Thermal color proofing process

A process of forming a color proof comprising imagewise-exposing, by means of a laser, a colorant-donor element comprising a support having thereon: PA1 (1) a propellant layer comprising a gas-producing polymer having an infrared-absorbing material associated therewith, the gas-producing polymer being capable of forming a gas upon heating by the laser, and PA1 (2) a colorant transfer layer comprising a colorant dispersed in a binder, at least 50% by weight of the binder being a monomeric or oligomeric resin having a molecular weight of less than about 4,000 and the balance being a polymeric resin having a molecular weight of from about 15,000 to about 100,000; PA2 the laser exposure taking place through the side of the support of the donor element which does not have the colorant transfer layer thereon, and transferring the colorant transfer layer to a receiving element in juxtaposed position thereon separated by an air gap to obtain the color proof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to use of a process for obtaining a color proof 
wherein the colorant transfer layer of a laser induced propulsive transfer 
donor contains a certain binder system. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In order to approximate the appearance of continuous-tone (photographic) 
images via ink-on-paper printing, the commercial printing industry relies 
on a process known as halftone printing. In halftone printing, color 
density gradations are produced by printing patterns of dots or areas of 
varying sizes, but of the same color density, instead of varying the color 
density continuously as is done in photographic printing. 
There is an important commercial need to obtain a color proof image before 
a printing press run is made. It is desired that the color proof will 
accurately represent at least the details and color tone scale of the 
prints obtained on the printing press. In many cases, it is also desirable 
that the color proof accurately represent the image quality and halftone 
pattern of the prints obtained on the printing press. In the sequence of 
operations necessary to produce an ink-printed, full-color picture, a 
proof is also required to check the accuracy of the color separation data 
from which the final three or more printing plates or cylinders are made. 
Methods for preparing such proofs by means of laser-induced transfer of 
colorant from suitable donor elements are well known in the art. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,760, a process is described for producing a direct 
digital, halftone color proof of an original image on a dye-receiving 
element. The proof can then be used to represent a printed color image 
obtained from a printing press. The process described therein comprises: 
a) generating a set of electrical signals which is representative of the 
shape and color scale of an original image; 
b) contacting a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye 
layer and an infrared-absorbing material with a first dye-receiving 
element comprising a support having thereon a polymeric, dye 
image-receiving layer; 
c) using the signals to imagewise-heat by means of a diode laser the 
dye-donor element, thereby transferring a dye image to the first 
dye-receiving element; and 
d) retransferring the dye image to a second dye image-receiving element 
which has the same substrate as the printed color image. 
In the above process, multiple dye-donors are used to obtain a range of 
colors in the proof. For example, for a full-color proof, four colors: 
cyan, magenta, yellow and black are normally used. 
By using the above process, the image dye is transferred by heating the 
dye-donor containing the infrared-absorbing material with the diode laser 
to volatilize the dye, the diode laser beam being modulated by the set of 
signals which is representative of the shape and color of the original 
image, so that the dye is heated to cause volatilization only in those 
areas in which its presence is required on the dye-receiving layer to 
reconstruct the original image. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,023 discloses propellant-containing thermal transfer 
donor elements which are used to mass transfer colorants to a receiver 
element. However, there is a problem with this element in that either poor 
resolution or poor adhesion to a receiving element is obtained. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,372 discloses a process whereby colorant layer transfer 
by melt or wax transfer is assisted by gaseous nitrogen produced in an 
underlying layer. However, a wax transfer process necessitates that the 
donor element be in contact with the receiver element so that this process 
is prone to image artifacts due to dust and dirt being trapped between the 
donor and receiver element. 
It is an object of this invention to provide a process for producing a 
color proof that has better resolution and adhesion than the prior art 
elements. It is another object of this invention to provide a process for 
producing a color proof wherein the donor element is separated from the 
receiver element by an air gap so that image artifacts in the final print 
due to dust and dirt are minimized. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
These and other objects are obtained by this invention which relates to a 
process of forming a color proof comprising imagewise-exposing, by means 
of a laser, a colorant-donor element comprising a support having thereon: 
(1) a propellant layer comprising a gas-producing polymer having an 
infrared-absorbing material associated therewith, the gas-producing 
polymer being capable of forming a gas upon heating by the laser, and 
(2) a colorant transfer layer comprising a colorant dispersed in a binder, 
at least 50% by weight of the binder being a monomeric or oligomeric resin 
having a molecular weight of less than about 4,000 and the balance being a 
polymeric resin having a molecular weight of from about 15,000 to about 
100,000; 
the laser exposure taking place through the side of the support of the 
donor element which does not have the colorant transfer layer thereon, and 
transferring the colorant transfer layer to a receiving element in 
juxtaposed position thereon separated by an air gap to obtain the color 
proof. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the colorant to binder ratio is 
preferably at least 1:2.5 by volume. This improves the adhesion of the 
colorant layer to the receiving layer. 
Any material can be used as the support for the colorant-donor element 
employed in the invention provided it is dimensionally stable and can 
withstand the heat of the laser. Such materials include polyesters such as 
poly(ethylene terephthalate); polyamides; polycarbonates; cellulose esters 
such as cellulose acetate; fluorine polymers such as poly(vinylidene 
fluoride) or poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene); polyethers 
such as polyoxymethylene; polyacetals; polyolefins such as polystyrene, 
polyethylene, polypropylene or methylpentene polymers; and polyimides such 
as polyimide-amides and polyether-imides. The support generally has a 
thickness of from about 5 to about 200 .mu.m. It may also be coated with a 
subbing layer, if desired, such as those materials described in U.S. Pat. 
Nos. 4,695,288 or 4,737,486. It may also be coated with any of the 
anti-static and/or slip layers well known to those in the imaging art. 
The gas-producing polymers employed in the propellant layer include self 
oxidizing binders, such as nitrocellulose, energetic polymers as described 
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,737, thermally decomposable polycarbonates as 
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,938, and low ceiling temperature polymers 
as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,144. In a preferred embodiment of the 
invention, the gas-producing polymer is a cyanoacrylate. 
Infrared-absorbing materials which may be used in the propellant layer or 
in a separate contiguous layer include cyanine infrared-absorbing dyes as 
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,572, or other materials as described in 
the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,948,777; 4,950,640; 4,950,639; 4,948,776; 
4,948,778; 4,942,141; 4,952,552; 5,036,040; and 4,912,083, the disclosures 
of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Preferably the absorbance 
of the layer at the emission wavelength of the exposing laser is in the 
range of 0.45 to 1.0. The propellant layer may also contain small amounts 
of addenda such as coating aids, anti-oxidants, color neutralizing dyes, 
UV stabilizers, etc. The propellant layer may be coated from suitable 
solvents onto the support by any of the techniques well known to the 
coating art, such as wire wound rod, applicator roll, extrusion, curtain, 
etc., or may be printed thereon by a printing technique such as a gravure 
process. Preferably the dry layer thickness is in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 
.mu.m. 
Colorants which can be used in the invention include the following: organic 
pigments such as metal phthalocyanines, e.g., copper phthalocyanine, 
quinacridones, epindolidiones, Rubine F6B (C.I. No. Pigment 184); 
Cromophthal.RTM. Yellow 3G (C.I. No. Pigment Yellow 93); Hostaperm.RTM. 
Yellow 3G (C.I. No. Pigment Yellow 154); Monastral.RTM. Violet R (C.I. No. 
Pigment Violet 19); 2,9-dimethylquinacridone (C.I. No. Pigment Red 122); 
Indofast.RTM. Brilliant Scarlet R6300 (C.I. No. Pigment Red 123); Quindo 
Magenta RV 6803; Monstral.RTM. Blue G (C.I. No. Pigment Blue 15); 
Monstral.RTM. Blue BT 383D (C.I. No. Pigment Blue 15); Monstral.RTM. Blue 
G BT 284D (C.I. No. Pigment Blue 15); Monstral.RTM. Green GT 751D (C.I. 
No. Pigment Green 7) or any of the materials disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
5,171,650, 5,672,458 or 5,516,622, the disclosures of which are hereby 
incorporated by reference. 
Other colorants useful in the invention include dyes such as the following: 
Anthraquinone dyes, e.g., Sumikaron Violet RS.RTM. (product of Sumitomo 
Chemical Co., Ltd.), Dianix Fast Violet 3R-FS.RTM. (product of Mitsubishi 
Chemical Industries, Ltd.), and Kayalon Polyol Brilliant Blue N-BGM.RTM. 
and KST Black 146.RTM. (products of Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.); azo dyes 
such as Kayalon Polyol Brilliant Blue BM.RTM., Kayalon Polyol Dark Blue 
2BM.RTM., and KST Black KR.RTM. (products of Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.), 
Sumikaron Diazo Black 5G.RTM. (product of Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.), 
and Miktazol Black 5GH.RTM. (product of Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc.); 
direct dyes such as Direct Dark Green B.RTM. (product of Mitsubishi 
Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and Direct Brown M.RTM. and Direct Fast Black 
D.RTM. (products of Nippon Kayaku Co. Ltd.); acid dyes such as Kayanol 
Milling Cyanine 5R.RTM. (product of Nippon Kayaku Co. Ltd.); basic dyes 
such as Sumiacryl Blue 6G.RTM. (product of Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.), 
and Aizen Malachite Green.RTM. (product of Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.); 
or any of the dyes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,541,830; 4,698,651; 
4,695,287; 4,701,439; 4,757,046; 4,743,582; 4,769,360 and 4,753,922, the 
disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The above dyes 
or pigments may be employed singly or in combination. 
The colorant transfer layer consists of a colorant as described above 
dispersed in a binder wherein at least 50%, preferably 75-90% by weight, 
of the binder is a monomeric or oligomeric resin and the balance is a 
polymeric resin. The optimal ratio of binder components depends on many 
factors, such as the exposure fluence and time, the rate of gas evolution 
within the propellant layer, the molecular weight of the polymeric 
component, and the Tg or Tm of the binder components. 
Suitable monomer resins useful in the colorant transfer layer of the 
invention include hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated rosin esters and 
similar rosin derivatives. Commercially-available materials include the 
glycerol ester of partially hydrogenated wood rosin, such as 
Staybelite.RTM. Ester 10 (Hercules Inc.), the glycerol ester of 
hydrogenated rosin, such as Foral.RTM. 85 (Hercules Inc.) and the 
pentaerythritol ester of modified rosin, such as Pentalyn.RTM. 344 
(Hercules Inc.). 
Suitable oligomeric resins with a molecular weight of less than about 4,000 
useful in the colorant transfer layer of the invention include polyesters, 
such as Tone P260 .RTM. (Union Carbide Corp.), polyacrylates, 
polymethacrylates, alpha-methylstyrenes, polyethylene oxides, etc. 
Suitable polymers useful in the colorant transfer layer of the invention 
preferably have a molecular weight between about 15,000 and about 50,000 
and include polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyesters, 
polyvinylacetals, polyethylene-co-vinyl chloride, polycarbonates, etc. In 
a preferred embodiment of the invention, polyesters and polymethacrylates 
are employed. 
The colorant transfer layer of the colorant-donor element may be coated on 
the support or printed thereon by a printing technique such as a gravure 
process. Suitable solvents are those which dissolve the binder components 
and dyes, if used as colorants, but do not attack the underlying 
propellant layer. Preferably, the layer has a thickness from 0.3 to 4.0 
.mu.m. 
The receiving element that is used with the donor elements employed in the 
invention usually comprises a support having thereon an image-receiving 
layer. The support may be a transparent film such as a poly(ether 
sulfone), a polyimide, a cellulose ester such as cellulose acetate, a 
poly(vinyl alcohol-co-acetal) or a poly(ethylene terephthalate). The 
support for the receiving element may also be reflective such as 
baryta-coated paper, polyethylene-coated paper, an ivory paper, a 
condenser paper or a synthetic paper such as DuPont Tyvek.RTM.. Pigmented 
supports such as white polyester (transparent polyester with white pigment 
incorporated therein) may also be used. 
The image-receiving layer may comprise, for example, a polycarbonate, a 
polyurethane, a polyester, poly(vinyl chloride), 
poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile), polycaprolactone, a poly(vinyl acetal) 
such as poly(vinyl alcohol-co-butyral), poly(vinyl alcohol-co-benzal), 
poly(vinyl alcohol-co-acetal) or mixtures thereof. The image-receiving 
layer may be present in any amount which is effective for the intended 
purpose. In general, good results have been obtained at a coverage of from 
about 1 to about 5 g/m.sup.2. 
The process of obtaining a colorant image with the colorant-donor elements 
employed in this invention has been generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 
5,126,760 and is conveniently obtained on commercially-available laser 
thermal proofing systems such as the Kodak Approval.RTM. system, or the 
Creo Trendsetter.RTM. Spectrum system. Typically, a receiver sheet is 
placed on a rotating drum followed by successive placements of the 
individual cyan, magenta, yellow and black donor elements whereby the 
image for each color is transferred by image-wise exposure of the laser 
beam through the backside of the donor element. 
As noted above, a laser is used to transfer colorant from the colorant 
transfer elements used in the invention. It is preferred to use a diode 
laser since it offers substantial advantages in terms of its small size, 
low cost, stability, reliability, ruggedness, and ease of modulation. In 
practice, before any laser can be used to heat a donor element, the 
element must contain an absorbing material which absorbs at the emitting 
wavelength of the laser. 
Lasers which can be used to transfer dye or pigment from donors employed in 
the invention are available commercially. There can be employed, for 
example, Laser Model SDL-2420-H2from Spectra Diode Labs, or Laser Model 
SLD 304 V/W from Sony Corp. 
A thermal printer which uses the laser described above to form an image on 
a thermal print medium is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 
5,268,708, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
Spacer beads may be employed in a separate layer over the colorant transfer 
layer of the colorant donor element in the above-described laser process 
in order to separate the donor from the receiver element during dye 
transfer, thereby increasing the uniformity and density of the transferred 
image. That invention is more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,582, 
the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
Alternatively, the spacer beads may be employed in the receiving layer of 
the receiver element as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,235, the 
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The spacer beads 
may be coated with a polymeric binder if desired. 
The use of an intermediate receiver with subsequent retransfer to a second 
receiving element may also be employed in the invention. A multitude of 
different substrates can be used to prepare the color proof (the second 
receiver) which is preferably the same substrate as that used for the 
printing press run. 
Examples of substrates which may be used for the second receiving element 
(color proof) include the following: Flo Kote Cover.RTM. (S. D. Warren 
Co.), Champion Textweb.RTM. (Champion Paper Co.), Quintessence Gloss.RTM. 
(Potlatch Inc.), Vintage Gloss.RTM. ) (Potlatch Inc.), Khrome Kote.RTM. 
(Champion Paper Co.), Consolith Gloss.RTM. (Consolidated Papers Co.), 
Ad-Proof Paper.RTM. (Appleton Papers, Inc.) and Mountie Matte.RTM. 
(Potlatch Inc.). 
As noted above, after an image is obtained on a first receiving element, it 
may be retransferred to a second image-receiving element. This can be 
accomplished, for example, by passing the two receivers between a pair of 
heated rollers. Other methods of retransferring the image could also be 
used such as using a heated platen, use of pressure and heat, external 
heating, etc. 
Also as noted above, in making a color proof, a set of electrical signals 
is generated which is representative of the shape and color of an original 
image. This can be done, for example, by scanning an original image, 
filtering the image to separate it into the desired additive primary 
colors, i.e., red, blue and green, and then converting the light energy 
into electrical energy. The electrical signals are then modified by 
computer to form the color separation data which are used to form a 
halftone color proof. Instead of scanning an original object to obtain the 
electrical signals, the signals may also be generated by computer. This 
process is described more fully in Graphic Arts Manual, Janet Field ed., 
Arno Press, New York 1980 (p. 358ff), the disclosure of which is hereby 
incorporated by reference.

The following example is provided to illustrate the invention. 
EXAMPLE 
Preparation of Propellant Layer 
A solution of 20 parts poly(methyl cyanoacrylate-co-ethyl cyanoacrylate) 
(methyl:ethyl=3:1) and 3 parts 
2-{2-(2-chloro-3-((1,3-dihydro-1,1,3-trimethyl-2H-benz(e)indol-2-ylidene)e 
thylidene)-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)ethenyl}-1,1,3-trimethyl-1H-benz(e)indolium 
salt with heptafluorobutanoic acid (1:1) dissolved in 7.4 parts methanol 
and 1870 parts cyclopentanone was coated using a #2 wire wound rod onto a 
sheet of a 100 .mu.m poly(ethylene terephthalate). The coating was air 
dried at room temperature. 
Preparation of Pigment Dispersion 
Solsperse.RTM. 24000 (ICI America) (2.76 g) was dissolved in 85.0 g of 
toluene, then 12.24 g of dry ground LITHOL Rubine D4575GN (BASF) was added 
followed by an equal volume of 2 mm zirconia beads. The resulting mixture 
was milled using a shaker mill for 72 hrs at room temperature. The beads 
were removed by sieving. 
Coating of Elements 
The following elements were prepared by overcoating the propellant layer 
coated support with the following dispersions using a #2 wire wound rod, 
then air drying at room temperature. 
Control Element 1 (Polymer Only) 
A poly(ethylmethacrylate), Elvacite 2043.RTM. (ICI America) (0.52 g) was 
dissolved in 8.3 g toluene. The pigment dispersion (1.15 g) was then added 
and the resulting dispersion coated. 
Control Element 2 (Polymer Only) 
A polycaprolactone, Tone 767E .RTM. (Union Carbide Corp.) (0.51 g) was 
dissolved in 8.3 g of toluene. A pigment dispersion was then added and 
coated as in Control Element 1. 
Control Element 3 (Polymer Only) 
A polyisobutylmethacrylate, Elvacite 2044.RTM. (ICI America) (0.52 g) was 
dissolved in 8.3 g of toluene. A pigment dispersion was then added and 
coated as in Control Element 1. 
Control Element 4 (Monomer Only) 
A glycerol ester of partially hydrogenated wood rosin, Staybelite.RTM. 
Ester 10 (Hercules Inc.) (0.52 g) was dissolved in 8.3 g of toluene. A 
pigment dispersion was then added and coated as in Control Element 1. 
Control Element 5 (Oligomer Only) 
A polyester, Tone P260.RTM. (Union Carbide Corp.) (0.52 g) was dissolved in 
8.3 g of toluene. A pigment dispersion was then added and coated as in 
Control Element 1. 
Element 1 of the Invention 
A poly(ethylmethacrylate), Elvacite 2043.RTM. (0.26 g) and a glycerol ester 
of partially hydrogenated wood rosin, Staybelite.RTM. Ester 10(0.26 g) 
were dissolved in 8.3 g of toluene. A pigment dispersion was then added 
and coated as in Control Element 1. 
Element 2 of the Invention 
This element was the same as Element 1 except that the Elvacite amount was 
0.105 g and the Staybelite.RTM. Ester 10 amount was 0.415 g. 
Element 3 of the Invention 
A polycaprolactone, Tone 767E .RTM. (Union Carbide Corp.)(0.105 g) and a 
glycerol ester of partially hydrogenated wood rosin, Staybelite.RTM. Ester 
10(0.415 g) were dissolved in 8.3 g of toluene. A pigment dispersion was 
then added and coated as in Control Element 1. 
Element 4 of the Invention 
A polycaprolactone, Tone 767E.RTM. (0.105 g) and a polyester, Tone 
P260.RTM. (0.415 g) were dissolved in 8.3 g of toluene. A pigment 
dispersion was then added and coated as in Control Element 1. 
Element 5 of the Invention 
A poly(ethylmethacrylate), Elvacite 2044.RTM. (0.105 g) and a glycerol 
ester of partially hydrogenated wood rosin, Staybelite.RTM. Ester 10(0.415 
g) were dissolved in 8.3 g of toluene. A pigment dispersion was then added 
and coated as in Control Element 1. 
Printing 
Each of the example coatings was written on an external drum device using 
an 830 nm wavelength laser diode array with a centerline spacing of 10 
.mu.m between individual laser lines. Exposures were varied by changing 
power output at a linear velocity of 1550 cm/sec. Images were written to 
KODAK APPROVAL.RTM. Digital Color Proofing Film I01/ Intermediate/ 1834 
available from Kodak Polychrome Graphics. The image along with the 
uppermost layer of the intermediate was then laminated to a final receiver 
of Champion Textweb.RTM. by means of a two roll laminator operating at 
5.08 mm/sec and an average roller temperature of 120.degree. C. 
Evaluation 
The test pattern written consisted of 1.27 cm square patches of half-tone 
dots of 2% to 98% area coverage at 59 lines per cm. For comparative 
purposes the patches written at an exposure of 275 mJ/cm.sup.2 were 
evaluated visually at 60.times. magnification. Both the used donor element 
and the image on the final receiver were evaluated. The resolution was 
determined from the regularity of the 50% dot edges, i.e., the absence of 
transferred material in the unwritten areas. The following evaluations 
were used: 
Good=No transferred material in the unwritten areas 
Fair=Some transferred material in the unwritten areas 
Poor=Substantial transferred material in the unwritten areas 
The uniformity was determined by observation of the density uniformity 
within the dots of the 50% dot patch. The following evaluations were used: 
Good=Generally uniform density in the dot areas 
Fair=Noticeable non-uniform density in the dot areas 
Poor=Substantial non-uniform density in the dot areas 
The following results were obtained: 
TABLE 
______________________________________ 
Resolution of Printed 
Uniformity of Printed 
Donor Element Image Image 
______________________________________ 
Control 1 Poor Good 
Control 2 Poor Good 
Control 3 Poor Good 
Control 4 Good Fair-Poor 
Control 5 Good Poor 
1 Good-Fair Good-Fair 
2 Good Good 
3 Good Good 
4 Good Good 
5 Good Good 
______________________________________ 
The above results show that the donor elements of the invention had better 
resolution and uniformity as compared to the control elements. 
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to 
preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations 
and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the 
invention.