Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat-sensitive non-ablatable wasteless imaging element for providing a lithographic printing plate, comprising on a support a top layer which is capable of forming by image-wise exposure image-wise hydrophobic and hydrophilic areas, characterized in that said imaging element contains an IR-dye capable of changing its optical density by exposure of the imaging element.

Abstract: A negative working non-ablative lithographic printing plate precursor is provided which includes a metal support such as an anodized aluminum plate and provided thereon a layer or a stack of layers, wherein at least one layer includes a near infrared light absorbing compound which is the main component of the layer(s). As the amount of other reactive compounds besides the near infrared light absorbing compound is less than 20% by weight, excellent-storage stability is obtained. In a highly preferred embodiment the layer or stack of layers is substantially free from the other reactive compounds. The material is very suitable for computer-to-plate and computer-to-press applications as it can be used as a printing master directly after exposure or may be processed by rinsing with plain water.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat-sensitive material for making lithographic printing plates having on a lithographic support an image-forming layer including a hydrophilic binder, a cross-linking agent for the hydrophilic binder, metal oxide particles with a mean diameter of at least 100 nm and dispersed hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, characterized in that the image-forming layer has a ratio of specific surface (in m2 per g) over mean roughness(in &mgr;m) of more than 0.65 and that the mean pore width is less than 15 nm.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat sensitive recording material comprising a support and thereon a surface layer comprising an ink abhesive binder, characterized in that said binder is capable of being imagewise converted to an ink acceptive binder by exposure to heat or actinic irradiation.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for making lithographic printing plates or a printing cylinder including the steps of applying image-wise a solution of ions of an oleophilic metal with an ink jet on a hydrophilic metallic base and reducing said ions by electroplating in order to obtain an oleophilic metal image.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat sensitive recording material having on a support a recording layer containing a homogeneous ink accepting phase and an ink abhesive phase, characterized in that said ink abhesive phase comprises a silicon based polymer.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat mode imaging element comprising in the order given:i) a lithographic base,ii) a heat ablatable recording layer andiii) a top layer having an opposite affinity for ink or an ink abhesive fluid than the lithographic base,characterized in that the top layer comprises as main substance an inorganic-organic composite material wherein the inorganic phase is formed by controlled hydrolysis and polycondensation of a metal alkoxide and the organic phase is an organic polymer or copolymer linked to at least one inorganic atom.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a photothermographic material comprising on a support a photo-addressable thermally developable element containing a substantially light-insensitive organic heavy-metal salt, photosensitive silver halide in catalytic association with said substantially light-insensitive organic heavy-metal salt, a reductor for said substantially light-insensitive organic heavy-metal salt and a binder, said photothermographic material having on the same side of the support as said photo-addressable thermally developable element an outermost layer having two phases at least one of which being a dispersion phase of thermoplastic particles, characterized in that said two phases exhibit different affinities for at least one printing liquid selected from the group consisting of ink and an abhesive fluid for ink.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a thermosensitive imaging element for obtaining a lithographic printing plate comprising on a hydrophilic surface of a support a layer comprising an organic metallic salt and in the same or an adjacent layer an organic reducing agent and a compound capable of converting light into heat, said organic metallic salt being reducible on heating by said reducing agent to an ink-accepting compound or to a compound which can react with a hydrophobizing agent to an ink-accepting compound, characterized in that said layer comprising an organic metallic salt comprises a hydrophobic binder in an amount between 0.00 g/m.sup.2 and 0.25 g/m.sup.2 and a hydrophilic binder in an amount between 0.00 g/m.sup.2 and 5.00 g/m.sup.2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making an offset printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of:image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei and (ii) a photosensitive layer comprising one or more photosensitive silver halide emulsions said photosensitive layer being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer,applying an aqueous alkaline solution to the imaging element comprising at least 0.05 mole/l of ascorbic acid as the main developer, at least 0.010 mole/l of an auxiliary developer of the class of the 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidones and an aminoalcohol in an amount from 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a lithographic printing plate from an original containing continuous tones comprising the steps of:frequency modulation screening said original to obtain screened dataimage-wise exposing according to said screened data an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (ii) a photosensitive layer containing one or more silver halide emulsions being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layerapplying an aqueous alkaline solution to the imaging element in the presence of (a) developing agent(s) and (a) silver halide solvent(s),treating the imaging element to remove the layer(s) on top of said image receiving layer, thereby uncovering said silver image formed in said image receiving layer,characterized in that said aqueous alkaline solution is substantially free from thiosulphate ions and bromide ions and contains an aminoalcohol in an amo

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making an offset printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of:image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei and (ii) a photosensitive layer comprising a photosensitive silver halide emulsion said photosensitive layer being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer,applying an aqueous alkaline solution to the imaging element in the presence of (a) developing agent(s) and (a) silver halide solvent(s) to form a silver image in said image receiving layer,treating the imaging element to remove the layer(s) on top of the image receiving layer, thereby exposing the imaged surface of the support by uncovering said silver image formed in said image receiving layer,characterized in that said aqueous alkaline solution comprises less than 0.

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 in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei and (ii) a photosensitive layer comprising one or more silver halide emulsions being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer(b) applying an aqueous alkaline solution to the imaging element in the presence of (a) developing agent(s) and (a) silver halide solvent(s) to form a silver image in said image receiving layer, (c) treating the imaging element to remove the layer(s) on top of said image receiving layer, thereby uncovering said silver image formed in said image receiving layer,characterized in that said aqueous alkaline solution contains thiosulphate salts in an amount ranging from 0.000 mole/l to 0.

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 a method for obtaining an imaging element suitable for use in a silver salt diffusion transfer process by the steps of:preparing an image receiving element by coating the anodized surface of an aluminum foil with an image-receiving layer comprising physical development nuclei,preparing a photosensitive layer packet by coating a temporary base with at least one photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer,pressing the thus formed photosensitive layer packet with its photosensitive silver halide emulsion coated side against said image receiving layer, which has been wet with an aqueous moistening liquid, andoptionally removing said temporary base, characterized in that between said temporary base and said at least one photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer a barrier layer is present which is substantially free of developing agents, is substantially unhardened, comprises one or more hydrophilic binders in an amount of at least 0.25 g/m.sup.

Abstract: A modified gelatin is disclosed wherein part of the free carboxyl groups is replaced by modifiers having more acid end-standing groups chosen from --SO.sub.3 M, --OSO.sub.3 M, --SSO.sub.3 M, ---OPO(OH).sub.2, --OPO(OH)(OR.sup.2), --PO(OH).sub.2, --PO(OH)(OR.sup.2).In a preferred embodiment such a modified gelatin is incorporated in a DTR photographic material which after processing can serve as a lithographic printing plate. Thanks to the more hydrophilic character of the modified gelatin the differentiation between printing and non-printing areas is improved and toning at printing start-up is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photographic material with a pH at 25.degree. C. of at most 7, containing on a support at least one layer, comprising a prefogged direct-positive silver halide emulsion spectrally sensitized with one or more electron-accepting sensitizing dyes in a total amount of at least 0.15 mmole/mole silver halide, the silver halide crystals of said prefogged direct-positive silver halide emulsion containing silver chloride for at least 60 mole %, silver bromide in a range from 0.5 mole % to 39.98 mole % and silver iodide in a range from 0.02 mole % to 2 mole %, characterized in that said silver halide cristals contain silver iodide for at least 0.20 mmole/mole AgX in the outer 10% by weight of said cristals and said layer contains a gelatin species containing Ca.sup.2+ in an amount ranging from 0.2% to 1% by weight.

Abstract: A modified gelatin is disclosed wherein part of the free carboxyl groups is replaced by modifiers having more acid end-standing groups chosen from --SO.sub.3 M, --OSO.sub.3 M, --SSO.sub.3 M, --OPO(OH).sub.2, --OPO(OH)(OR.sup.2), --PO(OH).sub.2, --PO(OH)(OR.sup.2).In a preferred embodiment such a modified gelatin is incorporated in a DTR photographic material which after processing can serve as a lithographic printing plate. Thanks to the more hydrophilic character of the modified gelatin the differentiation between printing and non-printing areas is improved and toning at printing start-up is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photographic material comprising on a support photosensitive silver halide particles, and substantially light insensitive silver salt particles having a speed at least a factor 10 less under the same conditions of exposure and development of said photosensitive silver halide particles than said photosensitive silver halide particles and a releasing compound of formula (I) or (II) as specified in the claims capable of image-wise releasing sulphide or a sulphide under conditions for image-wise development of said photosensitive silver halide particles to silver. The present invention further provides a method for obtaining an image and a lithographic printing plate with said photographic material.

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 regulator according to one of the formulas as specified in the claims. The present invention further provides an imaging element and alkaline processing liquid for use in said method.