Method for creating surface texture on flexographic printing elements

1. A method of making a relief image printing element from a photosensitive printing blank, said photosensitive printing blank comprising a laser ablatable mask layer disposed on at least one photocurable layer, wherein the laser ablatable mask layer is selectively laser ablated to create an in situ mask and uncover portions of the at least one photocurable layer, the method comprising the steps of:

a) transporting the photosensitive printing blank through a nip formed by a textured roller having a texture on an outer surface thereof and a backing roller, wherein the textured roller contacts the in situ mask and the uncovered portions of the at least one photocurable layer to transfer the texture from the textured roller to at least the uncovered portions of the at least one photocurable layer, and thereafter

b) exposing the at least one photocurable layer to at least one source of actinic radiation through the in situ mask to selectively cross link and cure the portions of the at least one photocurable layer not covered by the in situ mask;

wherein the texture comprises a defined topographical pattern.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the nip between the textured roller and the backing roller is adjusted to a width that is less than the thickness of the photosensitive printing blank being processed.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the nip is set to a width that is less than about 95% of the total thickness of photosensitive printing blank.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the nip is set to a width that is less than about 90% of the total thickness of photosensitive printing blank.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the textured roller is maintained at an elevated temperature.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the textured roller is maintained at a temperature of between about 15 and about 200° C.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the textured roller is maintained at a temperature of between about 35 and about 150° C.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the textured roller is maintained at a temperature of between about 65 and about 125° C.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the backing roller is maintained at an ambient or sub-ambient temperature.

10. The method according to claim 1 , comprising the step of developing the imaged and exposed photosensitive printing blank to reveal the relief image therein.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the defined topographical pattern on the at least one photocurable layer has a surface roughness of between about 50 nm and about 2,000 nm (Ra).

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the defined topographical pattern on the at least one photocurable layer has a surface roughness of between about 100 nm and about 1,200 nm (Ra).

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the defined topographical pattern on the at least one photocurable layer has a surface roughness of between about 300 nm and about 800 nm (Ra).

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the textured roller comprises a matte finish.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the textured roller is in directed contact with the in situ mask and the uncovered portions of the at least one photocurable layer as the photosensitive printing blank is transported through the nip.