Process for preparing relief images in imaged irradiated light-sensitive material having acid-cleavable compound by hot air treatment, overall irradiation and alkaline development

Claim 2

A process for preparing relief images, comprising the steps of: imagewise irradiating a light-sensitive material comprised of a support and a light-sensitive layer which consists essentially of (a) a compound which has at least one C--O--C bond which is cleavable by acid; (b) a compound which forms a strong acid on irradiation, and (c) a binder which is insoluble in water and soluble in aqueous-alkaline solutions to produce imaged and non-imaged areas; warming the irradiated material in heated air to an elevated temperature sufficient to render the imaged areas resistant to developing; bringing the material to a lower temperature; uniformly irradiating the entire area of the layer; and selectively developing the non-imaged areas from the imagewise irradiating step.

Claim 3

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material is warmed to a temperature of from about 80° to 150° C.

Claim 4

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material is warmed for a period of from about 1 to 30 minutes.

Claim 5

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said acid-cleavable compound (a) comprises an orthocarboxylic acid derivative, an acetal, an enol-ether or an N-acyliminocarbonate.

Claim 6

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said binder (c) comprises a novolak.

Claim 7

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-sensitive layer further comprises at least one resin having solubility properties which differ from those of the binder (c).

Claim 8

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the developing step comprises applying an aqueous-alkaline developer solution.

Claim 9

A process for preparing relief images, comprising the steps of: imagewise irradiating, according to a first pattern, a light-sensitive material comprised of a support and a light-sensitive layer which consists essentially of (a) a compound which has at least one C--O--C bond which is cleavable by acid, (b) a compound which forms a strong acid on irradiation, and (c) a binder which is soluble in water and soluble in aqueous-alkaline solutions, developing the irradiated layer to produce bared areas in the regions of irradiation; modifying said bared areas to provide a metal surface; before or after said modification, imagewise irradiating the remaining areas of the layer according to a second pattern; warming the irradiated material in heated air to an elevated temperature sufficient to render the imaged areas resistant to developing; bringing the material to a lower temperature; uniformly irradiating said remaining layer areas; and after said modification, developing said remaining layer areas to remove the non-irradiated areas of said second imagewise irradiation.

Claim 10

A process for preparing relief images, comprising the steps of: imagewise irradiating, according to a first pattern, a light-sensitive material comprised of a support and a light-sensitive layer which consists essentially of (a) a compound which has at least one C--O--C bond which is cleavable by acid, (b) a compound which forms a strong acid on irradiation, and (c) a binder which is soluble in water and soluble in aqueous-alkaline solutions, developing the irradiated layer to produce bared areas in the regions of irradiation; modifying said bared areas to provide a metal surface; before or after said modification, imagewise irradiating the remaining areas of the layer according to a second pattern; warming the irradiated material in heated air to an elevated temperature sufficient to render the imaged areas resistant to developing; bringing the material to a lower temperature; uniformly irradiating said remaining layer areas; and after said modification, developing said remaining layer areas to remove the non-irradiated areas of said second imagewise irradiation.

Claim 11

A process as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pattern used in the first imagewise irradiation comprises the pattern for the second imagewise irradiation, which is partially covered.

Claim 12

A process as claimed in claim 2, wherein said temperature is between about 100° and about 130° C.