An imaging system, including a laser source and a controller, for producing a mask for a flexographic plate. The imaging data includes a base pattern comprised of spots superimposed on the image information and aligned to a grid defined by an imaging resolution of an imager. Each spot corresponding to an imaged discrete element in the base pattern is surrounded by eight spots corresponding to non-imaged discrete elements. In at least a portion of the mask corresponding to a non-solid tonal area of the plate, the controller adjusts the laser beam to a size that causes each set of four neighboring imaged discrete elements to have an unexposed or unablated area centered therebetween, wherein the unablated area resolves to a region on a surface of the plate below an uppermost level but above a non-printing level, and each of the four neighboring imaged discrete elements resolves to the uppermost level.

A method of creating a bitmap for a printing plate, including defining an area of an image intended to print with a solid color, applying a halftone screen to the defined solid color area, and creating the bitmap embodying the halftone screen in the defined solid color area. The halftone screen pattern includes a plurality of dashes with a plus or minus 45-degree orientation, a plus or minus 135-degree orientation, or a combination of two or more plus or minus 45-degree and 135-degree orientations. Each dash or component dash thereof has a same number of two or more adjacent touching pixels in length and a number of one or more adjacent touching pixels in width, or the dashes are orthogonally arranged in rows and columns, or a combination thereof. Masks, plates, processes for making them, and print methods using the bitmaps are also described.

A non-woven fabric web having a printed pattern. The web has an air permeability of 0-3500 L/m.sup.2/s, and comprises an upper surface fiber layer, at least one middle ink-receiving layer, and a lower surface fiber layer sequentially connected. Fibers in the upper surface fiber layer and lower surface fiber layer have a fiber fineness larger than 1.0D. Fibers in the middle ink-receiving layer have a fiber fineness smaller than 0.3D. The middle ink-receiving layer is printed with a single-color or multi-color ink printed pattern. The fibers respectively in the upper surface fiber layer, the at least one middle ink-receiving layer, and the lower surface fiber layer are laid, sprayed, and formed into shape via heat pressing points by means of a single thermal bonding process. The area of recessed regions formed by the heat pressing points is 5-70% of the total area. The non-woven fabric web of the present invention can effectively prevent an ink transfer during use from causing potential problems, such as skin allergies.

A non-woven fabric web having a printed pattern. The web has an air permeability of 0-3500 L/m.sup.2/s, and comprises an upper surface fiber layer, at least one middle ink-receiving layer, and a lower surface fiber layer sequentially connected. Fibers in the upper surface fiber layer and lower surface fiber layer have a fiber fineness larger than 1.0D. Fibers in the middle ink-receiving layer have a fiber fineness smaller than 0.3D. The middle ink-receiving layer is printed with a single-color or multi-color ink printed pattern. The fibers respectively in the upper surface fiber layer, the at least one middle ink-receiving layer, and the lower surface fiber layer are laid, sprayed, and formed into shape via heat pressing points by means of a single thermal bonding process. The area of recessed regions formed by the heat pressing points is 5-70% of the total area. The non-woven fabric web of the present invention can effectively prevent an ink transfer during use from causing potential problems, such as skin allergies.

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.

An apparatus and methods for using coatings for metal applications are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an article comprises a cured polymeric film having a first reaction product of a cationic photoinitiator and a compound suitable for cationic polymerization. The article has a second reaction product of a free-radical photoinitiator and a compound suitable for free-radical polymerization; The article has a metal substrate, wherein the cured polymeric film coats the metal substrate.

A method for designing a printing plate for mounting on a printing cylinder. An optimal lateral seam path is defined between opposite lateral edges of the plate by applying an energy minimization function. Top and bottom edges of the plate are defined based upon the optimal lateral seam path, preferably with a variable gap therebetween, and the bottom edge is unwrapped from the top edge to define a closed cutting path. The area inside the closed cutting path is wrapped with artwork or portions thereof, and an updated digital graphics file stored. The energy minimization function may include a penalty function, overall seam path length, and seam path amplitude, with weighting factors. For artwork including staggered lanes of step and repeat one-up images, the optimal lateral seam path may extend across each lane through one-up images, steps between adjacent one-up images, or a combination thereof.

An apparatus and methods for using coatings for metal applications are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an article comprises a cured polymeric film having a first reaction product of a cationic photoinitiator and a compound suitable for cationic polymerization. The article has a second reaction product of a free-radical photoinitiator and a compound suitable for free-radical polymerization. The article has a metal substrate, wherein the cured polymeric film coats the metal substrate.

Methods for manufacturing articles, including articles of footwear, apparel, and sporting equipment are provided. The methods comprise decorating a plurality of foam particles. The decorating can comprise applying a coating on the foam particles, or embossing or debossing the foam particles, or both. The decorating can comprise applying a coating on the foam particles by printing, painting, dyeing, applying a film, or any combination thereof. The plurality of foam particles are affixed utilizing aspects of additive manufacturing methods. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

To provide a coating liquid composition containing a fluororesin, whereby a film excellent in the surface flatness can be formed by a plate printing method. A coating liquid composition comprising a fluororesin having an aliphatic ring in the main chain and a fluorinated solvent, wherein the fluorinated solvent has a boiling point of at least 185° C., and the composition has a viscosity of at most 1,000 mP.Math.s at 25° C.