A method and a device for manufacturing a base layer (3) having different degrees of hardness is disclosed. Further a workpiece with a base layer (3) manufactured by such method is disclosed.

In some embodiments, a method may include selectively applying a mask to a first surface of a substrate. The mask may include one or more components defining a selected pattern and having a non-uniform density. The method may further include etching the first surface of the substrate based on the mask and selectively processing the first surface of the substrate to produce a multi-dimensional artwork.

A method of manufacturing an embossing element for decorative surfaces includes the steps of: a) UV curable inkjet printing a decorative pattern on a metallic surface; and b) forming a relief by etching metal from the metallic surface.

A photocurable relief image printing blank comprising: (a) a support layer; (b) one or more photocurable layers disposed on the support layer, wherein the one or more photocurable layers comprise: i) a binder; ii) one or more monomers; iii) a photoinitiator; iv) an additive selected from the group consisting of phosphites, phosphines, thioether amine compounds, and combinations of one or more of the foregoing; and v) an additional component comprising amine moieties; (c) a laser ablatable masking layer disposed on the one or more photocurable layers, the laser ablatable masking layer comprising a radiation opaque material; and (d) optionally, a removable coversheet. Upon exposure and development, the resulting relief image printing element does not degrade if left under ambient UV lights for an extended period of time.

A system or machine is disclosed which takes pre-stretched emulsion coated screens, digitally prints thereon and exposes them before further processing and use in a screen printing machine.

A transfer method utilizing partially cured radiation sensitive ink to transfer a onto a contoured or uneven surface area of a guitar body by a transfer method. Specifically, a transfer material has a surface that is printed with a radiation sensitive ink. The desired design may be printed to the surface and partially cured by exposing the radiation sensitive ink to appropriate radiation. Thereafter, the surface of the transfer material may be brought into facing engagement with the contoured surface of the guitar body such that the printed and partially cured design is disposed between the contoured surface and the transfer material. The design may be transferred to the contoured surface by, for example, application of pressure to an opposite side of the transfer material using a burnisher or the like. Once transferred, the design may be fully cured by exposing the now transferred radiation sensitive ink to appropriate radiation.

An indexing image for craft stamps that is opaque to the eye but transparent to UV light is produced by printing a wavelength-specific solvent-based ink on the stamp substrate. This eliminates the step of printing a separate adhesive-backed indexing image sheet and applying it to the substrate.

An imageable material can be used to form a mask element that in turn is useful for providing relief images such as in flexographic printing plates. The imageable material has, in order: (a) a transparent polymeric carrier sheet; (b) a non-ablatable light-to-heat converting having an average dry thickness of 1-5 m and comprising: (i) an infrared radiation absorbing material at 0.1-5 weight %; (ii) a thermally crosslinked organic polymeric binder material; and (iii) non-thermally ablatable particles having an average particle size of 0.1-20 m in an amount of 0.2-10 weight %; and (c) a non-silver halide thermally-ablatable imaging layer (IL) disposed on the LTHC layer, the IL comprising a second infrared radiation absorbing material and a UV-light absorbing material dispersed within one or more thermally-ablatable polymeric binder materials.

A method for producing flexographic printing plates, using a photopolymerizable flexographic printing element having, arranged one atop another, a dimensionally stable support, a photopolymerizable, relief-forming layer, an elastomeric binder, an ethylenically unsaturated compound, and a photoinitiator, and optionally a rough, UV-transparent layer, a particulate substance, and digitally imagable layer. The method includes: (a) producing a mask by imaging the digitally imagable layer, (b) exposing the photopolymerizable, relief-forming layer through the mask with actinic light, and photopolymerizing the image regions of the layer, and (c) developing the photpolymerized layer by washing out the unphotopolymerized regions of the relief-forming layer with an organic solvent, or by thermal development. Step (b) includes (1) exposure with actinic light with an intensity of 100 mW/cm2 from a plurality of UV-LEDs and (2) exposure with actinic light with an intensity of <100 mW/cm2 from a UV radiation source other than UV-LEDs.

There is provided that a curable composition containing a polymerizable compound, a photopolymerization initiator, and solvent, wherein the polymerizable compound contains at least a compound having one of an aromatic structure, an aromatic heterocyclic structure, and an alicyclic structure, the curable composition has viscosity of not less than 2 mPa.Math.s and not more than 60 mPa.Math.s at 23? C., in a state in which the solvent is removed, the curable composition has a viscosity of not less than 30 mPa.Math.s and not more than 10,000 mPa.Math.s at 23? C., and a content of the solvent with respect to the whole curable composition is not less than 70 vol % and not more than 95 vol %.