Provided is a flexo printing plate which makes it possible to perform printing in which the discontinuity of density is not visually recognized by inhibiting the enlargement of halftone dots in the boundary between an image portion having a low halftone dot area ratio and a non-image portion. The flexo printing plate adopts a constitution in which, within the highlight halftone dot portion having a halftone dot area ratio of higher than 0% and equal to or lower than 10%, among the small dots constituting the highlight halftone dot portion, at least one small dot adjacent to the non-image portion that continues 10 mm or further in a direction separating from the edge of the highlight halftone dot portion has a height smaller than the average height of the small dots of the highlight halftone dot portion.

Provided is a flexo printing plate which makes it possible to perform printing in which the discontinuity of density is not visually recognized by inhibiting the enlargement of halftone dots in the boundary between an image portion having a low halftone dot area ratio and a non-image portion. The flexo printing plate adopts a constitution in which, within the highlight halftone dot portion having a halftone dot area ratio of higher than 0% and equal to or lower than 10%, among the small dots constituting the highlight halftone dot portion, at least one small dot adjacent to the non-image portion that continues 10 mm or further in a direction separating from the edge of the highlight halftone dot portion has a height smaller than the average height of the small dots of the highlight halftone dot portion.

There is described a method for manufacturing intaglio printing plates for the production of security papers, wherein a laser beam (2) is used to engrave intaglio printing patterns (3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3) directly into the surface of a laser-engravable, especially metallic, printing plate medium (1), wherein laser engraving of the printing plate medium (1) is carried out layer by layer in several individual engraving steps performed one after the other in register so that the intaglio printing patterns (3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3) are gradually engraved into the surface of the printing plate medium (1) up to desired engraving depths, the surface of the engraved printing plate medium (1) being cleaned from residues of the laser engraving process following and between each individual engraving step.

There is described a method for manufacturing intaglio printing plates for the production of security papers, wherein a laser beam (2) is used to engrave intaglio printing patterns (3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3) directly into the surface of a laser-engravable, especially metallic, printing plate medium (1), wherein laser engraving of the printing plate medium (1) is carried out layer by layer in several individual engraving steps performed one after the other in register so that the intaglio printing patterns (3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3) are gradually engraved into the surface of the printing plate medium (1) up to desired engraving depths, the surface of the engraved printing plate medium (1) being cleaned from residues of the laser engraving process following and between each individual engraving step.

Provided is a resin composition excellent in mechanical strength while maintaining LDS activity. The resin composition for laser direct structuring comprises, relative to 100 parts by weight of a polycarbonate resin component, 10 to 100 parts by weight of a glass filler and 1 to 30 parts by weight of a laser direct structuring additive, wherein the polycarbonate resin component consists of 80 to 30% by weight of a polycarbonate resin and 20 to 70% by weight of a styrene-based resin, or consists of a polycarbonate; and the laser direct structuring additive comprises antimony and tin.

Described herein are an apparatus and a method for direct engraving an elastomeric printing plate by multiple laser beams simultaneously. In one embodiment, an elastomeric printing plate or sleeve is positioned on an imaging drum for direct engraving. The imaging drum is rotatable around its longitudinal axis. Such rotation defines a circumferential direction, also called the transverse direction. The axis of rotation defines an axial direction, also called the longitudinal direction. The printing plate has an body and a surface made of an elastomer (made of polymer or rubber). A drive mechanism provides relative motion between a plurality of laser beams and the plate in both the transverse and longitudinal directions.

Described herein are an apparatus and a method for direct engraving an elastomeric printing plate by multiple laser beams simultaneously. In one embodiment, an elastomeric printing plate or sleeve is positioned on an imaging drum for direct engraving. The imaging drum is rotatable around its longitudinal axis. Such rotation defines a circumferential direction, also called the transverse direction. The axis of rotation defines an axial direction, also called the longitudinal direction. The printing plate has an body and a surface made of an elastomer (made of polymer or rubber). A drive mechanism provides relative motion between a plurality of laser beams and the plate in both the transverse and longitudinal directions.

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 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 invention relates to a method (100) for producing an image structure (12) according to an image specification (20), in particular for a letterpress process and/or intaglio printing process, characterized in that the following steps are carried out: a) providing a base (10) for receiving the image structure (12), b) producing an image structure (12) on the base (10) so that an image layer (11) is formed on the base (10) by means of the image structure (12).