Disclosed is a waterless planographic printing plate precursor including at least a substrate, a heat sensitive layer and an ink repellent layer in this order, wherein the substrate has a white color layer or a white color surface, and wherein the heat sensitive layer includes at least (a) an infrared-absorbing dye having a maximum absorption wavelength of 700 to 1,000 nm, (b) a dye that changes color by proton acceptance, and (c) a proton-donating compound. The present invention provides a waterless planographic printing plate precursor capable of obtaining high contrast between the image area and the non-image area by exposure without the need for a special layer.

Negative-working, IR-sensitive dry printing plates utilize an oleophobic topmost layer, a nitrocellulose-based imaging layer ablatable by laser discharge, and a grained metal substrate with no heat-insulating layer intervening between the imaging layer and the substrate.

Disclosed herein are methods for an ink-based digital printing system, comprising providing an imaging member a reimageable surface layer disposed on a structural mounting layer, the reimageable surface layer comprising a fluorosilicone elastomer and an infrared-absorbing filler comprising carbon black, and a plurality of surface defects on the reimageable surface layer, wherein the surface defects comprises carbon black exposed through the fluorosilicone elastomer of the reimageable surface layer. The method also comprises applying a coating of rejuvenating oil comprising an amino-functional organopolysiloxane to the reimageable surface layer, whereby at least a portion of the plurality of surface defects are coated by the amino-functional organopolysiloxane, thereby rejuvenating the imaging member.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a flexographic printing plate with which it is possible to prevent plate surface contamination even in the printing for long time. A method for manufacturing a flexographic printing plate, characterized in that, a liquid containing an amino-modified silicone compound is made to contact with a flexographic printing plate containing a latex having gelation degree of not less than 50% by mass. Said latex occupies preferably not less than 30% by mass of the printing resin plate, and amino group equivalent of the amino-modified silicone compound is preferably not less than 500 g/mol.

Disclosed herein are methods for an ink-based digital printing system, comprising providing an imaging member a reimageable surface layer disposed on a structural mounting layer, the reimageable surface layer comprising a fluorosilicone elastomer and an infrared-absorbing filler comprising carbon black, and a plurality of surface defects on the reimageable surface layer, wherein the surface defects comprises carbon black exposed through the fluorosilicone elastomer of the reimageable surface layer. The method also comprises applying a coating of rejuvenating oil comprising an amino-functional organopolysiloxane to the reimageable surface layer, whereby at least a portion of the plurality of surface defects are coated by the amino-functional organopolysiloxane, thereby rejuvenating the imaging member.

The present invention provides a planographic printing plate original including, in the order mentioned below: a substrate; and at least a heat sensitive layer and a silicone rubber layer provided on the substrate, wherein the heat sensitive layer contains a polyurethane having a carbonate structure. The present invention also provides a method of producing a planographic printing plate using the same, and a method of producing a printed matter. An object of the present invention is to provide: a planographic printing plate original which has an excellent halftone dot reproducibility and printing durability, and in which the occurrence of scumming can be prevented; a method of producing a planographic printing plate using the same; and a method of producing a printed matter.

An apparatus and method of manufacturing a fluorosilicone composite for a variable data lithography imaging member surface layer. Examples of the fluorosilicone composite include a first part and a second part, the first part having fluorosilicone, carbon black, silica and butyl acetate, the second part having a platinum catalyst, a crosslinker, butyl acetate and an inhibitor. The first part may also include a dispersant (e.g., a polyoxyalkylene amine derivative) that removes a need for shaking the dispersion by paint shaker and instead allows a more manufacture friendly roll ball milling process. The dispersant will also help in stabilizing the fluorosilicone composite for scaled up production.

Negative-working, IR-sensitive dry printing plates utilize an oleophobic topmost layer, a nitrocellulose-based imaging layer ablatable by laser discharge, and a grained metal substrate with no heat-insulating layer intervening between the imaging layer and the substrate.

Negative-working, IR-sensitive dry printing plates utilize an oleophobic topmost layer, a nitrocellulose-based imaging layer ablatable by laser discharge, and a grained metal substrate with no heat-insulating layer intervening between the imaging layer and the substrate.

Dry, ablation-type, nitrocellulose-containing lithographic printing members include dual adjacent imaging layers, both including an absorber and at least one containing a binder (which may include or consist essentially of a melamine resin). The absorber of the nitrocellulose-containing layer is a pigment and this layer contains no absorbing dye, while the absorber of the other imaging layer includes or consists essentially of a dye.