Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flexographic plate having a uniform thickness comprises providing a thermoset layer having at least one uneven side; providing a thermoplastic layer having a first and a second side; attaching the first side of the thermoplastic layer to the uneven side of the thermoset layer thereby forming a flexographic plate; and calendering the flexographic plate via a series of heated pairs of rollers thereby creating a flexographic plate with a uniform thickness.

Abstract: Negative-Working Lithographic Printing Plate Precursors can be provided with desired contrast coloration after imaging using a coloring fluid that includes a water-insoluble colorant that is soluble in a water-insoluble fatty alcohol. The coloring fluid provides an optical density change in the exposed regions of at least OD2 that is greater than the original optical density of those regions, OD1. The coloring fluid can be applied immediately after imaging and before processing, or it can be applied as part of the developer or processing solution, or it can be applied after processing. The coloring fluid can also be applied to imaged precursors that are designed for either off-press or on-press development.

Abstract: Lithographic printing plates can be obtained by contacting infrared radiation-imaged negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors with a processing solution having a pH less than 9 and comprising a UV photoinitiator. After this processing, the lithographic printing plate is floodwise exposed with UV radiation. Providing a UV-photoinitiator in the processing solution followed by UV exposure can increase imaging sensitivity and printing plate run-length, and reduce print background.

Abstract: A color contrast image in imaged lithographic printing precursors can be obtained by contacting the imaged precursor with a coloration solution containing a colorless form of a photochromic compound. Residual amounts of this compound attached to the oleophilic surface of the imaged precursor can be changed to its colored form when exposed to UV light. The coloration solution can be an alkaline or acidic developer or an alkaline or acidic solution used separately after development. The coloration solution can also be a gum solution.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flexographic plate having a uniform thickness comprises providing a thermoset layer having at least one uneven side; providing a thermoplastic layer having a first and a second side; attaching the first side of the thermoplastic layer to the uneven side of the thermoset layer thereby forming a flexographic plate; and calendering the flexographic plate via a series of heated pairs of rollers thereby creating a flexographic plate with a uniform thickness.

Abstract: Negative-Working Lithographic Printing Plate Precursors can be provided with desired contrast coloration after imaging using a coloring fluid that includes a water-insoluble colorant that is soluble in a water-insoluble fatty alcohol. The coloring fluid provides an optical density change in the exposed regions of at least OD2 that is greater than the original optical density of those regions, OD1. The coloring fluid can be applied immediately after imaging and before processing, or it can be applied as part of the developer or processing solution, or it can be applied after processing. The coloring fluid can also be applied to imaged precursors that are designed for either off-press or on-press development.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flexographic plate having a uniform thickness comprises providing a thermoset layer having at least one uneven side; providing a thermoplastic layer having a first and a second side; attaching the first side of the thermoplastic layer to the uneven side of the thermoset layer thereby forming a flexographic plate; and calendering the flexographic plate via a series of heated pairs of rollers thereby creating a flexographic plate with a uniform thickness.

Abstract: A micro-lens enhanced element comprises a substrate bearing sequences of printed image elements, each sequence containing image elements from more than one image. A transparent spacer layer is coated over the interlaced image strips. Lenticular lenses are fashioned over each sequence of image elements by deposition of a transparent layer of low surface energy polydimethyl siloxane based material and ablation of the same to create strips of material abhesive to a polymeric lens forming material between consecutive sequences of printed image elements. During deposition of a liquid lens forming material, the liquid withdraws from the liquid abhesive low surface energy strips to form a meniscus, thereby providing lenticular lenses. The transparent low surface energy material comprises a near infrared dye with low absorption in the visible range of the spectrum to render the material both transparent and ablateable by infrared laser.

Abstract: A color contrast image in imaged lithographic printing precursors can be obtained by contacting the imaged precursor with a coloration solution containing a colorless form of a photochromic compound. Residual amounts of this compound attached to the oleophilic surface of the imaged precursor can be changed to its colored form when exposed to UV light. The coloration solution can be an alkaline or acidic developer or an alkaline or acidic solution used separately after development. The coloration solution can also be a gum solution.

Abstract: Laser-engraveable flexographic printing plate precursors have a laser-engraveable elastomeric layer that comprises a non-free radical crosslinked polymeric binder, an infrared radiation absorbing compound, and a compound that remains stable in the precursor but upon imaging thermally degrades to produce gaseous products. The thermally degradable compounds can generate or liberate one or more gases such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Lithographic printing plates can be obtained by contacting infrared radiation-imaged negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors with a processing solution having a pH less than 9 and comprising a UV photoinitiator. After this processing, the lithographic printing plate is floodwise exposed with UV radiation. Providing a UV-photoinitiator in the processing solution followed by UV exposure can increase imaging sensitivity and printing plate run-length, and reduce print background.

Abstract: A non-photosensitive flexographic liquid or paste precursor comprising a mixture of acrylate oligomers and acrylic or methacrylate monomers, infrared absorbing material, fillers and heat decomposable peroxide, which when heated forms a non-thermoplastic elastomeric solid material in the form of a flexographic printing blank engraveable by infrared laser ablation.

Abstract: A non-photosensitive flexographic liquid or paste precursor comprising a mixture of acrylate oligomers and acrylic or methacrylate monomers, infrared absorbing material, fillers and heat decomposable peroxide, which when heated forms a non-thermoplastic elastomeric solid material in the form of a flexographic printing blank engravable by infrared laser ablation.

Abstract: A micro-lens enhanced element comprises a substrate bearing sequences of printed image elements, each sequence containing image elements from more than one image. A transparent spacer layer is coated over the interlaced image strips. Lenticular lenses are fashioned over each sequence of image elements by deposition of a transparent layer of low surface energy polydimethyl siloxane based material and ablation of the same to create strips of material adhesive to a polymeric lens forming material between consecutive sequences of printed image elements. During deposition of a liquid lens forming material, the liquid withdraws from the liquid adhesive low surface energy strips to form a meniscus, thereby providing lenticular lenses. The transparent low surface energy material comprises a near infrared dye with low absorption in the visible range of the spectrum to render the material both transparent and ablateable by infrared laser.

Abstract: A micro-lens enhanced element comprises a substrate bearing sequences of printed image elements, each sequence containing image elements from more than one image. A transparent spacer layer is coated over the interlaced image strips. Lenticular lenses are fashioned over each sequence of image elements by deposition of a transparent layer of low surface energy polydimethyl siloxane based material and ablation of the same to create strips of material adhesive to a polymeric lens forming material between consecutive sequences of printed image elements. During deposition of a liquid lens forming material, the liquid withdraws from the liquid adhesive low surface energy strips to form a meniscus, thereby providing lenticular lenses. The transparent low surface energy material comprises a near infrared dye with low absorption in the visible range of the spectrum to render the material both transparent and ablateable by infrared laser.

Abstract: A micro-lens enhanced element comprises a substrate bearing sequences of printed image elements, each sequence containing image elements front more than one image. A transparent spacer layer is coated over the interlaced image strips. Lenticular lenses are fashioned over each sequence of image elements by deposition of a transparent layer of low surface energy polydimethyl siloxane based material and ablation of the same to create strips of material abhesive to a polymeric lens forming material between consecutive sequences of printed image elements. During deposition of a liquid lens forming material, the liquid withdraws from the liquid abhesive low surface energy strips to form a meniscus, thereby providing lenticular lenses. The transparent low surface energy material comprises a near infrared dye with low absorption in the visible range of the spectrum to render the material both transparent and ablateable by infrared laser.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flexographic plate having a uniform thickness comprises providing a thermoset layer having at least one uneven side; providing a thermoplastic layer having a first and a second side; attaching the first side of the thermoplastic layer to the uneven side of the thermoset layer thereby forming a flexographic plate; and calendering the flexographic plate via a series of heated pairs of rollers thereby creating a flexographic plate with a uniform thickness.

Abstract: Micro-lens enhanced elements methods and apparatii for forming the same are provided. The micro-lens enhanced elements include a substrate having a first surface and a plurality of image elements printed on the first surface such that image elements having image information from one image are interlaced with image elements having image information from at least one other image. A transparent layer has a proximate surface confronting the printed image elements and a distal surface separated from the proximate surface by a thickness d, and; a second plurality of lenticular lenses formed onto the distal surface, over sequences of at least two image elements, said lenticular lenses being adapted to direct light that has been modulated by the printed image elements and that has passed through transparent layer into different portions of a viewing area.

Abstract: Laser-engraveable flexographic printing plate precursors have a laser-engraveable elastomeric layer that comprises a non-free radical crosslinked polymeric binder, an infrared radiation absorbing compound, and a compound that remains stable in the precursor but upon imaging thermally degrades to produce gaseous products. The thermally degradable compounds can generate or liberate one or more gases such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Micro-lens enhanced elements methods and apparatii for forming the same are provided. The micro-lens enhanced elements include a substrate having a first surface and a plurality of image elements printed on the first surface such that image elements having image information from one image are interlaced with image elements having image information from at least one other image. A transparent layer has a proximate surface confronting the printed image elements and a distal surface separated from the proximate surface by a thickness d, and; a second plurality of lenticular lenses formed onto the distal surface, over sequences of at least two image elements, said lenticular lenses being adapted to direct light that has been modulated by the printed image elements and that has passed through transparent layer into different portions of a viewing area such that light that has been modulated by different image elements is viewable in different portions.