymer, soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and is unpenetrable for an alkaline developer containing SiO2 as silicates; b) exposing imagewise said heat mode imaging element to IR-radiation; c) developing said imagewise exposed heat mode imaging element with said alkaline developer so that the exposed areas of the top layer are dissolved and the unexposed areas of the top layer remain undissolved characterized in that said top layer includes an IR-absorbing pigment and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid or a benzophenone.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat mode imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate having on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface a first layer including a polymer soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution, and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer that is IR-sensitive and unpenetrable for an aqueous alkaline developer wherein said first layer and said top layer may be one and the same layer; characterized in that the surface of said element upon exposure and treatment with an aqueous alkaline developer is such that

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat ode imaging element for providing a lithographic printing plate consisting of a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface and a top layer that is sensitive to IR-radiation, comprises a polymer soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution, and is unpenetrable for an aqueous alkaline developer, characterized in that said top layer comprises a polysiloxane surfactant.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat mode imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate having on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface a first layer including a polymer, soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution but not in water and less than 5% by weight versus the polymer, soluble in the aqueous alkaline solution of a hydrophilic polymer and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer which top layer is IR-sensitive and unpenetrable for or insoluble in an alkaline developer wherein said first layer and said top layer may be one and the same layer; characterized in that said top layer contains a compound selected from the group consisting of a polymer in an amount from 30 mg to 500 mg/m2, a triaryl methane dye and a phthalocyanine dye.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat mode imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate having on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface a first layer including a polymer that is soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer that is IR-sensitive and unpenetrable for an alkaline developer; characterized in that at least one of the first layer and the top layer includes a surfactant.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a heat mode imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate including on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface, a first layer including a polymer, soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution, and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer. The top layer is IR-sensitive and unpenetrable for an alkaline developer. The first layer and the top layer may be one and the same layer. The top layer is characterized in that it contains at least one compound containing epoxy units in an amount between 20 and 500 mg/m.sup.2 and a hardener.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for making lithographic printing plates including the following steps:a) preparing a heat mode imaging element having on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface a first layer including a polymer, soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution, a compound capable of converting light to heat and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer which top layer is unpenetrable for an alkaline developer containing SiO.sub.2 as silicate;b) exposing imagewise the heat mode imaging element to actinic light;c) developing the imagewise exposed heat mode imaging element with the alkaline developer so that the exposed areas of the top layer and the underlying areas of the first layer are dissolved and the unexposed areas of the first layer remain undissolved characterized in that said top layer includes an organic quaternary ammonium salt.

Abstract: An image receiving layer for use in non-impact printing, especially in an electrostatographic printing method, is provided with an image receiving surface having a specified ratio between average and maximum roughness and a specified kinetic coefficient of friction against rubber with shore hardness 70. The receiving layer is especially well suited for producing lithographic printing plates with non-impact printing, especially with electrostatographic means.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of:(1) image-wise exposing an imaging element having on a support in the order given (i) a uniform ink-repellant layer comprising a hydrophilic binder cross-linked by means of a hydrolysed tetra-alkylorthosilicate and (ii) a photosensitive layer comprising a diazonium salt or a diazo resin;(2) and developing a thus obtained image-wise exposed imaging element by mounting it on a print cylinder of a printing press and supplying an aqueous dampening liquid and/or ink to said photosensitive layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic base (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (ii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer and (iii) an antistress layer being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer and comprising gelatin, characterized in that said antistress layer comprises at least 30 mg/m.sup.2 of a matting agent with a weight average diameter of at least 3 .mu.m.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of:(1) image-wise exposing an imaging element having on a plastic film support in the order given (i) a uniform ink-repellant layer comprising a cross-linked hydrophilic binder and (ii) a photosensitive layer comprising a diazonium salt or a diazo resin;(2) and developing a thus obtained image-wise exposed imaging element by mounting it on a print cylinder of a printing press and supplying an aqueous dampening liquid and/or ink to said photosensitive layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on a support a hydrophilic layer containing a hydrophilic (co)polymer or (co)polymer mixture and having been hardened with a hydrolysed tetraalkyl orthosilicate and a light sensitive layer containing a diazo resin and/or a diazonium salt characterized in that the light sensitive layer comprises at least one diazo resin or diazonium salt containing or being a diazonium salt of p-aminodiphenylamine containing as substituent an alkyl or alkoxy group and the weight percentage of said diazonium salt(s) and/or diazo resin(s) containing or being a diazonium salt of p-aminodiphenylamine containing as substituent an alkyl or alkoxy group versus the total amount of diazo resin and/or diazonium salt ranges from 22 to 40%.