A method for fixing and treating a flexible plate on a drum includes: providing a flexible plate comprising a support layer made of a first material and at least one additional layer made of a second material which is different from the first material, wherein one or more thin film side wings are connected to one or more sides of the flexible plate. The one or more thin film side wings have a thickness which is at least 5 times smaller than the thickness of the flexible plate. The method further includes positioning the flexible plate on the drum such that the lower face of each thin film side wing of the flexible plate covers at least one vacuum suction opening, and performing a treatment on at least one layer of the flexible plate while rotating the drum.

A punching station for arranging one or more penetration elements in or through an edge portion of a relief plate precursor or for arranging one or more perforations in the edge portion. The punching station includes a punching means comprising one or more penetration elements or perforating elements, the punching means configured for arranging the one or more penetration elements or perforating elements through or in an edge portion of the relief plate precursor. An abutment means is aligned with the punching means and configured for forming an abutment for the edge of the relief plate precursor. A detection means is configured to detect at two or more locations along the abutment means whether the edge portion of the relief plate precursor is correctly positioned against the abutment means. A signalling means is configured to communicate a signal in function of the detection by the detection means.

A method for fixing and treating a flexible plate on a drum includes: providing a flexible plate comprising a support layer made of a first material and at least one additional layer made of a second material which is different from the first material, wherein one or more thin film side wings are connected to one or more sides of the flexible plate. The one or more thin film side wings have a thickness which is at least 5 times smaller than the thickness of the flexible plate. The method further includes positioning the flexible plate on the drum such that the lower face of each thin film side wing of the flexible plate covers at least one vacuum suction opening, and performing a treatment on at least one layer of the flexible plate while rotating the drum.

A method of imaging printing plates uses a single imaging device having at least one laser delivering, in an imagewise manner, pulsed electromagnetic energy of pulse duration not greater than 110.sup.6 seconds. Such an imaging method permits the imaging of a plurality of types of printing plates irrespective of any sensitised imaging chemistry contained in their coatings.

The imaging sensitivity of negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors is improved by removing ozone from the ambient air surrounding the precursors that can be stored near an imaging means such as a platesetter prior to use. Ozone can be removed using a suitable filter containing activated charcoal or other ozone decomposing means, through which ambient air is filtered before and during the imaging process.

A method of preparing a first and second lithographic printing plate for lithographic printing of a color digital image on a receiver wherein the color digital image includes a plurality of colorant separations; the method including the steps of jetting droplets by an inkjet CTP system on a first lithographic support for the first lithographic printing plate thereby forming a printing area of a first lithographic image which represents a first colorant separation of the plurality of colorant separations; and jetting droplets by the inkjet CTP system on a second lithographic support for the second lithographic printing plate thereby forming a printing area of a second lithographic image which represents a second colorant separation of the plurality of colorant separations; and wherein the method of preparing a first and second lithographic printing plates is characterized by forming a part of or whole the first and second lithographic image in a print pass by the inkjet CTP system.

Method for cutting out coating plates for use in digital printing units. A method for cutting out coating plates for use in digital printing units, where the cutting of coating plates is effected by means of a digital cutting machine, the cutting machine including a computer control and further including a mother roller, the method including at least the following steps: a file including at least cutting data is transferred to the computer control of the digital cutting machine; a sleeve with coating plate material is mounted on the mother roller of the cutting machine; the coating plate mounted on the sleeve and the mother roller are cut out in the ratio 1:1 whereby is achieved, among others, that a mounting machine is no longer necessary in order to apply coating material on a sleeve, whereby registering accuracy is increased and shrinking effect is avoided.

The imaging sensitivity of negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors is improved by removing ozone from the ambient air surrounding the precursors that can be stored near an imaging means such as a platesetter prior to use. Ozone can be removed using a suitable filter containing activated charcoal or other ozone decomposing means, through which ambient air is filtered before and during the imaging process.

A method of preparing a first and second lithographic printing plate for lithographic printing of a colour digital image on a receiver wherein the colour digital image includes a plurality of colorant separations; the method including the steps of jetting droplets by an inkjet CTP system on a first lithographic support for the first lithographic printing plate thereby forming a printing area of a first lithographic image which represents a first colorant separation of the plurality of colorant separations; and jetting droplets by the inkjet CTP system on a second lithographic support for the second lithographic printing plate thereby forming a printing area of a second lithographic image which represents a second colorant separation of the plurality of colorant separations; and wherein the method of preparing a first and second lithographic printing plates is characterized by forming a part of or whole the first and second lithographic image in a print pass by the inkjet CTP system.