A Non-Silver Dry-Processed Graphic Arts Film

A new non-silver dry-processed graphic arts film is described. The new film contains a monolayer of submicron-sized selenium particles embedded in a polymer matrix. Film processing involves brief heating of the film which reduces the viscosity of the polymer matrix to allow the exposed charged selenium particles to migrate in depth to yield a high-resolution optical image. By eliminating the wet chemical processing of conventional silver films, the new materials provide an environmental friendly alternative for many graphic arts applications. This paper discusses the materials, the imaging processes, their imaging properties as well as their plate-making and printing characteristics.