Abstract: Disclosed are a reverse gravure offset printing method and apparatus using a disposable cliche, which do not require cleaning of the cliche and do not require a large quantity of high-definition cliches because the cliche used in reverse gravure offset printing can be discarded after used once or several times and replaced with a new one, thereby achieving cost reduction.

Abstract: Multi-layer articles are described that are capable of forming color images. The articles may contain at least two layers, a thermally activatable layer and a blocking layer, or at least three layers with two thermally activatable layers and a blocking layer between. The thermally activatable layers absorb light of a write wavelength and have an absorption threshold for activation. The blocking layer blocks light of the write wavelength at certain incident angles or polarization states and permits light of the write wavelength and certain incident angles or polarization states to pass through. The thermally activatable layers may be layers with a light to heat convertor composition and a color changing compound or they may be a group of layers arranged to change its reflective characteristic upon exposure to light while maintaining the structural integrity of the group of layers.

Abstract: To provide an image processing method including at least one of recording an image onto a thermoreversible recording medium in which transparency or color tone reversibly changes depending upon temperature, by applying a laser beam with the use of a CO2 laser device so as to heat the thermoreversible recording medium, and erasing an image recorded on the thermoreversible recording medium, by heating the thermoreversible recording medium, wherein an intensity distribution of the laser beam applied in the image recording step satisfies the relationship represented by Expression 1 shown below, 1.59<I1/I2?2.00??Expression 1 where I1 denotes an irradiation intensity of the applied laser beam in a central position of the applied laser beam, and I2 denotes an irradiation intensity of the applied laser beam on a plane corresponding to 80% of the total irradiation energy of the applied laser beam.

Abstract: Water soluble marking compounds comprising a transition metal oxyanion and at least one ammonium cation, comprising a nitrogen atom at least one further group selected from the group consisting of OH, COOH, NH2, NHC1-5 alkyl, and N(C1-5 alkyl)2, wherein the two C1-5 alkyl may be the same type of alkyl or different alkyls, may be used to obtain clear imageable coatings.

Abstract: A resist layer made of oxonol-based dye, and the OD value of which is greater than or equal to 1.0 and less than or equal to 1.6 with respect to light having the wavelength of 580 nm, is formed on a substrate. The formed resist layer is scanned with a laser beam at a scan speed of higher than or equal to 3 m/s and lower than or equal to 10 m/s. A ring-shaped pattern is formed by developing the resist layer scanned with the laser beam using a developer containing alcohol as a main component.

Abstract: A pattern is formed by forming, on a substrate, a resist layer made of oxonol-based dye, and by scanning the formed resist layer with a laser beam at a scan speed of higher than or equal to 1 m/s and lower than or equal to 30 m/s, and by developing the resist layer scanned with the laser beam using a developer containing alcohol as a main component.

Abstract: Multi-layer articles are described that are capable of forming color images. The articles include at least six layers, four thermally activatable layers (layers 1-4) and two blocking layers (layer 5 and 6). The layers are arranged such that layer 5 is disposed between layers 1 and 2 and layer 6 is disposed between layers 3 and 4. Thermally activatable layers 1 and 2 are activatable upon exposure to light of a first write wavelength, and blocking layer 5 is adapted to at least partially block light of the first write wavelength. Thermally activatable layers 3 and 4 are activatable upon exposure to light of a second write wavelength, and blocking layer 6 is adapted to at least partially block light of the second write wavelength. At least one, and possibly all of the thermally activatable layers include a light to heat convertor composition and a color changing compound.

Abstract: Multi-layer articles are described that are capable of forming color images. The articles may contain at least two layers, a thermally activatable layer and a blocking layer, or at least three layers with two thermally activatable layers and a blocking layer between. The thermally activatable layers absorb light of a write wavelength and have an absorption threshold for activation. The blocking layer blocks light of the write wavelength at certain incident angles or polarization states and permits light of the write wavelength and certain incident angles or polarization states to pass through.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device, as well as the variants thereof, which operates continuously or discontinuously for the agglomeration and/or drying of powder materials using selective infrared irradiation on a surface which is continually supplied with renewed powder, with or without the spraying of liquids. The process can be performed in sealed conditions or open to the atmosphere, with or without the recovery of volatile components.

Abstract: A method for producing a conductive film, having the steps: forming, on a support, a conductive metal portion containing a conductive material and a binder; bringing the conductive metal portion into contact with vapor or a hot water; and immersing the conductive metal portion into hot water having a temperature of 40° C. or higher.

Abstract: Disclosed is a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material comprising at least one silver halide emulsion layer and at least one hydrophilic colloid layer on a support, wherein silver halide in the silver halide emulsion layer has a silver bromide content of 40 to 90 mol %, and the silver halide emulsion layer is spectrally sensitized with a specific dye.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photothermographic material having, on at least one side of a support, an image forming layer including at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent, and a binder, and a non-photosensitive layer, wherein the non-photosensitive layer includes at least a polymer matting agent having a refractive index of from 1.51 to 1.56 and a glass transition temperature of 90° C. or higher. A photothermographic material which is excellent in film surface properties and photographic properties is provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a method, coating and system for conductive patterning are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making a metal pattern with high conductivity comprising providing a patterned substrate comprising a patterned catalyst layer on a base substrate by a thermal imaging method followed by plating to provide the metal pattern. The metal patterns provided are suitable for electrical devices including electromagnetic interference shielding devices and touchpad sensors.

Abstract: In a method of using a donor element in a radiation-induced thermal transfer process, an assemblage is provided that includes a donor element and a receiver element, wherein the donor element has a support layer and a transfer layer having one side adjacent the support layer and the other side adjacent the receiver element. After image-wise exposing the assemblage to radiation whereby a portion of the transfer layer is transferred to the receiver element, relative movement between the support layer and the receiver element is provided before separating the donor element from the receiver element. Advantages include improved edge straightness, image width predictability, improved thermal mass transfer, and improved color filters.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and an apparatus for thermally developing a photosensitive element, and particularly to a method and apparatus for controlling vapor and condensate created during thermal treating of the photosensitive element.

Abstract: Use of certain compounds in black-and-white photothermographic materials improves processing latitude particularly under conditions of high humidity.

Abstract: A photothermographic material having a support, an image forming layer which is disposed on the support and contains at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent, and a binder, at least one non-photosensitive layer which is disposed on the same side of the support as the image forming layer and farther from the support than the image forming layer, and a back layer which includes at least another non-photosensitive layer and is disposed on the opposite side of the support from the image forming layer, wherein the back layer contains a fluorocarbon polymer having a monomer component represented by the following (M2): (M2) a monomer containing a fluorine atom and having an unsaturated bond capable of radical polymerization. An image forming method is also provided.

Abstract: A permanent transparent pattern in a non-transparent microvoided axially stretched self-supporting polymeric film; a layer configuration comprising the permanent transparent pattern in a non-transparent microvoided axially stretched self-supporting polymeric film exclusive of foam; a non-transparent microvoided thermally transparentizable axially stretched self-supporting polymeric film; and a process for obtaining a permanent transparent pattern comprising the step of: image-wise application of heat optionally supplemented by the application of pressure to the non-transparent microvoided axially stretched self-supporting polymeric film.

Abstract: A process for producing a non-transparent microvoided self-supporting film comprising the steps of: i) mixing at least one linear polyester having together monomer units consisting essentially of terephthalate, isophthalate and aliphatic dimethylene with the molar ratio of isophthalate monomer units to terephthalate monomer units being at least 0.

Abstract: A transfer substrate is provided with a photothermal conversion layer and a transfer layer formed in this order on a base substrate. The transfer layer is formed of an organic material selected from the group including a first organic material, which has a weight decrease initiation temperature (Tsub) of lower than 500° C. and sublimates under atmospheric pressure, and a second organic material, which has a weight decrease initiation temperature (Tsub) of lower than 500° C. and satisfies the following inequality: Tsub?Tm<200° C. (Tsub: the weight decrease initiation temperature of the second organic material, and Tm: a melting point of the second organic material). Also disclosed is a process for fabricating organic electroluminescent devices by using the transfer substrate.

Abstract: Incorporation of certain compounds into photothermographic materials provides materials with reduced initial image Dmin and improved Raw Stock Keeping film stability without unacceptable loss in sensitometric properties. These compounds include certain e-i) zinc salts of an aryl sulfonic acid or of a fluorinated C2-C6 carboxylic acid, e-ii) non-encapsulated alkali metal salts of an aryl sulfonic acid or of a fluorinated C2-C6 carboxylic acid, and e-iii) fluorinated C2-C6 carboxylic acids.

Abstract: There are described novel rhodamine dye compounds and imaging members and imaging methods, including thermal imaging members and imaging methods, utilizing the compounds. The dye compounds exhibit a first color when in the crystalline form and a second color, different from the first color, when in the liquid, amorphous form.

Abstract: An organic silver salt composition used for thermally developable photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising at least two organic acids differing in melting point and their silver salts, wherein a silver salt of a lower-melting organic acid account for 10 to 80 mol % of the silver salts and the lower melting organic acid accounting for 0 to 30 mol % of the acids. A method of manufacturing an organic silver salt compositions also disclosed.

Abstract: Polymer blend compositions that include diacetylene segments are provided. The polymers containing diacetylene segments are capable of a calorimetric indication in response to stimuli, such as heat, an analyte or exposure to certain environmental factors, despite being blended with other materials, such as polymers or additives.

Abstract: A silver salt photothermographic dry imaging material wherein said material has photographic speeds (1) and (2) determined based on the predetermined conditions and the photographic speed (2) is not more than 1/10 of the photographic speed (1), and the coefficient of determination value R2 of the linear regression line is 0.998-1.000, which is obtained from the predetermined density points having a* and b* arranged in two-dimensional coordinates in which a* is used as the abscicca and b* is used as the coordinate of the CIE 1976 (L*a*b*) color space, b* of the intersection point of the linear regression line with the ordinate is ?5-5, and gradient (a*/b*) is 0.7-2.5.

Abstract: The present invention provides a black and white photothermographic material having, on at least one side of a support, an image forming layer containing at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent for silver ions, and a binder, as well as an image forming method. The black and white photothermographic material is characterized in that 50% or more of a total projected area of the photosensitive silver halide is occupied by tabular grains having a (111) face as a major face; the tabular grains have at least 2 parallel twin crystal planes in a grain; and a variation coefficient of a distribution of distances between closest twin crystal planes is 20% or less. Also provided is an image forming method that includes image exposure using fluorescent intensifying screens and thermal development.

Abstract: An azo dye of the following formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; and R5 represent a substituent. The dye has an excellent optical characteristic with sharp absorption and excellent fastness.

Abstract: A method of processing a photothermographic material by a thermal processor is disclosed, wherein the photothermographic material comprises on one side of a support a light-sensitive layer containing an organic silver salt, silver halide grains, a binder and a reducing agent and a light-insensitive layer and on the other side of the support a back coating layer; the thermal processor uses a transport system in which a feed roller is disposed with being in contact with a bundle of plural stacked film sheets of the photothermographic material so as to feed the uppermost film sheet of the bundle of film sheets through rotation of the feed roller to expose and develop the fed film sheet; and the back coating layer contains a matting agent of an organic resin.

Abstract: A reversible heat-sensitive recording medium is provided, which includes a heat-sensitive portion, and a light-transmitting heat-insulating layer disposed to contact the heat-sensitive portion. The heat-sensitive portion contains a light-heat conversion material and a heat-sensitive reversible layer. The light-heat conversion material is enabled to absorb light having a specific wavelength and to convert the light into heat energy. The heat-sensitive reversible layer contains an electron-donating coloring compound and an electron-accepting compound and is enabled to change from a decolorized state to a color-developed state and vice versa, depending on difference in heating temperature and/or cooling temperature to be effected after heating. The light-transmitting heat-insulating is capable of transmitting light having the specific wavelength which the light-heat conversion material is enabled to absorb and also capable of insulating the heat to be emitted from the light-heat conversion material.

Abstract: A photothermographic material including, on at least one surface of a support, at least a photosensitive silver halide containing a silver iodide at 40 mol % or more, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, and a reducing agent, wherein the photothermographic material contains two or more kinds of the reducing agent at the mixing ratio to satisfy at least one of a), b), c) and d): a) a difference between a sensitivity or b) a difference between a maximum density is 0.10 or less, when developed at 120° C. for 10 sec and a sensitivity when developed at 120° C. for 14 sec; c) a difference between a sensitivity or d) a difference between a maximum density is 0.10 or less, when developed at 117° C. for 12 sec and a sensitivity when developed at 123° C. for 12 sec. An image forming method using the photothermographic material is also provided.

Abstract: There are described novel fluorescein dye compounds and imaging members and imaging methods utilizing the compounds. The fluorescein dye compounds exhibit a first color when in the crystalline form and a second color, different from the first color, when in the liquid, amorphous form.

Abstract: A method of processing a photothermographic material by a thermal processor is disclosed, wherein the photothermographic material comprises on one side of a support a light-sensitive layer containing an organic silver salt, silver halide grains, a binder and a reducing agent and a light-insensitive layer and on the other side of the support a back coating layer; the thermal processor uses a transport system in which a feed roller is disposed with being in contact with a bundle of plural stacked film sheets of the photothermographic material so as to feed the uppermost film sheet of the bundle of film sheets through rotation of the feed roller to expose and develop the fed film sheet; and the back coating layer contains a matting agent of an organic resin.

Abstract: 1,3-Diaryl-substituted urea compounds have been found to function as post-processing stabilizers in photothermographic materials. These compounds can be presented by the following Structure (I): wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different substituted or unsubstituted aryl group.

Abstract: A method for preparing lithographic printing plates is disclosed. Imaged positive-working, thermally imageable, multi-layer imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors are developed using solvent based developers. Development may be carried out by immersing the imaged imageable element in the developer.

Abstract: A photothermographic imaging material comprising a support having thereon, (a) a photosensitive layer containing an organic silver salt, photosensitive silver halide grains, a reducing agent and a binder, (b) a light-insensitive layer, and (c) a protective layer, wherein a weight reducing value from 25° C. to 100° C. by a heat drying weight measurement of the photographic imaging material is not more than 0.4% based on a weight value at 25° C.

Abstract: An image forming method applying X-ray exposure to a photothermographic material having, on at least one surface of a support, an image forming layer containing at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent for silver ions, and a binder, wherein the photothermographic material is brought into close contact with a fluorescence intensifying screen containing a fluorescent material that emits light, 50% or more of which has a wavelength in a range of 350 nm or more and 420 nm or less.

Abstract: A photothermographic material wherein at least an image-forming layer on at least one surface of a support, the image-forming layer containing a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent, and a binder, wherein, an outermost layer is provided as a layer most remote from the support on the side of the support where the image-forming layer is provided, a non-photosensitive intermediate layer A containing a binder and provided in adjacent with the image-forming layer and between the image-forming layer and the outermost layer, wherein the binder of the non-photosensitive intermediate layer A contains 80% by mass or more of a polymer formed by copolymerizing a monomer represented by Formula (M), a non-photosensitive intermediate layer B containing a binder and provided between the non-photosensitive intermediate layer A and the outermost layer, and the binder of the non-photosensitive intermediate layer B contains 50% by mass or more of a hydrophilic polymer derive

Abstract: A coating fluid for printing plates which can be suitably used to make printing plates that permit images to be written in response to input digital data and that can be easily regenerated and reused. This coating fluid for printing plates comprises at least a carrier liquid, thermoplastic resin particles and an IR absorber, and the IR absorber has a decomposition starting temperature higher than the melt starting temperature of the thermoplastic resin particles.

Abstract: A method of making a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed which comprises the steps of (i) providing a web of a lithographic support having a hydrophilic surface; (ii) applying on the hydrophilic surface of the web a coating comprising a phenolic resin; (iii) drying the coating by supplying heat to the coated web; (iv) a cooling step wherein the web temperature is reduced at an average cooling rate which is higher than if the web would be kept under ambient conditions but not higher than 30° C./s; and (v) winding the precursor on a core or cutting the precursor into sheets. The cooling step provides a significant improvement of the aging behavior of the precursor. A stable sensitivity is obtained shortly after coating.

Abstract: A photothermographic imaging material packed in a packaging material, the imaging material including a support having thereon light-insensitive organic silver salt grains, photosensitive silver halide grains, a reducing agent for silver ions and a binder, wherein the packaging material has a water permeability of not less than 5.0 g/m2 measured at a temperature of 40° C. with a relative humidity of 90% for 24 hours; and the imaging material has a first photographic speed and a second photographic speed and the second photographic speed is not more than 1/10 of the first photographic speed, the measuring methods of the first and the second photographic speeds being defined in the specification.

Abstract: The present invention provides an exposure processing method of a planographic printing plate comprising: providing an image recording layer containing a polymerizable compound which is solid at the room temperature, a polymerization initiator, and a light-to-heat converting agent, and a microcapsule encapsulating at least one of the monomer and the polymerization initiator, such that the light energy quantity absorbed in the lower part of the image recording layer is more than the light energy quantity absorbed in the upper and middle parts of the image recording layer; exposing the image recording layer, and thereafter post-heating the image recording layer at a temperature in a range equal to or above the melting point of the monomer and below the glass transition point of the wall of the microcapsule. As a result, the printing resistance of a planographic printing plate is enhanced.

Abstract: High-speed aqueous-based black-and-white photothermographic materials are imageable in any suitable fashion using ultraviolet, visible, infrared, or X-radiation. They can have one or more thermally developable imaging layers on either or both sides of the support and can be imaged with or without a phosphor intensifying screen in an imaging assembly. The photothermographic emulsions and materials have a net Dmin less than 0.25, and require less than 1 erg/cm2 to achieve a density of 1.00 above net Dmin. The imaging layers include hydrophilic binders or water-dispersible latex polymer binders and chemically and spectrally sensitized photosensitive silver halide grains.

Abstract: Black-and-white direct thermographic materials and photothermographic materials can be processed or developed at lower temperatures because of the incorporation of a quaternary ammonium salt in an amount of at least 0.5 mol % based on total silver in the material.

Abstract: An image forming material, a lithographic printing plate precursor and a lithographic printing method, in which a color image with good visibility is obtained by laser exposure, are provided, wherein the image forming material and the lithographic printing plate precursor each comprising a support and a layer comprising a compound represented by formula (1) which changes from a colorless state to a colored state by the effect of heat; and a lithographic printing method comprising on-press development using the lithographic printing plate precursor:

Abstract: A silver salt photothermographic dry imaging material wherein said material has photographic speeds (1) and (2) determined based on the predetermined conditions and the photographic speed (2) is not more than 1/10 of the photographic speed (1), and the coefficient of determination value R2 of the linear regression line is 0.998–1.000, which is obtained from the predetermined density points having a* and b* arranged in two-dimensional coordinates in which a* is used as the abscissa and b* is used as the coordinate of the CIE 1076 (L*a*b*) color space, b* of the intersection point of the linear regression line with the ordinate is ?5–5, and gradient (a*/b*) is 0.7–2.5.

Abstract: A photothermographic material containing a support having on one side of the support a photosensitive layer containing: photosensitive silver halide grains; and a compound represented by Formula (1) or Formula (2): wherein the symbols in Formulas (1) and (2) are indicated in the specification.

Abstract: The invention provides a photothermographic material containing a tabular photosensitive silver halide having an average silver iodide content of 40 mol % or higher, 50% or more of a total projected area of the photosensitive silver halide being occupied by tabular grains having an aspect ratio of 2 or more, the photosensitive silver halide grains having a mean equivalent spherical diameter of from 0.2 ?m to 5 ?m and a variation coefficient of an equivalent spherical diameter distribution of 30% or less. Further, a method for preparing the photosensitive silver halide used in the photothermographic material is characterized in that grains are formed in the presence of at least one selected from a silver halide solvent and an amino group-modified gelatin. A high-sensitivity photothermographic material exhibiting a low fog and a high optical density is provided.

Abstract: A photothermographic material comprising a support, and an image-forming layer and a non-image-forming layer provided on the support, wherein the image-forming layer comprises a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent, and a binder; the non-image-forming layer includes a slipping agent having a melting point of 80° C. to 120° C.; the coefficient (K1) of dynamic friction measured at a velocity of 0.1 cm/sec and the coefficient (K2) of dynamic friction measured at a velocity of 10 cm/sec have a relation represented by formula (1): Formula (1) 1.20>K1/K2>0.90. Also provided is an image-forming method using the photothermographic material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing direct-imaged flexographic printing elements such that both the front and back exposure times are economically efficient for the manufacturer. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing at least one solid photocurable element. The solid photocurable element comprises a solid photocurable material comprising an oxygen scavenger, a support layer having an actinic radiation absorbing compound integrated uniformly throughout such that it absorbs at least some actinic radiation during exposure, and a photoablative mask layer. The methods of the invention involve creating a floor in the solid photocurable material by back exposure through the support layer having the actinic radiation absorbing compound, transferring a negative image directly onto the solid photocurable material by photoablating the photoablatable mask layer, followed by front exposure effective to cure the solid photocurable material.