Abstract: Growth and clustering of halftone dots is a drawback in the reproduction of halftoned continuous tone images on prior art recording materials. Certain thermographic materials show a local microdot shrink effect called negative cross-talk upon neighboring microdots when exposing a microdot. Exposing these materials according to the frequency modulated halftone data of an image results in better tone rendering and lower noise due to lower dot clustering or negative cross-talk characteristics.

Abstract: A recording process comprising the steps of: information-wise exposing to radiation a photosensitive thermally developable photographic material, thereby producing a latent image; and heating the photosensitive thermally developable photographic material, characterized in that the photosensitive thermally developable photographic material is on one and the same holding or guiding means during both the information-wise exposure step and the heating step; and the information-wise exposure step is carried out during the heating step; and a method of increasing the photosensitivity of a photosensitive thermally developable photographic material.

Abstract: A method for generating a screened reproduction of a multiple tone image comprises the steps of autotypical or amplitude modulation screening the multiple tone image to obtain screened data representing tones of the multiple tone image in terms of halftone dots; reproducing the halftone dots on an imaging element by means of a scan-wise exposure by means of a laser or a LED, wherein in extreme regions of the tone scale the shape of the halftone dots is compact, characterized in that the halftone dots have a ratio of peripheral length to surface area which is minimal.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate from an original containing multiple tones comprising the steps of frequency modulation screening the multiple image to obtain screened data representing tones of the multiple tone image in terms of halftone dots; reproducing the halftone dots on a lithographic printing plate precursor having a surface capable of being differentiated in ink accepting and ink repellant areas upon scanwise exposure and an optional development step, by means of a scanwise exposure, wherein the scanwise exposure for rendering a halftone dot is intensity modulated.

Abstract: A method for generating a screened reproduction of a contone image comprises the steps of screening the contone image to obtain screened data representative for tones of the contone image and suitable for driving exposure of microdots on a radiation sensitive imaging element; exposing the microdots according to the screened data by at least one set or plurality (p) of radiation beams (b), characterized in that at a point in time (t) at least two radiation beams of the set of radiation beams impinge on a particular microdot (m) of a scanline (l). In particular is described a method for making a lithographic printing plate comprising the abovementioned steps.

Abstract: A method for generating a screened reproduction of a multiple tone image comprising the steps of frequency modulation screening the multiple tone image to obtain screened data representing tones of the multiple tone image in terms of halftone dots, reproducing the halftone dots on an imaging element by means of a scanwise exposure, characterized in that the scanwise exposure for rendering a halftone dot is time modulated.

Abstract: A method for generating a screened reproduction of a multiple tone image comprises the steps of frequency modulation or stochastic screening the multiple image to obtain screened data representing tones of the multiple tone image in terms of halftone dots; reproducing the halftone dots on an imaging element by means of a scanwise exposure, wherein the size or composition of the halftone dot is modulated, by varying the number of microdots (or rels) composing a halftone dot.

Abstract: A modulated writing light beam (18) having a wavelength to which an imaging element (33) is sensitive and a reference light beam (46) having a wavelength to which the imaging element (33) is insensitive are generated and simultaneously directed to a moving optical device (22) to cause the writing light beam (18) to scan across the surface of the imaging element (33) in a first scanning direction (C) and the reference light beam (46) to scan across the surface of a light detecting element (50) in the first scanning direction (C) to generate signals indicative of the position of the writing light beam (18) on the surface of the imaging element (33). The writing light beam (18) is modulated and the imaging element (33) is moved in a second scanning direction (B) in response to the signals generated by the light detecting element (50). Thereafter the exposed imaging element (33) is processed to prepare a lithographic printing plate.