Patent ID: 9096090
Filing Date: 2015-08-04
Classification: B41C,B41N,G03F

Abstract:
1. A method of making a relief image printing element from a liquid photopolymer composition, the method comprising the steps of, in order: a) casting a liquid photopolymer layer onto a cover sheet and at least substantially simultaneously placing a backing sheet onto the liquid photopolymer layer; b) preliminarily exposing the liquid photopolymer layer to actinic radiation to create at least one island of solid photopolymer in the liquid photopolymer layer where it is desirable to laser engrave a relief image; c) recovering and reclaiming uncured liquid photopolymer from the relief image printing element for reuse; d) processing the at least one island of solid photopolymer to remove residual traces of uncured liquid photopolymer remaining on the relief image printing element after step c); e) exposing the at least one island of solid photopolymer to actinic radiation to fully cure the at least one island of solid photopolymer; and f) laser engraving the at least one island of solid photopolymer to produce the relief image therein.