Patent ID: 9086630
Filing Date: 2015-07-21
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A method of thermally developing a photocurable printing blank to produce a relief image comprising a plurality of relief dots, wherein the photocurable printing blank comprises a backing layer having at least one photocurable layer disposed thereon, the method comprising in order the steps of: a) laminating an oxygen barrier membrane to a top of the at least one photocurable layer; b) placing a negative of a desired relief image on top of the oxygen barrier membrane; c) exposing the printing blank to actinic radiation through the oxygen barrier membrane and negative to selectively crosslink and cure the at least one photocurable layer, wherein the at least one photocurable layer is crosslinked and cured in the areas that are not covered by the negative, thereby creating the desired relief image; d) removing the oxygen barrier membrane and the negative from the top of the at least one photocurable layer; and e) thermally developing the printing blank to remove uncured portions of the at least one photocurable layer and reveal the desired relief image.