Process to produce a custom-color overlay

A method for producing an overlay proof, comprising:

• a) blending at least two stock inks to provide a photosensitive water-soluble ink of a selected custom color;
• b) providing a carrier sheet comprising a transparent support sheet and an ink-receiving layer;
• c) custom-coating the ink-receiving layer of the carrier sheet with a substantially uniform layer of the ink;
• d) drying the ink to produce a custom-coated ink-receiving layer on the transparent support sheet;
• e) imagewise exposing the custom-coated ink-receiving layer, to produce an exposed custom-coated layer;
• f) developing the exposed custom-coated layer, to produce an imaged custom-color overlay comprising the transparent support sheet and developed custom-coated layer;
• and
• g) assembling in registration the imaged custom-color overlay with at least one other proof component to produce the overlay proof.

A method for producing an imaged overlay, comprising:

• a) blending at least two stock inks to provide a photosensitive ink of a selected color;
• b) providing a carrier sheet comprising a transparent support sheet and an ink-receiving layer;
• c) custom-coating the ink-receiving layer of the carrier sheet with a substantially uniform layer of the ink;
• d) drying the ink to produce a custom-coated ink-receiving layer on the transparent support sheet;
• e) imagewise exposing the custom-coated ink-receiving layer, to produce an exposed custom-coated layer;
• and
• f) developing the exposed custom-coated layer, to provide an imaged overlay comprising the transparent support sheet and a developed custom-coated layer.