Abstract: A method of preparing a lithographic printing plate includes the steps printing a liquid on a lithographic support to form a printing area which corresponds to a raster image, wherein the raster image includes a section which has a tone-value from 90% to 100%, and the jetted liquid droplets for this section, on a corresponding part from the printing area on the lithographic support, are contactless with each other.

Abstract: A method according for preparing a lithographic printing plate containing a lithographic image consisting of printing areas and non-printing areas includes the steps of jetting and curing droplets of a first curable fluid on a hydrophilic support thereby forming a printing area of the lithographic image; and jetting and curing droplets of a second curable fluid in a non-printing area of the lithographic image thereby forming a hydrophilic protective layer on the hydrophilic support.

Abstract: A positive-working lithographic printing plate includes a support having a hydrophilic surface or a hydrophilic layer, and a heat- and/or light-sensitive coating provided including at least two different (ethylene vinyl) acetal copolymer including a plurality of ethylenic moieties A having a structure according to the following formula: wherein R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen, a halogen or an optionally substituted linear, branched, or cyclic alk(en)yl group, or an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group.

Abstract: A copolymer includes (i) a plurality of ethylenic moieties A having a structure according to the formula: wherein R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen, a halogen, an optionally substituted linear, branched, or cyclic alk(en)yl group, or an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic; (ii) a plurality of acetal moieties B having a structure according to the formula: wherein L1 represents a divalent linking group, x=0 or 1, and R1 represents an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group including at least one hydroxyl group; and (iii) a plurality of acetal moieties C and/or moieties D which include a structural moiety including a chromophoric group having its main absorption in the infrared region.

Abstract: A copolymer includes (i) a plurality of ethylenic moieties A having a structure according to the following formula: wherein R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen, a halogen or an optionally substituted linear, branched or cyclic alk(en)yl group, or an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group, and (ii) a plurality of acetal moieties B having a structure according to the following formula: wherein L represents a divalent linking group; x=0 or 1 and R1 represents an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group including at least one hydroxyl group and optionally one or more additional substituent(s), and at least one electron withdrawing group in ortho or para position relative to the at least one hydroxyl group.

Abstract: An (ethylene, vinyl acetal) copolymer includes (i) a plurality of ethylenic moieties A having a structure according to the formula: wherein R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen, a halogen, an optionally substituted linear, branched or cyclic alk(en)yl group, or an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group; (ii) a plurality of acetal moieties B having a structure according to the formula: wherein L1 represents a divalent linking group; X=0 or 1; and R1 represents an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group including at least one hydroxyl group; and (iii) a plurality of acetal moieties C and/or moieties D which are different from the acetal moieties B, and which include at least one nitrogen atom.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a lithographic printing plate include a plate transport for conveying the plate through the apparatus, a plate detector for locating the plate in the apparatus and for determining a plate width, one or more nozzles for depositing developer on the plate, wherein the one or more nozzles are arranged to shuttle over the plate or are arranged as a fixed array that spans at least the width of the plate. The plate detector is coupled to the one or more nozzles to selectively actuate the one or more nozzles that are positioned to deposit developer across the plate area, which results in a significant reduction of developer consumption. In preferred embodiments, the nozzles apply developer in accordance with the image on the plate, which enables an even lower consumption of developer.