Systems and methods for making a flexo plate, and plates, machines, readers, and computer readable media for use therewith. In the system, a plurality of processing machines, each configured to perform one or more process steps in a workflow, includes a controller, a variable operating parameter controlled by the controller, and a reader configured to read machine-readable indicia on the flexo plate. The machine-readable indicia (e.g. bar code, RFID tag, text) is configured for persistent readability downstream of washing (and cutting) steps, without printing in the printing step. The indicia may embody information including at least a plate identifier and instructions corresponding to the at least one variable operating parameter for each of the processing machines or information corresponding to an address in computer storage where the information resides.

Provided are a hardmask composition including a polymer including a structural unit represented by Chemical Formula 1 and a structural unit represented by Chemical Formula 2, and a solvent, a hardmask layer manufactured from the hardmask composition, and a method of forming patterns from the hardmask composition, wherein the definitions of Chemical Formula 1 and Chemical Formula 2 are as described in the specification.

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A method and apparatus for measurement of density of a photosensitive printing plate (130) having a mask (132) embodying image information corresponding to an image to be printed. A density measurement system includes a first radiation source (112) spaced apart from and adjacent the plate and configured to emit radiation having a first wavelength or range of wavelengths toward the plate. A densitometer (110) spaced apart from and adjacent the plate in a fixed relationship relative to the first radiation source receives and measures an amount of the first radiation transmitted through or reflected by the plate and the mask during relative movement between the plate and the density measurement system. The densitometer readings are processed to provide an output correlating to quality of the mask. The density measurement system may be coupled to an exposure system (120,122,124) for curing the plate.

A flexographic printing plate precursor is disclosed in which the size and the number of pinholes in a heat-sensitive mask layer are reduced in a simple manner, and to provide a flexographic printing plate almost free from disadvantages caused by the pinholes, based on the flexographic printing plate precursor. A flexographic printing plate precursor comprising at least a support (A), a photosensitive resin layer (B), a heat-sensitive mask layer (C) and a cover film (D) which are laminated in this order, characterized in that the surface energy and the surface roughness (Ra) of a surface of the cover film (D) which contacts with the heat-sensitive mask layer (C) are 25.0 to 40.0 mN/m and 0.01 to 0.2 μm, respectively, and that a protection layer (E) formed from a polymer compound dispersible in a developing solution is provided between the photosensitive resin layer (B) and the heat-sensitive mask layer (C).

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a horological component according to which a silicon-based piece having the desired shape of the horological component is produced and the piece is subjected to a thermal oxidation and deoxidation treatment to remove a predetermined thickness of silicon in order to increase the mechanical strength of the piece. This method is characterized in that the thermal oxidation and deoxidation treatment is carried out in several steps, each step including a thermal oxidation phase followed by a deoxidation phase.

A hardmask composition, a hardmask layer manufactured from the hardmask composition, and a method of forming patterns from the hardmask composition, the composition includes a polymer including a structural unit represented by Chemical Formula 1 and a structural unit represented by Chemical Formula 2, and a solvent,

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A photosensitive element, particularly a photopolymerizable printing form precursor; a method of preparing the photosensitive element to form a printing form for use in relief printing; and a process of making the photosensitive element are disclosed. The printing form precursor includes a layer of a photosensitive composition, a digital layer that is adjacent to a side of the photosensitive layer, and a cell pattern layer that is disposed between the photosensitive layer and the digital layer. The cell pattern layer includes a plurality of features, and is composed of an ink that is opaque to actinic radiation and transparent to infrared radiation. Since the cell pattern layer is integral with the printing form precursor, digital imaging can occur rapidly with relatively low resolution optics to form a mask without needing to also form a microcell pattern of the digital layer.

The present invention provides a flexographic printing plate in which the dot gain of fine dots in a fade-out part is reduced and printability is improved. A flexographic printing plate obtained from a flexographic printing plate precursor comprising at least a support (A), a photosensitive resin layer (B) and a heat-sensitive mask layer (C) which are laminated in this order, characterized in that, when dots each having a diameter of 16 μm are formed at 175 lpi on the printing plate, the dots do not buckle until a load of 0.2 N is applied thereto. Preferably, when dots each having a diameter of 16 μm are formed at 175 lpi on the printing plate, the shoulder angle of each dot is 105 to 125° and the dot depth is 70 to 85 μm.

A flexographic printing plate obtained from a flexographic printing plate precursor includes at least a support, a photosensitive resin layer and a heat-sensitive mask layer laminated in this order, wherein the composite elastic modulus of each dot is 30 to 80 Mpa and the composite elastic modulus of each solid-printed part is 5 to 15 MPa. A photosensitive resin composition constituting the photosensitive resin layer includes a polymer prepared by polymerizing a conjugated diene, an ethylenically unsaturated compound and a photopolymerization initiator, wherein the content of the photopolymerization initiator is 2 to 9% by mass, the ethylenically unsaturated compound includes a (meth)acrylate compound having a number average molecular weight of 100 to 600 in a content of 5 to 16% by mass, and the ratio of the mass of the photopolymerization initiator and the mass of the compound is within the range of 0.20 to 0.55.

A system for exposing a heat and/or light sensitive printing plate precursor including a coating on a support includes a platesetter including a laser head for generating a laser beam to create an image, and the platesetter further includes an electrostatic generator capable of electrostatically charging the surface of the coating.