Bayer Corporation

Agfa Corporation

Richard Shadrach

Shane Hsieh

Wojciech A Wilczak

David L Siegfried

Rusty Koenigkramer

Shuchen Liu

Richard Zagroba

The present invention relates to a method for negative a positive image, using a negative acting color proofing element comprising, sequentially, a strippable cover sheet; a crosslinked layer containing a polymer having phenolic groups; a color layer, containing a colorant, a polymeric binder, a polymerizable monomer and, optionally, a photoinitiator; a photoadhering layer containing polymerizable groups, and, optionally, a free radical photoinitiator; and a optional thermoplastic adhesive layer. At least one of the color layer and the photoadhering layer containing the photoinitiator. The element is first exposed to actinic radiation and then laminated to a receiver sheet. The composite peeled apart to thereby form a colored negative image on the receiver sheet.

Process for obtaining a color image with improved resolution

A negative-acting color proofing element comprising, sequentially, (i) a strippable, transparent cover sheet; (ii) a crosslinked layer, which comprises a polymer having phenolic groups; (iii) a color layer, which comprises an organic binder, a polymerizable monomer, a colorant, and an optional photoinitiator, (iv) a photoadhering layer, which comprises a polymerizable component having at least one ethylenically unsaturated group; a polymer comprising polyvinyl acetal and polyvinyl alcohol segments, having from about 1 to about 40 weight % polyvinyl alcohol content; and an optional photoinitiator, wherein least one of either the color layer or the photoadhering layer contains a photoinitiator; (v) a thermoplastic adhesive layer; and (vii) a receiver sheet. Preferably the polymerizable component and photoinitiator diffuse into the color layer during assembly of the element. An image is produced by laminating the photosensitive element to a receiver sheet; imagewise exposing the color layer and the photoadhering layer to actinic radiation through the transparent cover and crosslinked phenolic layer; peeling apart the receiver sheet and the transparent cover sheet, leaving exposed areas of the color layer attached to the receiver sheet via the photoadhering layer and adhesive layer and unexposed areas being removed with the cover sheet and the crosslinked phenolic layer, thereby forming a colored negative image on the receiver sheet. Preferably these image producing steps are repeated at least once wherein another photosensitive element having a different colorant is transferred via its photoadhering and adhesive layers to the negative image previously produced on the receiver sheet.

Negative working, peel developable, single sheet color proofing system

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Belle Mead, NJ, United States of America

Richard Shadrach