Abstract:
A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and (ii) a coating provided thereon which includes hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles; exposing the coating to heat, thereby inducing coalescence of the thermoplastic polymer particles at exposed areas of the coating; and developing the precursor by applying a gum solution to the coating, thereby removing non-exposed areas of the coating from the support. According to the above method, the plate precursor can be developed and gummed in a single step.
Abstract:
A method for making a lithographic printing plate is disclosed which comprises the steps of: (i) providing a negative-working, heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and a coating provided thereon, the coating comprising an image-recording layer which comprises hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and a hydrophilic binder, wherein the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle size in the range from 45 nm to 63 nm and wherein the amount of the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles in the image-recording layer is at least 70% by weight relative to the image-recording layer; (ii) exposing the coating to heat or infrared light, thereby inducing coalescence of the thermoplastic polymer particles at exposed areas of the coating; (iii) developing the precursor by applying an aqueous, alkaline solution, thereby removing non-exposed areas of the coating from the support, wherein the aqueous alkaline solution has a pH≧11 and comprises a phosphate buffer or a silicate buffer.
Abstract:
A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and (ii) a coating provided thereon which includes hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles; exposing the coating to heat, thereby inducing coalescence of the thermoplastic polymer particles at exposed areas of the coating; and developing the precursor by applying a gum solution to the coating, thereby removing non-exposed areas of the coating from the support. According to the above method, the plate precursor can be developed and gummed in a single step.
Abstract:
A method for making a heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed comprising the steps of (i) preparing a coating solution comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and a hydrophilic binder; (ii) applying said coating solution on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, thereby obtaining an image-recording layer; (iii) drying said image-recording layer; characterized in that said hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle size in the range from 45 nm to 63 nm, and that the amount of said hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles in the image-recording layer is at least 70% by weight relative to the dried image-recording layer.
Abstract:
A printing system making use of a lithographic printing plate has been disclosed, the system comprising the steps of image-wise exposing to infrared light a heat sensitive imaging element, the element being optionally present on the printing press before starting the image-wise exposing step to infrared light, wherein the element comprises, on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface thereupon, an image-forming layer including hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and a hydrophilic polymer binder, and, optionally, an infrared absorbing compound, wherein the hydrophobic polymer particles contain more than 0.1 wt % of nitrogen and have an average particle size diameter in the range from 0.015 to 0.150 &mgr;m; developing the image-wise exposed imaging element by mounting it on a print cylinder of a printing press and applying an aqueous dampening liquid ink to the imaging element while rotating the print cylinder; providing a printing run length of the press, increased with a factor of at least 5, when reducing the average particle size diameter of the hydrophobic polymer particles in an amount of more than 25%.
Abstract:
According to the present invention there is provided a method for making lithographic printing plates including the following steps:a) preparing a light sensitive imaging element having on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface a first layer including a polymer, soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer which top layer is unpenetrable for an alkaline developer containing SiO.sub.2 as silicate;b) exposing imagewise said light sensitive imaging element to actinic light;c) developing said imagewise exposed light sensitive imaging element with said alkaline developer so that the exposed areas of the top layer and the underlying areas of the first layer are dissolved and the unexposed areas of the first layer remain undissolved characterized in that said top layer includes a diazonium salt and for at least 20% of its weight one or more non-proteinic hydrophilic film-forming polymers.
Abstract:
According to the present invention there is provided a method for making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of: (1) image-wise exposing an imaging element having of a flexible film support in the order given (i) a uniform ink-repellant layer comprising a cross-linked hydrophilic binder and (ii) a photosensitive layer comprising a diazonium salt or a diazo resin; (2) and developing a thus obtained image-wise exposed imaging element by mounting it on a print cylinder of a printing press and wiping it with a disposable absorbing tissue moistened with water or fountain solution.