Process for producing a photomask on a photopolymeric surface

1. A process for producing a photo-mask on a photopolymeric surface, comprising:

providing a photopolymeric surface having been coated with a film, wherein said film is comprised of

at least one active component,

at least one agent selected from the group consisting of a multi-valent salt, an acid, an acidic buffer solution, and a poly-cationic polymer,

at least one wetting agent,

at least one polymeric anti-crystallization agent,

at least one plasticizer,

optionally at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a penetrating agent, a humectant, and a polymer,

and at least one second material which is the same or different from the at least one active component; and

directly printing on said film at least one ink, wherein

said at least one ink is comprised of at least one anionic polymer, the at least one anionic polymer undergoing a first interaction with at least one of the at least one active component, the at least one agent, or the at least one second material, and wherein

the first interaction is a chemical reaction, a physical reaction, or a combination thereof that affects immobilization of a plurality of ink droplets as a corresponding plurality of immobilized ink dots on the film, said immobilization forming a UV-absorbing pattern on top of said film.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one ink is UV-absorbing or comprises at least one UV-absorbing material.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the size and shape of at least one of the immobilized ink dots is identical to the size and shape of the corresponding ink droplet of said plurality of ink droplets.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the diameter of at least one of the immobilized ink dots is up to 200% of the diameter of the corresponding ink droplet of said plurality of ink droplets.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one ink is comprised of at least one first material that undergoes a second interaction, which occurs upon contact of the at least one first material with the at least one second material and produces a UV-absorbing material.

6. The process according to claim 5 , wherein the second interaction is an ionic interaction, a covalent interaction, a complexation, or any combination thereof.

7. The process according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one first material is a material selected from the group consisting of a metal salt, Catechol, and mixtures thereof.

8. The process according to claim 7 , wherein the metal salt is selected from the group consisting of a cobalt salt, a plumbum salt, a potassium salt, a silver salt, and mixtures thereof.

9. The process according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one second material is selected from the group consisting of ammonium thioglycolate, cysteine, sodium sulfide, a multi-valent metal ion salt, and mixtures thereof.

10. The process according to claim 5 , wherein the size and shape of at least one of the immobilized ink dots is identical to the size and shape of the corresponding ink droplet of said plurality of ink droplets.

11. The process according to claim 5 , wherein the diameter of at least one of the immobilized ink dots is up to 200% of the diameter of the corresponding ink droplet of said plurality of ink droplets.

12. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the film is transparent, homogeneous, uniform, and non-crystalline.

13. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the first interaction is selected from the group consisting of solvation, dissolution, gelation, coordination, complexation, electrostatic interaction, acid-base interaction, ionic interaction, covalent interaction, surface interaction, and combinations thereof.

14. The process according to claim 13 , wherein the first interaction is a gelation interaction and wherein said immobilization is due to an increase in the viscosity of at least one of the plurality of ink droplets upon landing on said film.

15. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the diameter of at least one of the immobilized ink dots is from 150% to 200% of the diameter of the corresponding ink droplet of said plurality of ink droplets.

16. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said anionic polymer is selected from the group consisting of acrylic resin and styrene-acrylic resin.