Patent ID: 6803167
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: B41C,B41M,G03F

Abstract:
A method for forming an image, the method comprising the steps of:(a) imaging an imageable element either thermally or with ultraviolet radiation and producing an imaged imageable element comprising imaged and unimaged regions; (b) developing the imaged imageable element with a developer and removing the imaged regions; in which: the imageable element comprises, in order: a top layer; an underlayer; and a substrate; the underlayer comprises a first polymeric material; the underlayer is soluble in or removable by the developer; the top layer is ink receptive; the top layer is insoluble in the developer prior to imaging; the top layer comprises a phenolic polymer and a compound that comprises an o-benzoquinonediazide moiety or an o-diazonaphthoquinone moiety; a phenolic polymer that comprises the o-benzoquinonediazide moiety or the o-diazonaphthoquinone moiety; or a mixture thereof; and the developer is an about 20:80 to about 80:20 mixture of: (1) an aqueous alkaline developer that has a pH greater than 11 and comprises about 2 wt % to about 8 wt % of an alkali metal silicate, based on the weight of the aqueous alkaline developer, and (2) a solvent based developer that comprises about 0.5 wt % to about 15 wt % of an organic solvent or mixture of organic solvents, based on the weight of the solvent based developer.