Abstract: A kit for preparing a processing liquid for use in the preparation of a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process, and comprising all necessary active compounds for preparing said processing liquid, said active compounds including a hydrophobizing agent, said hydrophobizing agent being provided in a concentrated dissolved liquid state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of:image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising on a support a photosensitive layer comprising a silver halide emulsion and an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei,developing said imaging element in the presence of developing agent(s) and silver halide solvent(s) using an alkaline processing liquid andneutralizing a thus obtained developed imaging element using a neutralization solution having a pH between 4 and 10.5 and comprising a hydrophobizing agent and a buffer characterized in that said neutralization solution comprises a salt of sulfurous acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on a support in the order given a photosensitive layer comprising a silver halide emulsion and an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei in water permeable relationship with said emulsion layer, characterized in that said imaging element comprises at least 50 mg/m.sup.2 of tetramethyl reductic acid and at least 100 mg/m.sup.2 of ascorbic acid.According to the present invention there is further provided a method for making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of image-wise exposing an imaging element as defined above and subsequently developing a thus obtained imaging element by an alkaline processing liquid in the presence of developing agent(s) and silver halide solvent(s).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising on a support a photosensitive layer comprising a silver halide emulsion and an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei and developing said imaging element in the presence of developing agent(s) and silver halide solvent(s) using an alkaline processing liquid characterized in that said development is carried out in the presence of a meso-ionic compound. The present invention further provides an imaging element and alkaline processing liquid for use in said method.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on a support in the order given (i) a base layer comprising a binder in an amount between 1 and 3 g/m.sup.2, (it) a photosensitive layer comprising a spectrally sensitised silver halide emulsion, said emulsion consisting principally of silver chloride but containing bromide ranging from 0.1 mole % to 40 mole % and iodide ranging from 0 to 2 mole % and (iii) a receiving layer containing physical development nuclei in water permeable relationship with said photosensitive layer, characterized in that the ratio by weight of gelatin to silver halide (expressed as an equivalent amount of AgNO.sub.3) in said photosensitive layer is at least 1.35.

Abstract: A kit of parts for preparing an alkaline processing liquid for use in preparing a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process, and comprising all necessary active compounds for preparing said alkaline processing liquid, said active compounds being contained in parts physically separated from each other, at least one of said parts comprising an inorganic alkali in solid form and at least one of said other parts comprising a hydrophobizing agent and being substantially free from inorganic alkali.

Abstract: A kit for preparing a processing liquid for use in preparing a lithographic printing plate according to silver salt diffusion transfer processing, and comprising all necessary active compounds for preparing said processing liquid, said active compounds including a solid hydrogensulphite amine complex or a solid sulphurdioxide amine complex, said amine of said complexes being capable of acting as a silver halide solvent.

Abstract: There is provided an imaging element having a flexible support and comprising on said support a photosensitive layer comprising a silver halide emulsion and an image-receiving layer comprising physical development nuclei, said layers being in water permeable contact with each other, characterized in that said flexible support is a polyester film having a thickness between 0.15 and 0.35 mm and consisting of polyethylene 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate. There is also provided a method for making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of image-wise exposing an imaging element as defined above and subsequently developing a thus obtained imaging element by an alkaline processing liquid in the presence of developing agent(s) and silver halide solvent(s).

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on a support a silver halide emulsion layer and an image receiving layer comprising physical development nuclei being in water permeable contact with said silver halide emulsion layer, characterized in that said image receiving layer comprises a colloidal clay.According to the invention there is further provided a method for making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of image-wise exposing an imaging element as defined above and subsequently developing a thus obtained image-wise exposed imaging element by means of an alkaline processing solution in the presence of a developing agent and a silver halide solvent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a kit for preparing a processing liquid for use in the preparation of a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process, and comprising all necessary active compounds for preparing said processing liquid, said active compounds including a hydrophobizing agent being provided on the surface of solid particles, said solid particles being soluble in said processing liquid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of:image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising on a support in the order given a photosensitive layer comprising a silver halide emulsion and an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei in water permeable relationship with said emulsion layer,developing said imaging element by means of an alkaline developing solution comprising at least 0.1 mole/l of ascorbic acid as the main developer and at least 0.015 mole/l of an auxiliary developer of the class of the 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidones in the presence of silver halide solvent(s) characterized in that said developing solution comprises at least 0.003 mole/l of thiosulfate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for obtaining a photographic material by coating on a support at least one layer comprising at least one photosensitive silver halide emulsion wherein the silver halide crystals contain silver chloride for at least 60 mole %, silver bromide in a range from 5 mole % to 40 mole % and silver iodide in a range from 0 mole % to 1 mole %, characterized in that a water soluble iridium compound is added between the end of the physical ripening and the end of the chemical ripening to said silver halide emulsion at a pH between 4 and 6.5, at a pCl between -0.3 and 1 and at a ratio by weight of gelatin to silver halide, expressed as equivalent amount of silver nitrate between 0.05 and 0.5.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of:image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising on a support a photosensitive layer comprising a silver halide emulsion and an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei,developing said imaging element in the presence of developing agent(s) and silver halide solvent(s) using an alkaline processing liquid andneutralizing a thus obtained developed imaging element using a neutralization liquid having a pH between 5 and 7 characterized in that said neutralization liquid contains a total concentration of phosphate ions between 0.2 mol/l and 0.4 mol/l.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photographic material comprising a silver halide emulsion layer sensitized to light above 700 nm by means of an infrared sensitizing dye having a maximum absorption between 700 nm and 850 nm characterized in that said silver halide emulsion further comprises a red sensitizing dye of the cationic type having a maximum absorption between 600 nm and 700 nm. The thus obtained photographic material shows an increased sensitivity in the infrared region. The material can be used in as silver salt diffusion transfer process to prepare a lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on a support in the order given a base layer containing a matting agent having a number average diameter between 0.4 and 1 times the thickness of said base layer, a spectrally sensitized silver halide emulsion layer and a receiving layer containing physical development nuclei having an average diameter less than 6 nm and wherein the number of nuclei having a diameter larger than 4.5 nm is less than 15% of the total number of nuclei contained in said receiving layer and wherein substantially no matting agent is present in said receiving layer, silver halide emulsion layer or any other layer optionally being present between said receiving layer and silver halide emulsion layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process using a photographic material comprising on a support a silver halide emulsion layer and a layer containing physical development nuclei comprising the steps of:image-wise exposing said photographic material anddeveloping a thus obtained image-wise exposed photographic material by guiding said image-wise exposed photographic material through an alkaline processing liquid in 15 s or less; characterized in that said alkaline processing liquid comprises a hydrophobizing compound having a mercapto group that has a pK.sub.a of 4.5 or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photographic material comprising on a support (i) photosensitive silver halide particles, (ii) substantially light insensitive silver salt particles having a speed at least a factor 10 less than said photosensitive silver halide particles under the same conditions of exposure and development of said photosensitive silver halide particles and (iii) a releasing compound capable of image-wise releasing under the conditions for image-wise development of said photosensitive silver halide to silver a chemical sensitizer, said chemical sensitizer rendering said substantially light insensitive silver salt particles developable. The present invention also provides a method for making an image therewith and a method for making a lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a lithographic printing plate accordig to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of:image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising on a support a photosensitive layer comprising a silver halide emulsion and an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei,developing said imaging element in the presence of developing agent(s) and silver halide solvent(s) using an alkaline processing liquid andneutralizing the thus obtained developed imaging element using a neutralization liquid characterized in that said neutralization liquid contains a meso-ionic compound.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for making a lithographic printing plate according to the DTR-process comprising the steps of:information-wise exposing an imaging element comprising on a support a silver halide emulsion layer and an image-receiving layer containing physical development nuclei anddeveloping said information-wise exposed imaging element with an alkaline processing liquid in the presence of developing agent(s) and silver halide solvent(s) characterized in that said silver halide solvents comprise a combination of (an) alkanolamine(s) and a thiosulfate wherein said thiosulfate is used in a total amount between 0.01% and 1% by weight in said alkaline processing liquid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photographic material comprising on a support (i) photosensitive silver halide particles, (ii) substantially light insensitive silver salt particles having a speed at least a factor 10 less than said photosensitive silver halide particles under the same conditions of exposure and development of said photosensitive silver halide particles and (iii) a releasing compound capable of image-wise releasing under the conditions for image-wise development of said photosensitive silver halide to silver a chemical sensitizer, said chemical sensitizer rendering said substantially light insensitive silver salt particles developable. The present invention also provides a method for making an image therewith and a method for making a lithographic printing plate.