A substrate is printed with front side and back side markings. The front side when viewed with reflected light includes: a first marking printed with a first gradient of two colors; a second marking printed with a second gradient of two colors; a first symbol printed with a third gradient of two colors; a second symbol printed with a fourth gradient of two colors; a third symbol printed with a fifth gradient of two colors; and a fourth symbol printed with a sixth gradient of two colors. The back side when viewed with reflected light includes: a third marking printed with the fourth gradient; a fourth marking printed with the third gradient; a fifth symbol printed with the second gradient; a sixth symbol printed with the first gradient; a seventh symbol printed with the sixth gradient; and an eighth symbol printed with the fifth gradient.

The present invention provides a printing plate precursor, a method of producing a printing plate, and a printing method with excellent stain resistance and deinking capability after being left to stand at the time of obtaining a printing plate. The printing plate precursor of the present invention is a printing plate precursor including an aluminum support, and a functional layer which is disposed on the aluminum support, in which the aluminum support includes an aluminum plate and an aluminum anodized film disposed on the aluminum plate, the anodized film is positioned closer to the functional layer than the aluminum plate is, the anodized film has micropores extending in a depth direction from a surface of the functional layer side, and an average diameter of the micropores in the surface of the anodized film is in a range of 13 nm to 100 nm, the printing plate precursor contains a hydrophilizing agent in a region on a plate surface of the functional layer side which extends to a distance of 5 mm inward from two facing end portions of the printing plate precursor, and a content of the hydrophilizing agent per unit area in the region is greater than a content of the hydrophilizing agent per unit area in a region other than the region by 10 mg/m.sup.2 or greater.

The present invention provides a printing plate precursor, a method of producing a printing plate, and a printing method with excellent stain resistance and deinking capability after being left to stand at the time of obtaining a printing plate. The printing plate precursor of the present invention is a printing plate precursor including an aluminum support, and a functional layer which is disposed on the aluminum support, in which the aluminum support includes an aluminum plate and an aluminum anodized film disposed on the aluminum plate, the anodized film is positioned closer to the functional layer than the aluminum plate is, the anodized film has micropores extending in a depth direction from a surface of the functional layer side, and an average diameter of the micropores in the surface of the anodized film is in a range of 13 nm to 100 nm, the printing plate precursor contains a hydrophilizing agent in a region on a plate surface of the functional layer side which extends to a distance of 5 mm inward from two facing end portions of the printing plate precursor, and a content of the hydrophilizing agent per unit area in the region is greater than a content of the hydrophilizing agent per unit area in a region other than the region by 10 mg/m.sup.2 or greater.

An apparatus is disclosed for printing images on generally cylindrical objects. The apparatus comprises an impression station that includes a movable imaging surface for bearing an ink image; and a transport mechanism for advancing the objects through the impression station, comprising a drive member rotatably connected to a plurality of rotatable mandrels, each for mounting a respective one of the objects, the transport mechanism being configured to cause each object to rotate during passage through the impression station such that, within a nip region of the impression station, the surface of the object makes rolling contact with the imaging surface, thereby causing the ink image to be impressed on the object. An impression platen is provided opposite the imaging surface within the nip region, the impression platen being configured to apply a force, directly or indirectly, to the objects to ensure rolling contact between the objects and the imaging surface.

An apparatus is disclosed for printing images on generally cylindrical objects. The apparatus comprises an impression station that includes a movable imaging surface for bearing an ink image; and a transport mechanism for advancing the objects through the impression station, comprising a drive member rotatably connected to a plurality of rotatable mandrels, each for mounting a respective one of the objects, the transport mechanism being configured to cause each object to rotate during passage through the impression station such that, within a nip region of the impression station, the surface of the object makes rolling contact with the imaging surface, thereby causing the ink image to be impressed on the object. An impression platen is provided opposite the imaging surface within the nip region, the impression platen being configured to apply a force, directly or indirectly, to the objects to ensure rolling contact between the objects and the imaging surface.

A substrate is printed with front side and back side markings in a first color ink. The front side when viewed with reflected light includes a first marking printed in a first saturation and a first symbol printed in the first saturation. The back side when viewed with reflected light includes: a second marking printed in a second saturation; a second symbol printed in the second saturation; a third marking printed in the first saturation; and a third symbol printed in the first saturation. The first marking, the second marking, and the third marking are printed to provide an interlocking pattern of low saturation color and high saturation color when viewed with transmitted light. The second symbol is visible, and the first symbol and the second symbol are not distinguishably visible, when viewed with transmitted light.

A substrate is printed with front side and back side markings in a first color ink. The front side when viewed with reflected light includes a first marking printed in a first saturation and a first symbol printed in the first saturation. The back side when viewed with reflected light includes: a second marking printed in a second saturation; a second symbol printed in the second saturation; a third marking printed in the first saturation; and a third symbol printed in the first saturation. The first marking, the second marking, and the third marking are printed to provide an interlocking pattern of low saturation color and high saturation color when viewed with transmitted light. The second symbol is visible, and the first symbol and the second symbol are not distinguishably visible, when viewed with transmitted light.

An apparatus is disclosed for printing images on generally cylindrical objects. The apparatus comprises an impression station that includes a movable imaging surface for bearing an ink image; and a transport mechanism for advancing the objects through the impression station, comprising a drive member rotatably connected to a plurality of rotatable mandrels, each for mounting a respective one of the objects, the transport mechanism being configured to cause each object to rotate during passage through the impression station such that, within a nip region of the impression station, the surface of the object makes rolling contact with the imaging surface, thereby causing the ink image to be impressed on the object. An impression platen is provided opposite the imaging surface within the nip region, the impression platen being configured to apply a force, directly or indirectly, to the objects to ensure rolling contact between the objects and the imaging surface.

An apparatus is disclosed for printing images on generally cylindrical objects. The apparatus comprises an impression station that includes a movable imaging surface for bearing an ink image; and a transport mechanism for advancing the objects through the impression station, comprising a drive member rotatably connected to a plurality of rotatable mandrels, each for mounting a respective one of the objects, the transport mechanism being configured to cause each object to rotate during passage through the impression station such that, within a nip region of the impression station, the surface of the object makes rolling contact with the imaging surface, thereby causing the ink image to be impressed on the object. An impression platen is provided opposite the imaging surface within the nip region, the impression platen being configured to apply a force, directly or indirectly, to the objects to ensure rolling contact between the objects and the imaging surface.

A substrate is printed with front side and back side markings. The front side when viewed with reflected light includes: a first marking printed with a first gradient of two colors; a second marking printed with a second gradient of two colors; a first symbol printed with a third gradient of two colors; a second symbol printed with a fourth gradient of two colors; a third symbol printed with a fifth gradient of two colors; and a fourth symbol printed with a sixth gradient of two colors. The back side when viewed with reflected light includes: a third marking printed with the fourth gradient; a fourth marking printed with the third gradient; a fifth symbol printed with the second gradient; a sixth symbol printed with the first gradient; a seventh symbol printed with the sixth gradient; and an eighth symbol printed with the fifth gradient.