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.

A printing plate for monotype prints includes a viscoelastic gel composition having a viscoelastic polymer selected from a hydrogenated poly-isoprene/butadiene polymer, poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene).sub.n, poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene), poly(styrene-isoprene).sub.n, poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene).sub.n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene).sub.n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene).sub.n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene).sub.n, polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane and silicone, and a combination thereof, and a plasticizing oil. The viscoelastic gel composition has a smooth surface and is formed as a sheet and shaped for use as a printing plate. A method for using the elastomeric gel printing plates of the present invention is also provided.

A printing plate for monotype prints includes a viscoelastic gel composition having a viscoelastic polymer selected from a hydrogenated poly-isoprene/butadiene polymer, poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene).sub.n, poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene), poly(styrene-isoprene).sub.n, poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene).sub.n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene).sub.n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene).sub.n, poly(styrene- ethylene-butylene).sub.n, polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane and silicone, and a combination thereof, and a plasticizing oil. The viscoelastic gel composition has a smooth surface and is formed as a sheet and shaped for use as a printing plate. A method for using the elastomeric gel printing plates of the present invention is also provided.