MXPA00003672A - Composite relief image printing plates - Google Patents

Abstract

High-quality composite printing elements are prepared without the need for precise registration of constituent photocurable elements by disposing at least one photocurable element, and preferably a plurality of photocurable elements, upon a surface of a substantially planar carrier sheet in approximate register and then transferring a computer-generated negative onto a surface of the elements.

Description

COMPOSED PLATES OF IMAGE PRINTING IN RELIEF RELATED APPLICATION This patent application is a partial continuation of the United States of America Patent Application serial number 08 / 676,591, filed July 8, 1996, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to the preparation of composite printing plates and, more particularly, to the direct transfer of digital images to these compositions without the use of photo-tools or photomasks. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Embossed image printing plates are used for both flexographic and letterpress printing processes to print on a variety of substrates, including paper, corrugated material, film, sheet, and laminates. The photocurable elements that are used to make relief plates typically include a backing layer and one or more layers of photocurable polymer in the form of solid sheets. The printer typically peels a cover sheet of the element to expose the photocurable polymer and places a photographic negative of silver halide or some other masking device on the photopolymer. The photocurable element that has the negative is then exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light through the negative, thereby causing the exposed areas of the element to harden, or cure. After the uncured areas of the element are removed, the cured polymer remains as the embossing surface. Corrugated boxes and other relatively large objects that are printed using relief image printing plates often carry the actual impression over only a small portion of their total surface area. One way of printing this object is to prepare a single relief image plate having a surface area corresponding to the total surface area of the object. However, since only a portion of the surface of the object needs to be printed, only a portion of the relief image plate will actually be used for ink transfer. The rest of the plate will not be used and, essentially, it will be wasted. To minimize this waste, those skilled in the art often print relatively large objects with composite printing plates that are prepared by mounting a plurality of the relief image printing plates on a common carrier sheet. However, the individual plates are mounted only on those portions of the carrier that correspond to the portions of the object that really needs to be printed. Although these composite plates do minimize waste, the current system for assembling their constituent relief image plates is laborious and requires careful adhesion of the plates to the carrier at the same time that registration is ensured within 0.123 millimeters in printing press high quality and reproduction in multiple colors. For reproduction in multiple colors, where a single plate is used to print each of the individual colors, the precise registration of the plates one with respect to the other is crucial. Accordingly, a need remains in the art for alternative processes for preparing composite printing plates. In particular, there remains a need for alternative processes for the accurate registration of constituent relief image printing plates or processes where precise registration is not necessary. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide methods for preparing composite printing plates. It is another object of the invention to provide methods for the registration of at least one image printing plate in relief on a common carrier sheet. It is another object to provide methods for recording information printing directly on the surface of the carrier sheet using a computer. It is still another object to provide methods for transferring a negative electronically stored image directly onto a composite printing plate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION These and other objects are satisfied by the present invention, which provides methods for preparing high quality composite printing plates without the need for individual registration of the constituent relief image plates. These methods comprise the steps of arranging a photocurable element on a surface of a substantially flat carrier sheet in approximate register and then transferring a computer-generated negative on the element. In the preferred embodiments, the methods of the invention comprise the steps of providing at least two substantially flat photocurable elements having first and second opposed major surfaces of defined surface area, arranging a first face of the photocurable elements on a first face of a sheet substantially flat carrier having first and second opposed major faces of defined surface area, and ejecting the negative ink from an ink jet print head onto the second faces of the photocurable elements. The approximate recording of photocurable elements can be achieved by transferring computer generated record information to a surface of the carrier sheet. This can be achieved, for example, by transferring some visually perceptible material (such as ink from an ink jet print head) onto the sheet, or by shredding or otherwise deforming the sheet. The registration information, for example, may comprise a series of images whose respective shapes correspond to the edges of the individual photocurable plates. After transferring the registration information, the photocurable elements are placed on the carrier sheet according to the positions dictated by the registration information. The transfer of the computer generated negative to the composite plates of the invention is preferably achieved by ejecting a negative ink from an ink jet print head. The ink preferably is substantially opaque to the actinic radiation in at least one wavelength region effective to cure the photocurable material within the element and substantially resistant to polymerization after exposure to actinic radiation in the region of the wavelength . After the negative transfer step, the ink-carrying plate can be exposed to the actinic radiation in the wavelength region for a time and under effective conditions to cure the exposed areas of the photocurable material, and the non-exposed areas (eg. say, uncured) are then removed to provide the relief printing surface. The present invention also provides composite printing plates carrying negatives produced according to the above methods. In certain embodiments, the plates comprise a plurality of photocurable elements disposed on a substantially planar carrier sheet, at least two of the photocurable elements including a support layer, photocurable material disposed on the support layer, and ink that forms a negative disposition on the carrier layer. at least a portion of the surface of the photocurable material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The numerous objects and advantages of the present invention can be better understood by those skilled in the art with reference to the accompanying figures not to scale, in which: Figure 1 is a top view of a carrier sheet that It carries registration information. Figure 2 is a top view of a composite printing plate according to the invention. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a composite printing plate according to the invention. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a composite printing plate according to the invention. Figure 5 is a plan view of a printing apparatus for composite printing plates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides methods that eliminate the tedious requirement of having to register by hand the individual printing-embossing plates to prepare composite printing plates of high quality. Although the methods of the invention can be used to prepare printing plates of any size, they are particularly useful for preparing relatively large printing plates (ie, those having a length and / or width greater than about 76.2 centimeters). In the methods of the invention, the photocurable elements of appropriate sizes required (or sizes slightly larger than the required sizes) are mounted on a carrier sheet in approximate register with the areas that are finally to be printed. The precise "registration" of the elements is then achieved by applying a negative image generated by computer to the composite plate via an ink jet printer. Composite printing plates according to the invention are preferably prepared by first transferring computer-generated registration information on one side of the convenient carrier sheet. The carrier sheet should be substantially planar (ie, its length and width should be "substantially larger, preferably at least ten times greater, than its thickness and should have two, substantially planar, opposite major surfaces) and may be formed of transparent or transparent material. opaque such as paper, cellulose film, plastic, or metal In the preferred embodiments, the carrier sheet is a polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of the order of about 0.098-1.225 millimeters.The step of transferring the information record according to the present invention includes any visually perceptible modification of the carrier sheet intended to reflect the placement of photocurable elements therein.The registration information can be transferred, for example, by having a visually perceptible material on the carrier sheet. Representative materials include different inks, dyes, and p Such techniques as are known in the art to be perceptible by the human eye and / or may become perceptible, such as through exposure to light of a selected wavelength (for example, with fluorescent dyes) and / or contact with chemical reagents (for example, as with diazo dyes). These materials can be disposed using conventional means such as ink jet and bubble jet and ink jet printers and ink dryers. The registration information can also be transferred to the carrier sheet in the absence of a transfer of a visually perceptible material by modifying the carrier sheet in some visually perceptible manner. It is possible, for example, to "scratch" the carrier sheet by creating some deformation therein using, for example, a knife, a razor, or some other convenient means for the application of pressure. Light can also shine on the carrier sheet using, for example, a laser. Additionally, registration information can be projected onto the carrier sheet using, for example, a transparency, a slide or a digital liquid crystal display projector. As shown in Figure 1, the registration information transferred to the carrier sheet 10 can include complete contours (eg, 12, 13) of the photocurable elements to be assembled, incomplete contours corresponding, for example, to the corners , sides, or arcs of the photocurable elements (see, 16, 17, and 18 respectively), or any other convenient marking that is used to direct the placement of the element during the assembly process. As shown in Figure 2, a composite printing plate 11 according to the invention can be formed by mounting photocurable elements 20 on one side of the carrier sheet 10 according to the registration information., that is, in the positions indicated by the printed contours and / or marks. The photocurable elements can be assembled using any of the many means known to those skilled in the art. Preferred mounting means involves applying double-sided adhesive tape or some other convenient adhesive to the carrier sheet, the photocurable element, or both. The elements do not need to be mounted with any particular degree of precision. All that is required is that the photocurable elements are mounted on those portions of the carrier sheet that will ultimately carry relief images. According to the invention, the photocurable elements can cover less than the entire surface area of the face of the carrier sheet on which they are mounted. In other words, the photocurable assembled elements preferably have a cumulative surface area that is less than 100 percent of the surface area of the face of the carrier sheet. There is a wide variety of photocurable elements that can be used according to the invention. In preferred embodiments, the elements are solid and vary in thickness from about 0.245 millimeters to about 8.89 millimeters and have dimensions up to about 152 centimeters to about 279.4 centimeters. As shown in Figure 3, a preferred photocurable element 20 comprises a support layer 22, one or more photocurable layers 24, 26 and a removable cover sheet 28. These photocurable elements optionally comprise a transparent protective layer 27 disposed between the sheet of cover and the photocurable layers or layers. Also shown in Figure 3 is the adhesive 23 for mounting the element 20 on the carrier sheet 10. As shown in Figure 4, the photocurable elements (e.g., 40 and 46) have side surfaces (ie, 42 and 47). ) that extend between their respective major faces (ie, 43 and 44, and 48 and 49). These side surfaces preferably meet the larger upper faces to form an angle that measures approximately 90 ° (as with 42 and 43) or greater (as with 47 and 48). It is preferred to apply to the side surfaces 42 and 47 a tape, ink, pigment, or some other type of material that is substantially opaque to the actinic radiation in at least one wavelength region that is effective to cure the photocurable material in the element 20. The application of this material is believed to prevent unwanted exposure of the photocurable material to the actinic radiation that enters through the lateral surface. The support or backing layer of the photocurable element can be formed from transparent or opaque material such as paper, cellulose film, plastic, or metal. In the preferred embodiments, it is a polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of the order of 0.1225 millimeters. The support optionally carries an adhesive for a more secure connection to the photocurable layer. The photocurable layer, which generally has a thickness of from about 0.245 to 8.57 millimeters, may include a variety of known photopolymers, initiators, reactive diluents, fillers and dyes. Preferred photocurable materials include an elastomer compound, an ethylenically unsaturated compound having at least one terminal ethylenic group, and a photoinitiator. Exemplary photocurable materials are described in European Patent Applications No. 0 456 336 A2 (Goss, et al.) And 0 640 878 Al (Goss, et al.), British Patent No. 1,366,769, and United States of America Patents Numbers 5,223,375 (Berrier, et al.), 3,867,153 (MacLahan), 4,264,705 (Alien), 4,265,986 (Alien), 4,323,636 (Chen, et al.), 4,323,637 (Chen, et al.), 4,369,246 (Chen, et al.), 4,423,135 (Chen , and collaborators), and 3,265,765 (Holden, et al.), 4, 320,188 (Heinz, et al.), 4,427,759 (Gruetzmacher, et al.), 4,460,675 (Gruetzmacher, et al.), 4,622,088 (Min), and 5,135,827 (Bohm, et al.), Which are incorporated herein by reference. If a second photocurable layer is used, it is typically disposed over the first and is similar in composition but considerably thinner, usually less than 0.245 centimeters. The photocurable materials of the invention should be crosslinked (cured) and, by this, harden in at least some region of actinic wavelength. As used herein, actinic radiation is radiation capable of effecting a chemical change in an exposed part. Actinic radiation includes, for example, amplified (eg, laser) and non-amplified light, particularly in the ultraviolet and infrared wavelength regions. Preferred actinic wavelength regions are from about 250 nm to about 450 nm, more preferably from about 300 nm to about 400 nm, even more preferably from about 320 nm to about 380 nm. The protective layer of the photocurable element, sometimes referred to as the sliding film, is disposed over the photocurable layer (s) and typically has from about 0.0245 to about 0.245 millimeters thick. The protective layer protects the photocurable element from contamination, increases ease of handling, and acts as a layer that accepts ink. The final layer, the cover layer, can be formed of plastic or any other removable material that can protect the plate from damage until it is ready for use. Representative photocurable elements according to the invention include EPIC® brand flexographic printing plates, SPLASH®, and FLEXCOR® (commercially available from Polyfibron Technologies, Inc., Atlanta, GA).

Registration is preferably achieved for composite plates by computer controlled transfer of a negative image directly to the surface facing outward from at least two light-cured elements that have been mounted on the carrier sheet. These negative images are preferably transferred by depositing a radiation blocking material on the respective surfaces of the photocurable elements. After exposure to actinic radiation and subsequent processing, portions of the plate that do not remain under the radiation blocking material form the relief image. In the preferred embodiments, the ink that forms a negative is ejected from a printer, such as an inkjet printer, onto the composite plate. A wide variety of printers can be used in accordance with the present invention. Suitable printers are those that can print (or can be adapted to print) well-defined images on various sizes and shapes of composite plates used in the printing industry. The level of definition (resolution) - typically measured in dots per inch (dpi) - should be as large as possible. The amount of ink administered by the printers of the invention should be sufficient to absorb at least about 85 percent of any incident actinic radiation, preferably about 90 percent of this radiation, more preferably about 95 percent, and still more preferably 99.9 percent of this radiation. Preferred printers are those that are capable of supplying a full radiation absorption amount of ink in a single print, although with some printers (and with some inks) multiple prints may be necessary to supply a quantity that absorbs radiation. Ink jet printers are particularly preferred. Inkjet printing is performed by discharging ink droplets from a printhead onto a substrate. The droplets are typically ejected through holes or jets in the print head and directed to the substrate to form an image thereon. In contrast to many other types of printing, there is usually no contact between the printer and the substrate with ink jet printing. Virtually any inkjet printer can be used in accordance with the present invention, as long as it has both a print head and some means to control and / or direct the ejection of ink therefrom. Similarly, virtually any print head known in the art can be employed as long as it comprises at least one jet ejecting drops of ink in response to control signals. Referring to Figure 5, a representative printing apparatus according to the present invention is shown comprising a print head 30 having a plurality of jets 32 and control means 34 and 36 electrically coupled with the print head. The control means may be any of those known in the art which are capable of controlling the placement of the print head relative to the printing substrate and activating (i.e., ejecting ink 38 therefrom) the print head . The compliant control means for practicing this invention include computing devices such as microprocessors, microcontrollers, capacitors, switches, circuits, logic gates, or equivalent logic devices. Representative control means include a personal computer coupled with a print head controller board. Representative software packages include Adobe Photoshop and Corel Draw products. Representative ink jet printers include those manufactured by Spectra Incorporated, Dataproducts Corporation (Woodland Hills, CA), Jarfalla (Sweden), Encad (San Diego, CA), AlphaMerics (Simi Valley, CA), Videojet (Wood Dale, IL), particularly the Epson Stylus (Epson Corporation Torrance, CA), and jet printers of ink HP 600c, HP 650c, HP 855c, and HP 750c (Hewlett-Packard Corp., Palo Alto, CA) and the image scanning processor (Alan Graphics, Peekskill, NY). A particularly preferred printing apparatus is the BOXCOR® system, which is commercially available from Polyfibron Technologies, Atlanta, GA. An ink according to the present invention is any liquid or solid part that is both substantially opaque to actinic radiation in at least one wavelength region effective to cure the aforementioned photocurable elements and substantially resistant to polymerization after exposure of actinic radiation in that region of wavelength. Substantially opaque inks are those that can absorb at least about 85 percent of any incident actinic radiation, preferably about 90 percent of this radiation, more preferably about 95 percent, and still more preferably 99.9 percent of this radiation. It will be recognized that a substantially opaque ink does not need to be substantially opaque in all amounts and at all possible concentrations, as long as it can be deposited on a substrate in sufficient quantity to be substantially opaque. The inks are substantially resistant to polymerization according to the invention as long as they can be removed from the surface of the plates to which they are applied (preferably using conventional plate washing techniques) without damaging the relief surface, and as long as they do not. react with or otherwise alter the chemical and / or physical properties of the plate to the extent that its removal damages the relief surface. Preferred inks include one or more radiation absorption molecules dissolved in solvent, preferably in concentrations of about 3 to about 20 weight percent. Particularly preferred inks are U-26, U-53M, Black 4D, and Jolt (Dataproducts Corporation) and those formed by mixing-Crown Super Marking Stamping Ink (Fulton Marking Equipment Company, Warminster, PA) and UVINUL 3050 brand 2, 2 ', 4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone (BASF, Ludwigshaven, Germany) in a solvent selected from methanol, isopropanol, normal butanol, chloroform, methylethyl ketone, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, and mixtures of the same. Other useful ink ingredients include the Tinopal SPF and Joncryl 68 products, which are commercially available from Ciba Geiby Corp., Hawthorn, NY, and S.C. Johnson Company, Milwaukee, Wl, respectively. The methods of the invention involve the transfer of a negative image to the surface of photocurable elements without the use of photo-tools or photomasks. This is typically carried out by removing the cover sheet from the commercially available mounted photocurable elements and then printing the negative image on the exposed surfaces by removing the cover sheets. Because the photocurable elements are not initially placed on the carrier sheet in the precise register, it is generally preferred to print a "bleed" or "border" area around the periphery of each element along with the negative. This boundary typically begins at the designated outer boundary of the element and extends outwardly by a selected distance corresponding to the level of inaccuracy with which the photocurable elements were placed on the carrier sheet. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the use of a sufficiently large boundary should prevent curing of the photocurable material that is left out other than that which is intended to be cured in accordance with the negative. After the negative image has been transferred, (and, therefore, at least a portion of the composite plate) is exposed to actinic radiation, preferably ultraviolet light, in a region of convenient wavelength. There are many devices that can be used to make this exposure called "front" of the photocurable elements, including FLEX-LIGHT® ultraviolet modules (Polyfibron Technologies, Inc.), as well as those manufactured by Anderson &; Vreeland (Bryan, OH) and Photomeca (Pompeii, France). For certain applications, it may be desirable to combine the printing and exposure functions in a single device. It may also be desirable to "back-expose" the photocurable elements by exposing the support layers of the same elements to actinic radiation for a time and under conditions effective to cure a portion of the photocurable material in the region adjacent to the support. This retro-exposure can be carried out after the assembly step (provided that the carrier sheet and the mounting elements are sufficiently transparent to the actinic radiation), but more preferably it is carried out before the photocurable elements have been assembled. "After the frontal exposure of the negative image to the actinic radiation, the uncured photopolymer is removed from the mounted photocurable elements, typically by washing the elements with (and / or in) an organic and / or aqueous solvent in which the material The photo-curable is at least somewhat soluble This solvent wash step is typically carried out or preceded by brushing, milling or some other mild abrasion, not descriptive of the elements Useful washing devices include those commercially available from Polyfibron Technologies , Anderson &Vreeland, and Photomeca The additional objects, advantages and novel features of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following examples thereof, which are not intended to be limiting.

EXAMPLE 1 A 91.44 cm by 96.52 polyethylene terephthalate carrier sheet having a thickness of 0.735 millimeters was cut from a roll and placed in the AlphaMerics inkjet plotter. Dimensional contours of photocurable elements were generated to be mounted on the carrier sheet from an electronic image stored on a computer using Photoshop software. Sketches were drawn on the carrier sheet in approximate register using the plotter and conventional tapes. FLEXCOR® 155 photocurable elements of the respective dimensions were cut and back-exposed for 16 seconds in a FLEX-LIGHT® model 5280 exposure unit (Polyfibron Technologies, Inc.). These elements were then mounted on the carrier sheet on the respective dimensional sketches. The assembly of the elements on the carrier sheet was carried out using an adhesive tape on both sides. The cover sheets were removed from the assembled elements and the composite plate was placed in the plotter. A stored negative image was sent to the plotter from the computer and printed on the plate at 600 dots per inch using U-53M ink. The thickness of the extended ink (approximately 0.0245) of the 50 μm orifice head was sufficient to block approximately 87 percent of the ultraviolet light used during the subsequent cure. The software allowed to print the negative image only in those areas that had the assembled elements. Very accurate recording was carried out by the computer that controls the inkjet plotter. The carrier carrying the photocurable elements formed in image, mounted, was exposed to ultraviolet light in the FLEX-LIGHT® brand exposure unit for 15 minutes. The composite plate was processed by applying a continuous supply of SOLVIT® brand solvent (Polyfibron Technologies, Inc.) at the same time that the uncured polymer was brushed from the plate in the FLEX-LIGHT® 5280 processor, serial number 017 online for six minutes. The adhesive tape on both sides withstood the solvent during processing. The carrier was dried and post-exposed in a dryer marked FLEX-LIGHT® Dryer 5280, serial number 017 and finishing unit. The carriers that carried elements of image formation negatively were mounted in a drum of circumference of 91.44 centimeters, the elements are already in the registry. Conventional printing ink was applied to the negative relief surface, and the surface was contacted with the sheet of paper to produce a high quality positive image. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous changes and modifications can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention and that these changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all of these equivalent variations by including them within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (37)

1. A method for preparing a composite printing plate, comprising the steps of: providing at least one substantially flat photocurable element having a first and second opposed major faces of defined surface area; arranging a first face of the photocurable element on a first face of the substantially planar carrier sheet having first and second opposed major faces of defined surface area; and ejecting an ink that is negative from an ink jet print head onto the second face of the photocurable element, the ink being substantially opaque to the actinic radiation in at least one region of effective wavelength to cure the photocurable material within the element and substantially resistant to polymerization after exposure to actinic radiation in said wavelength region.

The method of claim 1 wherein the second side of the photocurable element is a layer of photocurable material.

The method of claim 1 wherein the second face of the photocurable element is a transparent protective layer disposed on a layer of photocurable material.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the photocurable material is disposed on a support layer.

The method of claim 1 wherein the photocurable material comprises an elastomeric compound, an ethylenically unsaturated compound having at least one terminal ethylenic group, and a photoinitiator.

The method of claim 1 wherein the element is disposed on the carrier sheet by the use of an adhesive.

The method of claim 1 wherein the actinic radiation is ultraviolet light.

The method of claim 1 wherein the wavelength region is from about 300 to about 400 nm.

The method of claim 1 wherein the ink is ejected from the print head by activating control means electrically coupled with the print head.

The method of claim 1 further comprising transferring registration information to the first face of the carrier sheet prior to the arrangement of the photocurable element on the first face of the carrier sheet.

The method of claim 10 wherein the registration information is transferred by arranging a visually perceptible material on the first face of the carrier sheet.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the material is disposed using an ink jet printer.

The method of claim 10 wherein the registration information is transferred by scratching the first face of the carrier sheet.

The method of claim 10 wherein the registration information is transferred by shining light on the first face of the carrier sheet.

The method of claim 10 wherein the photocurable element is disposed on the first face of the carrier sheet in accordance with the registration information.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the registration information comprises an image that corresponds to the contour of at least one photocurable element.

The method of claim 16 wherein the registration information comprises a rectilinear image having a shape corresponding to the contour.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the registration information comprises an elliptical image having a shape corresponding to the contour.

The method of claim 10 wherein the registration information comprises an image corresponding to a portion of the contour of at least one photocurable element.

The method of claim 19 wherein the registration information comprises perpendicular lines having a shape corresponding to a portion of the contour.

The method of claim 19 wherein the registration information comprises an arc having a corresponding shape to a portion of the contour.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising exposing the first face of the photocurable element to actinic radiation for a time and under conditions effective to cure the photocurable material.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the photocurable element has a side surface extending between the first and second faces.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the side surface meets the second face at an angle of 90 °.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the side surface meets the second face at an angle greater than 90 °.

The method of claim 23 further comprising applying to the side surface a material that is substantially opaque to actinic radiation in at least one wavelength region effective to cure the photocurable material and substantially polymerization resistant after the exposure to actinic radiation in the wavelength region.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of tapes, ink, and powders.

The method of claim 1 further comprising exposing the second face of the photocurable element to actinic radiation in the wavelength region for a time and under conditions effective to cure the exposed areas of the photocurable material.

29. The method of claim 28 which further comprises removing uncured photocurable material from the photocurable element.

30. A composite printing plate comprising at least one photocurable element disposed on a first surface of a substantially planar carrier sheet, including the photocurable element: a support layer; photocurable material disposed on the support layer; and negative forming ink disposed on the photocurable material, the ink being substantially opaque to the actinic radiation in at least one wavelength effective region for curing the photocurable material and substantially polymerization resistant after exposure to actinic radiation in the wavelength region.

31. The composite plate of claim 30 wherein the carrier sheet is a polyester film.

32. The composite plate of claim 30 further comprising an adhesive disposed between the photocurable element and the carrier sheet.

33. The composite plate of claim 30 wherein the photocurable material comprises a plurality of layers.

34. The composite plate of claim 30 wherein the photocurable material comprises an elastomeric compound, an ethylenically unsaturated compound having at least one terminal ethylenic group, and a photoinitiator.

35. The composite plate of claim 30 wherein the ink comprises 2, 2 ', 4, 4' -tetrahydroxybenzophenone.

36. The composite plate of claim 30 further comprising a transparent protective layer disposed over the photocurable material between the ink and the photocurable material.

37. The composite plate of claim 30 further comprising an adhesive layer disposed between the support layer and the carrier sheet.