Three Dimensional Topographic Characterization of Lithographic Printing Plates

Surface characterization of lithographic printing plates is of crucial importance in defining the lithographic printing process. Historically techniques for characterization, e.g. conventional profilometry, electron and optical microscopy, have not provided sufficient information to model the lithographic process. It is the purpose of this paper to extend topographic characterization over a range of scale from macroscopic to microscopic to nanoscopic. The technologies employed include scanning mechanical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Two dimensional and three dimensional pictures of different grained litho plates which fully describe mechanical roughness, water carrying capacity, true surface area will be described. These detailed pictures should provide significant data towards modelling performance of lithoplates on press.