Density control through lamination

Abstract

The invention is a process for forming a press proof ( 190 ) by forming an imaged receiver sheet ( 140 ) comprising a first thermoplastic layer ( 240 ) and a first support layer ( 160 ) by disposing an image ( 290 ) with a first density on the first thermoplastic layer ( 240 ) by using a laser thermal transfer ( 220 ); forming a pre-laminate comprising a second thermoplastic layer ( 250 ) and a second support layer ( 170 ); laminating the pre-laminate ( 260 ) to a medium and removing the second support layer ( 170 ) forming a supported pre-laminate ( 270 ); laminating the imaged receiver sheet ( 140 ) to the supported pre-laminate ( 270 ) changing the density of the image to a second density using a temperature that exceeds the glass transition point of the thermoplastic layer ( 230 ) and a speed of between 10 and 40 inches per minute forming a supported color proof ( 310 ); and removing the first support forming a color proof ( 300 ).

1 . A process for forming a press proof comprising: 
 a. forming an imaged receiver sheet comprising a first thermoplastic layer and a first support layer by disposing an image with a first density on the first thermoplastic layer by means of a laser thermal transfer;    b. forming a pre-laminate comprising a second thermoplastic layer and a second support layer;    c. laminating the pre-laminate to a medium and removing the second support layer forming a supported pre-laminate;    d. laminating the imaged receiver sheet to the supported pre-laminate changing the density of the image to a second density using a temperature that exceeds the glass transition point of the thermoplastic layer and a speed of between 10 and 40 inches per minute forming a supported color proof;    e. removing the first support forming a color proof; and    f. forming a press proof with a resolution between about 1000 and about 4000 dpi.    
   
   
       2 . The press proof of  claim 1  wherein the image is a multicolored image.  
   
   
       3 . The press proof of  claim 1  wherein the image is a monochrome image.  
   
   
       4 . A process for forming a press proof comprising: 
 a. forming an imaged receiver sheet comprising a thermoplastic layer and a support layer by disposing an image with a first density on the thermoplastic layer by means of a laser thermal transfer;    b. laminating the imaged receiver sheet to a medium and changing the first density of the image to a second density by heating the imaged receiver sheet to a temperature that exceeds the glass transition point of the thermoplastic layer for a period of between 0.05 and 5 minutes;    c. removing the support layer forming a press proof; and    d. forming a press proof with a resolution between about 1000 and about 4000 dpi.    
   
   
       5 . The press proof of  claim 4  wherein the image is a multicolored image.  
   
   
       6 . The press proof of  claim 4  wherein the image is a monochrome image.  
   
   
       7 . A process for forming a press poof comprising: 
 a. forming a medium having a thermoplastic layer;    b. forming an image having a first density on the thermoplastic layer by means of a laser thermal transfer on the medium forming an imaged medium;    c. changing the first density of the image to a second density by heating the imaged medium to a temperature that exceeds the glass transition point of the thermoplastic layer for a period of between 0.05 and 5 minutes forming a press proof; and    d. forming a press proof with a resolution between about 1000 and about 4000 dpi.    
   
   
       8 . The press proof of  claim 7  wherein the image is a multicolored image.  
   
   
       9 . The press proof of  claim 7  wherein the image is a monochrome image.  
   
   
       10 . A process for forming a press proof comprising: 
 a. forming an imaged receiver sheet comprising a first thermoplastic layer and a first support layer by disposing an image with a first density on the first thermoplastic layer by means of a laser thermal transfer;    b. forming a pre-laminate comprising a second thermoplastic layer and a second support layer;    c. laminating the pre-laminate to a medium and removing the second support layer forming a supported pre-laminate;    d. laminating the imaged receiver sheet to the supported pre-laminate changing the density of the image to a second density using a temperature that exceeds the glass transition point of the thermoplastic layer and a speed of between 10 and 40 inches per minute forming a supported color proof;    e. removing the first support forming a color proof; and    f. forming a press proof with a resolution between about 1200 and about 3600 dpi.    
   
   
       11 . The press proof of  claim 10  wherein the image is a multicolored image.  
   
   
       12 . The press proof of  claim 10  wherein the image is a monochrome image.  
   
   
       13 . A process for forming a press proof comprising: 
 a. forming an imaged receiver sheet comprising a thermoplastic layer and a support layer by disposing an image with a first density on the thermoplastic layer by means of a laser thermal transfer;    b. laminating the imaged receiver sheet to a medium and changing the first density of the image to a second density by heating the imaged receiver sheet to a temperature that exceeds the glass transition point of the thermoplastic layer for a period of between 0.05 and 5 minutes;    c. removing the support layer forming a press proof; and    d. forming a press proof with a resolution between about 1200 and about 3600 dpi.    
   
   
       14 . The press proof of  claim 13  wherein the image is a multicolored image.  
   
   
       15 . The press proof of  claim 13  wherein the image is a monochrome image.  
   
   
       16 . A process for forming a press poof comprising: 
 a. forming a medium having a thermoplastic layer;    b. forming an image having a first density on the thermoplastic layer by means of a laser thermal transfer on the medium forming an imaged medium;    c. changing the first density of the image to a second density by heating the imaged medium to a temperature that exceeds the glass transition point of the thermoplastic layer for a period of between 0.05 and 5 minutes forming a press proof; and    d. forming a press proof with a resolution between about 1200 and about 3600 dpi.    
   
   
       17 . The press proof of  claim 16  wherein the image is a multicolored image.  
   
   
       18 . The press proof of  claim 16  wherein the image is a monochrome image.