A method for applying a pattern on a mask layer includes obtaining an image file representing pixels with a first pixel size in a first direction parallel to an edge of the pixel, and a second pixel size in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, where the first and second pixel size are the same or different, treating the mask layer such that a plurality of areas with altered physical properties are created in the mask layer, the plurality of areas corresponding to a plurality of pixels of the image file, where the treatment is done such that a first and/or a second area size of an area of said plurality of areas, seen in said first and/or said second direction, is smaller than the first and/or second pixel size, respectively.

The present invention is a composition for forming a silicon-containing metal hard mask, including: (A) a metal oxide nanoparticle; (B) a thermally crosslinkable polysiloxane (Sx) having no aromatic-ring-containing organic group; and (C) a solvent. This provides a composition for forming a silicon-containing metal hard mask that has a high effect of inhibiting collapse of an ultrafine pattern in a multilayer resist method, that can form a resist pattern having excellent LWR, that has more excellent dry etching resistance and wet removability than a conventional silicon-containing underlayer film material, and that has more excellent filling ability than a conventional metal hard mask material.

An object of the present invention is to provide an aqueous developer for a flexographic printing plate capable of maintaining good developability and suppressing aggregation of a dispersion in the developer diluted with water after repeated use, and a manufacturing method of a flexographic printing plate using the same. The aqueous developer for a flexographic printing plate according to the present invention is an aqueous developer for a flexographic printing plate, containing a surfactant represented by Formula (1), and water.

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The invention pertains to a photosensitive element, particularly a photopolymerizable printing form precursor; and, a process of making the photosensitive element. The printing form precursor includes a cover sheet, a layer of a photosensitive composition, and a digital layer, or infrared ablation layer, that is adjacent to a side of the photosensitive layer. A microcell patterned is embossed onto the infrared ablation layer or an overcoat/barrier layer on the infrared ablation layer. Since the microcell 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 printing form precursor having the integrated microcell pattern layer facilitates the preparation of relief printing forms to have a print surface suitable for printing solids with uniform, dense coverage of ink.

A relief-forming precursor includes a substrate and a relief-forming layer having: a polymer; at least one photopolymerizable monomer; a photopolymerization initiator; and a low surface energy monomer. A relief-forming assembly includes a relief-forming precursor having a low surface energy monomer and a mask element that is in complete optical contact with the relief-forming surface. A method of making a relief image includes: exposing the relief-forming layer to curing UV radiation through the mask element to form an imaged relief-forming layer with polymerized regions and non-polymerized regions; removing the mask element from the imaged relief-forming layer; and developing the imaged relief-forming layer by removing the non-polymerized regions, thereby forming a relief image. A relief image layer has an elastomer and copolymer that includes at least one photopolymerized monomer and a low surface energy monomer that has a silicone moiety with a relief surface having the silicone moiety.

Methods and corresponding apparatus operable to cause an interaction between a drive radiation beam and a medium for generation of emitted radiation by high harmonic generation, the arrangement comprising: an interaction region positioned at an interaction plane and configured to receive the medium; a beam block positioned upstream of the interaction plane at a beam block plane and configured to partially block the drive radiation beam; a beam shaper positioned upstream of the beam block plane at an object plane and configured to control a spatial distribution of the drive radiation beam; and at least one lens positioned upstream of the interaction plane and downstream of the beam block plane, wherein the lens being positioned such that an image of the spatial distribution of the drive radiation beam is formed at the interaction plane.

A process for creating a mask for making a printing plate from an unexposed flexographic plate having a masking layer. The process includes providing image information as a first screen having a first plurality of pixels and defining openings in the masking layer in accordance with the image information by superimposing on at least a portion of the image information a base pattern of equally sized spots. Each spot corresponds to an imaged discrete element represented on the mask and has a size corresponding to a smallest discrete element formed on the mask. The spots in the base pattern are aligned in horizontal rows and columns having a non-zero spacing between adjacent rows and columns. In at least a portion of the mask, a size for forming each imaged discrete element is selected such that each set of four neighboring imaged discrete elements has a non-imaged discrete area centered therebetween.

A substrate, a display panel, and a substrate manufacturing method are proposed. The substrate includes a base layer; partitioning walls located on the base layer and dividing the base layer into a plurality of pixel regions, and patterns located in each of the pixel regions of the base layer, and guiding spread of a liquid drop discharged to the base layer.

The invention pertains to a printing form precursor, and particularly a printing form precursor that can form printing forms, or printing plates, having improved properties. The printing form precursor includes a photopolymerizable composition containing an additive having a structure of Formula (I). The presence of the additive results in ease of processing and/or better cleanout and reduction in webmarkings on solid areas of the printing form.

Flexographic printing members amenable to aqueous (or organic) development do not exhibit the deleterious effects on printing performance characteristic of some conventional alternatives. Embodiments of the invention utilize a photopolymerizable layer comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of a photopolymerization initiator and a water-dilutable (but not water-soluble) monomer.