Abstract: A structured surface is formed with the method of the present invention. The method of making this structured surface includes the steps of applying an ablatable radiation sensitive coating on the major surface of the substrate, and exposing the ablatable radiation sensitive coating to radiation such that exposed portions of the ablatable radiation sensitive coating ablate from the substrate to form a structured surface. The structured surface then includes a substrate and a pattern of structures framed by at least one separation bank. The method may also include the steps of depositing a flowable material on to the structures and the separation bank to form a pattern of flowable material in the structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a receptor element for use in thermal transfer imaging. The receptor element includes a coating having a polymeric binder and a biguanide bleaching agent. The biguanide bleaching agent is capable of bleaching an infrared-absorbing dye when the biguanide bleaching agent and the infrared-absorbing dye are in contact. A particularly suitable biguanide bleaching agent is 1-(o-tolyl)biguanide. The invention also provides compositions and methods for manufacturing a receptor element. Also provided by the invention is an imaging system for thermal transfer imaging. The imaging system includes a color-bearing element and a bleaching element, wherein the bleaching element includes a coating having a polymeric binder and a biguanide bleaching agent. The invention further provides methods useful in the production of integral proofs.

Abstract: A media transfer sheet includes a light absorbing layer. The light absorbing layer is selected to absorb light at a wavelength that is close to light produced by a focusing light source. The light absorbing layer is placed in the media transfer sheet at a desired focus level for an imaging light source, within the media transfer sheet. The light absorbing layer does not allow any significant portion of the light from the focusing layer to pass therethrough, but does allow for reflectance of some portion of that light by the media transfer sheet. By limiting the level of reflection of focusing light, an improved reflected focusing light signal is produced that is more representative of the depth to be measured.