Provided is a lithographic printing plate precursor having: a support; and an image-recording layer as an outermost surface layer on the support, in which the image-recording layer includes a hydrophilic polymer, an ion intensity derived from the hydrophilic polymer has a maximum value I1, the ion intensity being measured by a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry in such a manner that cutting is carried out from an image-recording layer surface in a direction of the support by an Ar gas cluster ion beam method, a ratio d0/d1 of a thickness d0 of the image-recording layer to a depth d1 from an outermost layer at which the I1 is obtained is 2.0 or more, and a ratio I1/I0 of the I1 to an ion intensity I0 derived from the hydrophilic polymer at a depth from the outermost layer of the d0 is 1.5 or more.

Provided is a lithographic printing plate precursor having: a support; and an image-recording layer as an outermost surface layer on the support, in which the image-recording layer includes a hydrophilic polymer, an ion intensity derived from the hydrophilic polymer has a maximum value I1, the ion intensity being measured by a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry in such a manner that cutting is carried out from an image-recording layer surface in a direction of the support by an Ar gas cluster ion beam method, a ratio d0/d1 of a thickness d0 of the image-recording layer to a depth d1 from an outermost layer at which the I1 is obtained is 2.0 or more, and a ratio I1/I0 of the I1 to an ion intensity I0 derived from the hydrophilic polymer at a depth from the outermost layer of the d0 is 1.5 or more.

Provided is a lithographic printing plate precursor having: a support; and an image-recording layer as an outermost surface layer on the support, in which the image-recording layer includes a hydrophilic polymer, an ion intensity derived from the hydrophilic polymer has a maximum value I1, the ion intensity being measured by a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry in such a manner that cutting is carried out from an image-recording layer surface in a direction of the support by an Ar gas cluster ion beam method, a ratio d0/d1 of a thickness d0 of the image-recording layer to a depth d1 from an outermost layer at which the I1 is obtained is 2.0 or more, and a ratio I1/I0 of the I1 to an ion intensity I0 derived from the hydrophilic polymer at a depth from the outermost layer of the d0 is 1.5 or more.

Provided is a lithographic printing plate precursor having: a support; and an image-recording layer as an outermost surface layer on the support, in which the image-recording layer includes a hydrophilic polymer, an ion intensity derived from the hydrophilic polymer has a maximum value I1, the ion intensity being measured by a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry in such a manner that cutting is carried out from an image-recording layer surface in a direction of the support by an Ar gas cluster ion beam method, a ratio d0/d1 of a thickness d0 of the image-recording layer to a depth d1 from an outermost layer at which the I1 is obtained is 2.0 or more, and a ratio I1/I0 of the I1 to an ion intensity I0 derived from the hydrophilic polymer at a depth from the outermost layer of the d0 is 1.5 or more.

A dampening fluid deposition system includes a vapor generator adjacent an air supply channel and in fluid communication with a dampening fluid supply to produce dampening fluid vapor. The vapor generator includes a vapor channel having an interior in communication with air confined within the air supply channel. The vapor generator may include a liquid reservoir receiving dampening fluid from the dampening fluid supply and a heater that heats the received dampening fluid into dampening fluid vapor. The liquid reservoir may include a wick that stores dampening fluid and releases dampening fluid vapor into the vapor channel and a heat conductive tub that holds the wick and dampening fluid. The passive dampening fluid deposition system mixes the dampening fluid vapor with the confined air to form an air/vapor mix that is condensed as a layer of dampening fluid onto the reimageable surface of an imaging member.

A dampening fluid deposition system includes a vapor generator adjacent the air supply channel and in fluid communication with a dampening fluid supply to produce dampening fluid vapor. The vapor generator includes a vapor channel having an interior in communication with air confined within the air supply channel. The vapor generator may include a liquid reservoir receiving dampening fluid from the dampening fluid supply and a heater that heats the received dampening fluid into dampening fluid vapor. The liquid reservoir may include a wick that stores dampening fluid and releases dampening fluid vapor into the vapor channel and a heat conductive tub that holds the wick and dampening fluid. The passive dampening fluid deposition system mixes the dampening fluid vapor with the confined air to form an air/vapor mix that is condensed as a layer of dampening fluid onto the reimageable surface of an imaging member.

A dampening fluid deposition system includes a vapor generator adjacent the air supply channel and in fluid communication with a dampening fluid supply to produce dampening fluid vapor. The vapor generator includes a vapor channel having an interior in communication with air confined within the air supply channel. The vapor generator may include a liquid reservoir receiving dampening fluid from the dampening fluid supply and a heater that heats the received dampening fluid into dampening fluid vapor. The liquid reservoir may include a wick that stores dampening fluid and releases dampening fluid vapor into the vapor channel and a heat conductive tub that holds the wick and dampening fluid. The passive dampening fluid deposition system mixes the dampening fluid vapor with the confined air to form an air/vapor mix that is condensed as a layer of dampening fluid onto the reimageable surface of an imaging member.

An apparatus and method for printing directly onto print media including smooth non-absorbent media substrates (e.g., polymer films) inks having a wide range in viscosity, so that flexographic, gravure, and lithographic inks can all be contemplated. The proposed method is able to print with variable data/imaging. Dampening fluid may be patterned onto an imaging roll by coating the imaging roll with a layer of the dampening fluid and selectively evaporating off a patterned portion via a laser imaging device. The imaging roll then contacts the print substrate and transfers the patterned dampening fluid onto the substrate via film splitting. The substrate then passes through an inker station where ink is deposited directly to the substrate for attachment thereto except where rejected by the dampening fluid.

An apparatus and method for printing directly onto print media including smooth non-absorbent media substrates (e.g., polymer films) inks having a wide range in viscosity, so that flexographic, gravure, and lithographic inks can all be contemplated. The proposed method is able to print with variable data/imaging. Dampening fluid may be patterned onto an imaging roll by coating the imaging roll with a layer of the dampening fluid and selectively evaporating off a patterned portion via a laser imaging device. The imaging roll then contacts the print substrate and transfers the patterned dampening fluid onto the substrate via film splitting. The substrate then passes through an inker station where ink is deposited directly to the substrate for attachment thereto except where rejected by the dampening fluid.

A dampening fluid useful in offset ink printing applications contains water and a surfactant whose structure can be altered. The alteration in structure aids in reducing accumulation of the surfactant on the surface of an imaging member. The surfactant can be decomposed, switched between cis-trans states, or polymerizable with ink that is subsequently placed on the surface.