A printing apparatus and a printing method for applying ink to a surface of a printing plate in a predetermined pattern and then transfer the ink applied in the shape of the pattern to a substrate. A scale is formed on the surface of the printing plate; the printing apparatus includes a plate cylinder on which the printing plate is provided, an image recording section that applies the ink to the surface of the printing plate in the predetermined pattern by an ink jet method, a reading unit that reads the scale and obtains position information data of the scale, a signal generation part that generates a signal based on the position information data obtained by the reading unit, and an adjustment part that adjusts an ejection timing of the ink in the image recording section on the basis of the signal obtained by the signal generation part.

A halftone raster image suitable for rendering a continuous-tone image includes a plurality of spiral dots. The spiral dots include image pixels arranged as a first arc or as a plurality of arcs which together represent a first spiral, and non-image pixels arranged as a second arc or as a plurality of arcs which together represent a second spiral. The spiral dots enable a controlled spreading of the ink within the dot, resulting in a higher image quality, ink saving, and faster drying.

The present invention aims to provide a flexographic printing original plate which exhibits improved sustainability of the ability of preventing the plate surface from staining. According to the present invention, there is provided a water-developable flexographic printing original plate including at least a support and a photosensitive resin layer provided on the support, in which the photosensitive resin layer contains a water-dispersible latex, a photopolymerizable unsaturated compound, a photopolymerization initiator, and a silicone compound. When the water-dispersible latex is one or more latex rubbers selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene rubber and poly(nitrile-butadiene) rubber, the silicone compound is a silicone compound having an amino group in the molecule and has a refractive index of 1.44 to 1.60. When the water-dispersible latex is poly(styrene-butadiene) rubber, the silicone compound is a silicone compound having an amino group in the molecule and has a refractive index of 1.47 to 1.63.

The present invention aims to provide a flexographic printing original plate which exhibits improved sustainability of the ability of preventing the plate surface from staining. According to the present invention, there is provided a water-developable flexographic printing original plate including at least a support and a photosensitive resin layer provided on the support, in which the photosensitive resin layer contains a water-dispersible latex, a photopolymerizable unsaturated compound, a photopolymerization initiator, and a silicone compound. When the water-dispersible latex is one or more latex rubbers selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene rubber and poly(nitrile-butadiene) rubber, the silicone compound is a silicone compound having an amino group in the molecule and has a refractive index of 1.44 to 1.60. When the water-dispersible latex is poly(styrene-butadiene) rubber, the silicone compound is a silicone compound having an amino group in the molecule and has a refractive index of 1.47 to 1.63.

The present invention describes a method for manufacturing rotogravure cylinders with a cylinder base made of aluminum and a single metallic layer on the cylinder surface. The method comprises the construction of the cylinder base, the deposition of the metallic layer on the cylinder surface, the thinning of the cylinder to achieve the required dimensions, the polishing of the cylinder surface and finally the etching of the cylinder with the desired printing pattern. The metallic layer can be any copper alloy that will produce a surface with a Vickers hardness of about 400 HV. The metallic layer is deposited onto the cylinder base using any thermal spraying method. The cylinder surface is then thinned and polished by using any conventional method. Finally, the cylinder is etched to provide a superb cylinder for the printing industry.

The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for flexographic printing plates. One aspect is a flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having transparent layers to allow encoded signal printed or laser ablated thereon to be detectable from both sides of the printing plate. Another aspect is a flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having an encoded signal formed in a photocured layer. Still another aspect is a system for tracking such printing plates, including managing location, print impression count, location tracking, etc. Other aspects are described as well.

The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for flexographic printing plates. One aspect is a flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having transparent layers to allow encoded signal printed or laser ablated thereon to be detectable from both sides of the printing plate. Another aspect is a flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having an encoded signal formed in a photocured layer. Still another aspect is a system for tracking such printing plates, including managing location, print impression count, location tracking, etc. Other aspects are described as well.

A method of making a relief image printing element from a photosensitive printing blank is provided. A photosensitive printing blank with a laser ablatable layer disposed on at least one photocurable layer is ablated with a laser to create an in situ mask. The printing blank is then exposed to at least one source of actinic radiation through the in situ mask to selectively cross link and cure portions of the photocurable layer. Diffusion of air into the at least one photocurable layer is limited during the exposing step and preferably at least one of the type, power and incident angle of illumination of the at least one source of actinic radiation is altered during the exposure step. The resulting relief image comprises a plurality of dots and a dot shape of the plurality of dots that provide optimal print performance on various substrates, including corrugated board.

Provided is a planographic printing plate precursor including: a support; and an image recording layer formed on the support, in which a region on the plate surface on the image recording layer side from an end portion of the planographic printing plate precursor to a portion inside the end portion by 5 mm contains a polymer containing a functional group represented by the following Formula (A), and the content of the polymer per unit area in the region is greater than the content of the polymer per unit area in a region other than the above-described region by an amount of 10 mg/m.sup.2 or greater.

—Si(X).sub.m(R.sup.3).sub.n  (A)

Provided is a planographic printing plate precursor including: a support; and an image recording layer formed on the support, in which a region on the plate surface on the image recording layer side from an end portion of the planographic printing plate precursor to a portion inside the end portion by 5 mm contains a polymer containing a functional group represented by the following Formula (A), and the content of the polymer per unit area in the region is greater than the content of the polymer per unit area in a region other than the above-described region by an amount of 10 mg/m.sup.2 or greater.

—Si(X).sub.m(R.sup.3).sub.n  (A)