The invention relates to a base body (10) for receiving a print image structure (20), in particular for flexographic printing, comprising a sleeve (10.1), an elastic layer (10.2) applied onto the sleeve (10.1) for holding an outer carrier layer (10.3), and the outer carrier layer (103), the carrier layer (10.3) being designed in such a mariner that the print image structure (20) can be applied.

Provided is a planographic printing plate precursor including: a support; and an image recording layer formed on the support, in which a region on the plate surface on the image recording layer side from an end portion of the planographic printing plate precursor to a portion inside the end portion by 5 mm contains a polymer containing a functional group represented by the following Formula (A), and the content of the polymer per unit area in the region is greater than the content of the polymer per unit area in a region other than the above-described region by an amount of 10 mg/m.sup.2 or greater.

—Si(X).sub.m(R.sup.3).sub.n  (A)

Provided is a planographic printing plate precursor including: a support; and an image recording layer formed on the support, in which a region on the plate surface on the image recording layer side from an end portion of the planographic printing plate precursor to a portion inside the end portion by 5 mm contains a polymer containing a functional group represented by the following Formula (A), and the content of the polymer per unit area in the region is greater than the content of the polymer per unit area in a region other than the above-described region by an amount of 10 mg/m.sup.2 or greater.

—Si(X).sub.m(R.sup.3).sub.n  (A)

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.

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.

The present invention provides a coating material that can improve gravure printing characteristics of the printing surface of a printing substrate to favorably transfer an ink fed in the cell of a gravure printing roll to the printing surface of the printing substrate, thereby achieving the beautiful gravure printing. The coating material of the present invention is a coating material for forming a surface layer serving as a printing surface on a printing substrate to which gravure printing is to be applied, and the coating material is characterized by including a pigment including an inorganic particulate and a skin layer that is formed on a surface of the inorganic particulate and includes an organic compound.

The present invention provides a coating material that can improve gravure printing characteristics of the printing surface of a printing substrate to favorably transfer an ink fed in the cell of a gravure printing roll to the printing surface of the printing substrate, thereby achieving the beautiful gravure printing. The coating material of the present invention is a coating material for forming a surface layer serving as a printing surface on a printing substrate to which gravure printing is to be applied, and the coating material is characterized by including a pigment including an inorganic particulate and a skin layer that is formed on a surface of the inorganic particulate and includes an organic compound.

A method of applying a pattern to a nonplanar surface. A stamp has a major surface with pattern elements having a lateral dimension of greater than 0 and less than about 5 microns. The major surface of the stamp has a functionalizing molecule with a functional group selected to chemically bind to the nonplanar surface. The stamp is positioned to initiate rolling contact with the nonplanar surface, and contacts the nonplanar surface to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of the functionalizing material thereon and impart the arrangement of pattern elements thereto. The major surface of the stamp is translated with respect to the nonplanar surface such that: a contact pressure is controlled at an interface between the stamping surfaces and the nonplanar surface, and a contact force at the interface is allowed to vary while the stamping surfaces and the nonplanar surface are in contact with each other.

A method of applying a pattern to a nonplanar surface with a radius of curvature. A stamp with a major surface has a relief pattern of pattern elements extending away from a base surface. Each pattern element has a stamping surface with a lateral dimension 0 to 5 microns. An ink applied on the stamping surface includes a functionalizing molecule with a functional group that chemically binds to the nonplanar surface. The stamp is positioned to initiate rolling contact between the nonplanar surface and the major surface of the stamp. The stamping surface of the pattern elements contacts the nonplanar surface to form a self-assembled monolayer of the functionalizing material on the nonplanar surface and impart the arrangement of pattern elements. A relative position of the stamping surface is controlled with respect to the nonplanar surface while the major surface of the stamp contacts the nonplanar surface.

There is disclosed a print construction comprising: (a) a printing substrate having an image-receiving surface; (b) a receptive layer, at least partially covering said image-receiving surface, and having a particle reception surface distally disposed to said image-receiving surface, said receptive layer optionally having a thickness of at least 1000 nanometer (nm); and (c) a plurality of individual particles adhered to said particle reception surface, and forming a monolayer thereon, the features of which are described herein.