摘要 |
<p>The invention relates to a method for producing flexographic printing plates, wherein a photopolymerizable flexographic printing element is used as the starting material, said element comprising at least the following, arranged one on top of the other: a dimensionally stable carrier; and at least one photopolymerizable layer forming a relief, which comprises at least an elastomeric binding agent, an ethylenically unsaturated compound, and a photoinitiator; optionally a rough UV-transparent layer, comprising at least a particulate substance; and a layer that can be digitally imaged. The method according to the invention comprises at least the following steps: (a) generating a mask by imaging the layer that can be digitally imaged; (b) illuminating the photopolymerizable layer forming the relief through the mask, using actinic light, and photopolymerizing the image areas of the layer; and (c) developing the photopolymerizable layer by washing out the non-photopolymerized areas of the layer forming the relief with an organic solvent or by thermal development. Said method is characterized in that step (b) comprises two illumination steps (b-1) and (b-2), wherein in a first step (b-1), illumination is carried out using actinic light having an intensity of ≥ 100 mW/cm2 from a plurality of UV LEDs, and subsequently, in a second step (b-2), illumination is carried out using actinic light having an intensity of < 100 mW/cm2 from a UV radiation source other than UV LEDs.</p> |