Flexographic printing
AssigneeKodak Graphic Communications Canada Company
InventorsDevon James McCrea, Stephen Hughes Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of screening a continuous tone image into a halftone representation for a flexographic printing operation can compensate for characteristic printing problems in highlight areas by selectively placing non-printing dots proximate highlight dots. The non-printing dots raise the printing relief floor in the highlight areas providing additional support for marginally printable image features.
Claims27
A method for preparing a halftone representation of an image for use in making a flexographic printing plate, the method comprising:
- identifying at least one printable image feature in the halftone representation to be used in making the flexographic plate according to at least one predetermined decision criterion;
- and
- establishing at least one non-printing image feature proximate to the printable image feature identified in the step of identifying.
A method for preparing a flexographic printing plate, the method comprising:
- establishing a relief floor by back-exposing the flexographic printing plate;
- receiving halftone image data representing an image to be printed, the halftone image data defining a plurality of printable image features, at least one non-printing area proximate at least one of the printable image features, and at least one non ink-accepting background area;
- exposing the flexographic printing plate in accordance with the halftone image data;
- and
- processing the flexographic printing plate to develop a relief image.
A flexographic printing plate, comprising:
- a non ink-accepting background area;
- an ink-accepting surface defined in relief to the background area and formed in accordance with an image to be printed, the ink-accepting surface having a plurality of printable image features, and
- at least one non-printing feature disposed proximate to at least one of the printable image features.
An apparatus for preparing an image for use in making a flexographic printing plate, the apparatus comprising:
- a workstation for receiving image data representing an image;
- a raster image processor for converting the image into a halftone representation thereof;
- and
- an image processor for identifying at least one printable image feature and establishing at least one non-printing image feature in proximity to the printable image feature.
An apparatus for preparing an image for use in making a flexographic printing plate, the apparatus comprising:
- printable image feature identification logic operative to identify at least one printable image feature in a halftone representation to be used in making a flexographic plate according to at least one predetermined decision criterion;
- and
- non-printing image feature establishment logic responsive to the printable image feature identification logic and operative to establish at least one non-printing feature proximate to the printable image feature identified by the printable image feature identification logic.
An apparatus for preparing an image for use in making a flexographic printing plate, the apparatus comprising:
- means for identifying at least one printable image feature in a halftone representation to be used in making a flexographic plate according to at least one predetermined decision criterion;
- and
- means responsive to the printable image feature identification logic for establishing at least one non-printing feature proximate to the printable image feature identified by the means for identifying.
A memory for storing data for access by a flexographic printing system, wherein the memory comprises machine-readable data elements adapted to specify to the flexographic printing system at least one printable image feature, at least one non-printing feature proximate the printable image feature, and at least one non ink-accepting background area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.