A gravure printing plate and a method of manufacturing a gravure printing plate, which are capable of increasing a density range as compared to the conventional case to enable suppression of moire as well as to achieve rich gradation and enable fine tone settings. The gravure printing plate includes FM screen cells and AM screen cells which are concurrently formed in a plate surface thereof, and the FM screen cells and the AM screen cells are different in depth. It is preferred that, of the cells which are different in depth, shallower cells correspond to subcells and deeper cells correspond to main cells.

A gravure printing plate and a method of manufacturing a gravure printing plate, which are capable of increasing a density range as compared to the conventional case to enable suppression of moire as well as to achieve rich gradation and enable fine tone settings. The gravure printing plate includes FM screen cells and AM screen cells which are concurrently formed in a plate surface thereof, and the FM screen cells and the AM screen cells are different in depth. It is preferred that, of the cells which are different in depth, shallower cells correspond to subcells and deeper cells correspond to main cells.

The invention relates to a method for preparing a relief printing plate from a printing plate precursor wherein at least an end of the precursor is attached to a leader forming a composite printing form precursor that securely mounts the precursor in a treatment processor. The present method advantageously allows for all or substantially all of the area of the precursor to be utilized for forming the relief surface suitable for printing.

The invention relates to a method for preparing a relief printing plate from a printing plate precursor wherein at least an end of the precursor is attached to a leader forming a composite printing form precursor that securely mounts the precursor in a treatment processor. The present method advantageously allows for all or substantially all of the area of the precursor to be utilized for forming the relief surface suitable for printing.

Flexographic printing members are prepared by developing an exposed flexographic printing member precursor with an aqueous flexographic developer. The aqueous flexographic developer comprises: a) a fatty acid composition consisting of one or more saturated or unsaturated fatty acids or alkali metal salts thereof, each saturated or unsaturated fatty acid or alkali metal salt thereof independently having 12 to 20 carbon atoms, the fatty acid composition being present in an amount of 0.25-2.0 weight %, and at least 85 weight % of the fatty acid composition is composed of one or more C.sub.18 mono- or poly-unsaturated fatty acids or alkali metal salts thereof; b) an aminopolycarboxylic acid or alkali metal salt thereof in an amount of 0.05-0.30 weight %; c) a buffer compound in an amount of 05-0.60 weight %; and d) water. Such aqueous flexographic developers can also be provided in concentrated form and appropriately diluted before or during use.

The invention relates to an autonomous apparatus for the photo-polymerization of a flexographic printing plate, which plate comprises a main face and a base opposite to said main face. The apparatus comprises an exposure chamber in which at least first photo-polymerization means of said base of said plate are installed. An input section and an output section are defined for letting said plate into/out from the exposure chamber, respectively. The apparatus further comprises moving means configured to drag said plate along a feeding direction. According to the invention, the first photo-polymerization means comprise a row of LEDs aligned according to a direction substantially orthogonal to said feeding direction.

The invention relates to an autonomous apparatus for the photo-polymerization of a flexographic printing plate, which plate comprises a main face and a base opposite to said main face. The apparatus comprises an exposure chamber in which at least first photo-polymerization means of said base of said plate are installed. An input section and an output section are defined for letting said plate into/out from the exposure chamber, respectively. The apparatus further comprises moving means configured to drag said plate along a feeding direction. According to the invention, the first photo-polymerization means comprise a row of LEDs aligned according to a direction substantially orthogonal to said feeding direction.

A method of selectively exposing a liquid photopolymer printing blank to actinic radiation to create a relief image printing plate and a liquid platemaking exposure system. The method includes: (1) positioning a programmable screen programmed with an image file of a desired image between the top glass and an upper source of actinic radiation; (2) exposing the layer of liquid photopolymer to actinic radiation from the upper source of actinic radiation through the programmable screen to crosslink and cure at least a portion of the liquid photopolymer adjacent to the backing sheet and create a floor layer therein; and (3) imagewise exposing the layer of liquid photopolymer to actinic radiation from a lower source of actinic radiation through a negative of the relief image to crosslink and cure selective portions of the liquid photopolymer on the floor layer and create the relief image therein.

A method of selectively exposing a liquid photopolymer printing blank to actinic radiation to create a relief image printing plate and a liquid platemaking exposure system. The method includes: (1) positioning a programmable screen programmed with an image file of a desired image between the top glass and an upper source of actinic radiation; (2) exposing the layer of liquid photopolymer to actinic radiation from the upper source of actinic radiation through the programmable screen to crosslink and cure at least a portion of the liquid photopolymer adjacent to the backing sheet and create a floor layer therein; and (3) imagewise exposing the layer of liquid photopolymer to actinic radiation from a lower source of actinic radiation through a negative of the relief image to crosslink and cure selective portions of the liquid photopolymer on the floor layer and create the relief image therein.

An article with an operative liquid-bearing surface is adapted for transferring that liquid to a substrate material or printing plate. The entire operative surface of the article is provided with a pattern of microscopic discrete depressions which are usually laser-engraved into the surface so that a substantially continuous wall structure remains which surrounds and defines the depressions. In particular the depressions are of a cross-sectional shape which is symmetrical about one or both of a lateral and a medial axis perpendicular thereto, and arranged adjacent one another in offset fashion, and above and below one another so that the pattern thus formed is substantially uniform and repeating. Each of at least one of the pairs of lateral or medial sidewalls of any one depression are contoured, the contour of one of the pair being generally the mirror image of the other.