Patent ID: 9671695
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: G03F

Claim:
1. A process of manufacturing flexographic printing forms from a flexographic printing element comprising at least a dimensionally stable support, a photopolymerizable layer and a laser ablatable mask layer at least comprising the steps of: (i) imaging the laser ablatable mask layer by means of an IR-laser thus obtaining a mask on top of the photopolymerizable layer, (ii) exposing the photopolymerizable layer with UV-light through the mask obtained in course of step (i) in the presence of atmospheric oxygen, whereby a photopolymerized layer is obtained, (iii) removing non exposed parts of the photopolymerized layer using a suitable washout solvent, and (iv) finishing the photopolymerized layer by exposure with UVA- and/or UVC-light, wherein the process comprises an additional step (v) of embossing the photopolymerized layer between steps (iii) and (iv) or after (iv) by means of an embossing device comprising a textured surface and bringing the textured surface of the embossing device in contact with the surface of the photopolymerized layer at an adjustable pressure wherein the surface of the embossing device has a temperature above room temperature, wherein the embossing device is a cylinder type embossing device or an embossing platen.