Abstract: A method of flood exposing a photocurable printing blank to actinic radiation from a UV LED light source, wherein a high intensity UV LED light source is modulated to a lower intensity. The method includes the steps of: (a) positioning the photocurable printing blank in an exposure unit, wherein the exposure unit comprises one or more high intensity UV LED light sources; (b) modulating intensity of the one or more high intensity UV LED light sources to a lower intensity; and (c) flood exposing the photocurable printing blank through the photographic negative or the digitally imaged mask layer to actinic radiation from the one or more modulated UV LED light sources.

Abstract: A photosensitive printing blank having is described. The photosensitive printing blank comprises at least one photocurable layer that is capable of being selectively crosslinked and cured upon exposure to actinic radiation at a desired wavelength region comprising (a) at least one elastomeric binder, (b) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, (c) a photoinitiator having a favorable absorption profile in the desired wavelength region used for exposing the at least one photocurable layer to actinic radiation, and (d) a dye, wherein the dye exhibits a suitable percent transmission as measured with a UV spectrophotometer at the desired wavelength region used for exposing the at least one photocurable layer to actinic radiation, and optionally an infrared ablatable layer disposed on the at least one photocurable layer. A method of making a relief image printing element from the photosensitive printing blank is also described.

Abstract: A method of flood exposing a photocurable printing blank to actinic radiation from a UV LED light source, wherein a high intensity UV LED light source is modulated to a lower intensity. The method includes the steps of: (a) positioning the photocurable printing blank in an exposure unit, wherein the exposure unit comprises one or more high intensity UV LED light sources; (b) modulating intensity of the one or more high intensity UV LED light sources to a lower intensity; and (c) flood exposing the photocurable printing blank through the photographic negative or the digitally imaged mask layer to actinic radiation from the one or more modulated UV LED light sources.

Abstract: A photosensitive printing blank having is described. The photosensitive printing blank comprises at least one photocurable layer that is capable of being selectively crosslinked and cured upon exposure to actinic radiation at a desired wavelength region comprising (a) at least one elastomeric binder, (b) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, (c) a photoinitiator having a favorable absorption profile in the desired wavelength region used for exposing the at least one photocurable layer to actinic radiation, and (d) a dye, wherein the dye exhibits a suitable percent transmission as measured with a UV spectrophotometer at the desired wavelength region used for exposing the at least one photocurable layer to actinic radiation, and optionally an infrared ablatable layer disposed on the at least one photocurable layer. A method of making a relief image printing element from the photosensitive printing blank is also described.