Thermal generation of a mask for flexography
AssigneeKodak Polychrome Graphics LLC
InventorsKen-Ichi Shimazu, Kevin B. Ray, John Kalamen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Vesicular images are formed by thermal imaging of imageable layers containing thermally imageable vesicular imaging compositions. The vesicular images can be used as masks for imaging printing plate precursors. In one aspect, a printing plate precursor made up of a flexible substrate; a photosensitive layer that contains a negative working photosensitive composition; an optional barrier layer; and the imageable layer is thermally imaged to produce an integral mask. Blanket exposure through the mask with ultraviolet and/or visible radiation followed by development produces a printing plate. The method is especially suited for the production of flexographic printing plates.
Claims34
A method for thermally forming vesicular images, the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) providing an imageable element comprising an imageable layer over a substrate, in which the imageable layer comprises a thermally imageable vesicular imaging composition;
- and
- (B) thermally imaging the imageable layer and forming an imaged imageable layer, the imaged imageable layer comprising a vesicular image;
- in which the thermally imageable vesicular imaging composition comprises a sensitizer, a polymeric material;
- and a photothermal conversion material.
A method for thermally forming vesicular images, the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) providing an imageable element comprising an imageable layer over a substrate, in which the imageable layer comprises a thermally imageable vesicular imaging composition;
- and
- (B) thermally imaging the imageable layer and forming an imaged imageable layer, the imaged imageable layer comprising a vesicular image;
- in which
- the thermally imageable vesicular imaging composition comprises a sensitizer and polymeric material;
- the image is a positive image and
- the method additionally comprises a thermal development step after step (B).
A method for thermally forming vesicular images, the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) providing an imageable element comprising an imageable layer over a substrate, in which the imageable layer comprises a thermally imageable vesicular imaging composition;
- and
- (B) thermally imaging the imageable layer and forming an imaged imageable layer, the imaged imageable layer comprising a vesicular image;
- in which
- the thermally imageable vesicular imaging composition comprises a sensitizer and polymeric material;
- the image is a negative image and
- the method additionally comprises a thermal development step after step (B).
A method for thermally forming vesicular images, the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) providing an imageable element comprising an imageable layer over a substrate, in which the imageable layer comprises a thermally imageable vesicular imaging composition;
- and
- (B) thermally imaging the imageable layer and forming an imaged imageable layer, the imaged imageable layer comprising a vesicular image;
- in which:
- the thermally imageable vesicular imaging composition comprises a sensitizer, a polymeric material, and a photothermal conversion materials;
- the image is a negative image;
- and
- before step (B), the imageable layer is overall exposed with ultraviolet radiation.
A method for forming a relief image, the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) providing an imageable element, the imageable element comprising, in order:
- (i) a substrate;
- (ii) a photosensitive layer, the photosensitive layer comprising a photoimageable composition, and
- (III) a masking layer, the masking layer comprising a thermally imageable vesicular imaging composition, the thermally imageable vesicular imaging composition comprising a sensitizer and a polymeric material;
- (B) thermally imaging the masking layer and forming a vesicular image in the masking layer;
- (C) overall exposing the imageable element to actinic radiation through the masking layer and forming an imaged imageable element comprising imaged and complementary unimaged regions in the photosensitive layer;
- and
- (D) developing the imaged imageable element in a developer and forming the relief image by removing either the unimaged regions or the imaged regions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.