Lith films and developers were developed in 1931 and advanced by the mid-1960s, In the early 1960s, automated processing of lith films was started using roller transport machines. Trying to adapt the unstable lith developer to a machine resulted in loss of image quality. Since the beginning of the 1970s, several kinds of lith system using a stabilized lith developer or the blend-replenishing method were introduced by some photographic film makers. Rapid-access system combined with high contrast films and a stable Phenidone-hydroquinone developer was born in 1970. This system gives moderatly contrast images suitable for certain types of line and contact work. For other applications requiring the highest contrast and image quality, lith system has been used. Recently, two types of new high-contrast rapid-access system with the image quality of lith system and the latitude of rapid-access system were developed. They have a bright future in the field of graphic arts.

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Films available for pre-press applications processed usually in automatic film processors were of two types for many years; lith and rapid access. The rapid access films, when processed through stable and high capacity developers, give moderately high contrast images suitable only for certain types of line and contact work. Therefore, for other applications requiring the highest contrast and image quality, lith films and developer have to be used. This paper outlines mechanism of Kodak Ultratec System in relations with lith system.

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A new graphic-arts film processing system, “GRANDEX system”, has been developed by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.. The GRANDEX system yields ultra-high contrast high quality halftones, line and contact works in a rapid-access-type developer. Photographic materials for scanner and phototypesetting applications can also be processed in the same developer. Excellent image-characteristcs are obtained through a newly developed technique using a control of hydrazine nucleation process. Merits and specific featuers of the GRANDEX system are briefly described.

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The SAKURA ROYAL TOTAL SYSTEM is a new developing system completed by KONISHIROKU PHOTO IND. Co., LTD. By adopting the epoch-making technology of “SELECTIVE DELOPMENT” which has been originally developed by us, we can achieve “high contrast” like Lith development and “rapid processing”, “processing stability” which are the features of Rapid Access development. This epochal system has been already spreaded and will be main current in the field of photographic developing process, instead of Lith system, in the near future, In this report, we explain the background of development for “SAKURA ROYAL TOTAL SYSTM”, technical theory of “SELECTIVE DEVELOPMENT”, a few opinions concerning Tetrazolium Compounds and the outline of this system.

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Water soluble aromatic diazonium salts have been evaluated as photobleachable dyes for contrast enhancement lithography using a g-line stepper. The diazonium salts used in this experiment are zinc chloride salts of 4-(N, N-dimethylamino)-3-ethoxybenzene diazonium chloride, 4-morpholino-2, 5-di-isopropoxybenzene diazonium chloride, and 4-(N, N-dimethylamino)-2, 5-dimethylbenzene diazonium chloride. An aqueous solution of diazonium salt and polyvinyl pyrrolidone is used as a contrast enhancement material. An improved resist profile is obtained with this CEL material when a g-line stepper is used. Resist contrast is discussed in terms of such optical characteristics as the quantum yield of bleaching and the molar absorption coefficient for the materials. The thermal stability of diazonium salts in an aqueous solution is also examined.

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Sensitivity of azide polymer was found to be improved by addition of both Nphenylthioacridone (TA) and erythrosine (ES). The mixed sensitization effect by both sensitizers was investigated by product analysis of liquid chromatography. It is clarified that both ES and TA in the sensitization of azides are decomposed only by excitation of ES, while ES is stable to light in single addition of ES to azides. The decomposed products of ES and TA were identified as oxidized ES and N-phenylacridone (PA) respectivery. The sensitization scheme of azides by both sensitizers was made clear by the product analysis.

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Poly [p-(p-azidocinnamoyloxy)styrene] (PACS) and 1, 4-bis (p-azidocinnamoyloxy) benzene (BACB) were newly synthesized in order to obtain high photosensitive polymer, which had two photoreactive sites, azido and active ethylenic double bond. P-azidocinnamoyloxy chloride necessary for this synthesis was prepared by the method approximately similar to that reported by Yabe et al., Using this acid chloride poly (p-hydroxy styrene) and dihydroxy benzene were independently esterified in pyridine. Synthesized esters were identified to be PACS and BACB from their IR and NMR spectra. Photochemical behaviour of them was investigated and the following results were obtained: 1) The photosensitivity of PACS containing no sensitizer was about 10 times that of poly (vinyl cinnamate) (cinnamolized; 75%) containing 10 wt% michlersketone in gray-scale method. 2) The photosensitivity of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin containing 25 wt% BACB was about 0.5 times that of the above poly (vinyl cinnamate) system. 3) Disappearance rate of azido group in PACS was faster about 1.6 times tham that of active ethylenic double bond of it when it was irradiated by UV lamp at the initial stage, although in BACB it was faster about 1.1 times. 4) The photosensitive groups of PACS and BACB were preserved without any reaction at the oven temperature less than 100°C when they were heated in the oven for 10 minutes. 5) PACS solubilized (-5wt%) in monochlorobenzene showed a good stability of the preservation without gelation for about 6 months in the refrigerator, whereas BACB in the same state did it for 2 months.

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Advantages of the photo-magnetic polymers are industrial applications to high speed printing and coating of magnetic images on variety of base plates. Photo-magnetic polymers were obtained by dispersingferrites in photo-hardening polymers, and their chemical and physical characteristics were evaluated. In order to achieve photo-magnetic polymers with interesting properties, it is important to improve dispersivility of magnetic materials in photopolymer binders. Ferrites were treated by silane coupling reagents for dispersing in photopolymers. The dispersivility of sample was evaluated by measurment of gloss-values which is related to surface characteristics. The experimental results suppor that vinyl silane couplers are effective to improve dispersivility of ferrites in the polymer binders. Methyl methacrylate (MMA), styren (St) and also comercially available polymer (PP), were tested for trial binders. Their sensitivity characteristics were examined. Electric test signals were able to be recorded and detected for coated samples of the photo-magnetic polymers on PET films. Magnetic hysteresis curves of the samples were measured and fairly good magnetic property was observed.

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