E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

Harvey Walter Taylor, Jr

Gregory Charles Weed

Richard Albert Coveleskie

Daphne Pinto Fickes

Jeffrey W Milner

Harry Richard Zwicker

Jonathan V Caspar

Jeffrey Jude Patricia

Rolf S Gabrielsen

Jon W Matthews

Robert P Held

John H Choi

Alan Lee Shobert

Richard J Kempf

Massimo Pizzocri

David N Prugh

Scott Dixon McCalmont

Dennis James Bellville

John E Bobeck

This invention relates to an image receiving layer () of a receiver element () for laser-induced thermal transfer imaging processes. The image receiving layer () is made from a formulation containing a caprolactone polymer and a cellulose ester. The invention is, typically, useful in proofing and color filter applications.

Imaging process and products providing durable assemblages

A process for adjusting the energy of an imaging laser for imaging of a thermally imageable element including the steps of: (a) providing an imaging unit having a non-imaging laser and an imaging laser, the non-imaging laser having a light detector which is in communication with the imaging laser, (b) contacting a receiver element with the thermally imageable element in the imaging unit, wherein the receiver element comprises a light attenuating layer having a front surface and a back surface; (c) actuating the non-imaging laser to expose the thermally imageable element and the receiver element to an amount of light energy sufficient for the light detector to detect the amount of light reflected from the thermally imageable element and light attenuating layer of the receiver element; and (d) actuating the imaging laser to focus the imaging laser in order to expose the thermally imageable element to an amount of light energy sufficient for imaging the thermally imageable element.

Receiver element for adjusting the focus of an imaging laser

Improved processes and products for laser thermal imaging are described. These improved processes and products utlilize an image rigidification element and significantly reduce halftone dot movement, swath boundary cracking and banding.

Thermal imaging process and products using image rigidification

A receiver element for use in a thermal imaging process, wherein a surface of a pigment-image receiving layer of the receiver element has a roughness, and the surface is brought into contact with a thermally imageable element, wherein the pigment-image receiving layer provided on the receiver element has an average roughness (Ra) of less than about 1&mgr; and has surface irregularities having a plurality of peaks, at least about 50 of the peaks having a height of at least about 200 nm and a diameter of about 100 pixels over a surface area of about 458&mgr; by about 602&mgr;. These roughened receiver elements substantially reduce the micro-dropouts.

Receivers and their use in thermal imaging

A combination digital/analog color proofing method having the steps of: digitally forming a color thermal image on a receiver element comprising a receiver support and an image receiving layer; laminating the digitally formed image with a film comprising a support having a release surface and a thermoplastic polymer layer; removing the support thereby revealing the thermoplastic polymer layer, and leaving the digitally formed image encased between the image receiving layer and the thermoplastic polymer layer; and laminating an analog color image to the revealed thermoplastic polymer layer to create a color proof having at least two color images.

Analog and digital proofing image combinations cross-reference to related applications

Improved processes and products for laser thermal imaging are described. These improved processes and products utilize an image rigidification element and significantly reduce halftone dot movement, swath boundary cracking and banding.

Analog and digital proofing image combinations

A peel-apart photosensitive element comprising in order: a strippable cover sheet; a photosensitive layer; an essentially non-photosensitive, non-tacky organic layer comprised of block or random polymers of at least one aromatic polymer and at least one non-aromatic monomer; and a support, wherein the photosensitive layer has a lowered peel force in relation to the cover sheet after exposure to actinic radiation.

Peel-apart photosensitive elements and their process of use

A method for forming images on a substrate wherein imaging is performed on a photosensitive element, the method including the steps of (a) providing a photosensitive element having a support, a dry strippable layer and a first photosensitive layer, wherein the dry strippable release layer is present between the support and the photosensitive layer; (b) imaging the photosensitive element; (c) toning to form a photosensitive element having an imagewise toned surface; (d) applying an additional photosensitive layer to the imagewise toned surface of the photosensitive element; (e) forming a final imaged element by removing the support from the toned, photosensitive element; and (f) placing the final imaged element on the substrate to form a final image on the substrate.

Process for forming images on permanent substrates

An element containing, in order: a first strippable substrate; a substantially transparent, non-photosensitive, polymeric isolation layer having a coating weight of 10 to 150 mg/dm.sup.2 ; an essentially non-photosensitive, non-tacky organic layer having a coating weight of 25 to 200 mg/dm.sup.2 ; a pigmented photosensitive, preferably photopolymerizable layer; and a second different strippable substrate adjacent the photosensitive layer, wherein the photosensitive layer upon imagewise exposure to actinic radiation exhibits a lowered peel force relative to a system which does not have a polymeric isolation layer.

An element containing, in order: a first strippable substrate; a substantially transparent, non-photosensitive, polymeric isolation layer having a coating weight of 10 to 150 mg/dm.sup.2 ; an elastomeric layer having a coating weight of 25 to 200 mg/dm.sup.2 ; a pigmented photosensitive, preferably photopolymerizable layer; and a second different strippable substrate adjacent the photosensitive layer, wherein the photosensitive layer upon imagewise exposure to actinic radiation exhibits a lowered peel force relative to a system which does not have a polymeric isolation layer.

Photosensitive elements and their process of use

A process for preparing an image on a substrate by applying a photoimageable composition on a first substrate, wherein the photoimageable composition, having a solids content from 25 to 60 weight percent, contains a partially neutralized acid-containing polymer formed from a precursor polymer having an acid number from 90 to 160 prior to neutralization and wherein 1 to 15% of acid-containing groups of the precursor polymer are neutralized with base; an ethylenically unsaturated monomer; a photoinitiator or photoinitiating system, water; 0-5% by weight a solution polymer, based on the weight of total polymer present in the composition; and 0-25% by weight of an organic solvent based on the total weight of the organic solvent and water; wherein the liquid composition is present as a stable emulsion, and wherein the liquid composition has a Brookfield viscosity, at 25.degree. C., from about 10 to about 2000 centipoise; drying the coated photoimageable composition to form a photoimageable layer on a first substrate; imagewise exposing the layer to form imaged and non-imaged areas; and developing the exposed layer having imaged and non-imaged areas to form an image on the first substrate. The exposed layer may be developed by a wash-off development process, peel-apart development process or by application of a toner which may be in the form of a dry toner or a toning film. Print out images may also be obtained.

Process for using photoimageable films prepared for aqueous

A photosensitive element comprising, in order a support; a photosensitive layer comprising a photosensitive composition; and a layer comprising a thermally sensitive material; wherein the thermally sensitive material is (a) incompatible with the photosensitive composition, (b) non-tacky and non-blocking at room temperature, and (c) tackifiable at 70.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. and a process for using these elements is described. The photosensitive element may be in sheet or roll form.

Growing community of inventors

Sayre, PA, United States of America

Harvey Walter Taylor, Jr