Abstract: Mesoionic 1,2,4-triazolium-3-thiolates are silver halide stabilizers and fixing agents. They are useful in heat developable and heat stabilizable photographic silver halide materials and processes. After imagewise exposure of the photographic materials, developed and stabilized silver images are produced by heating the materials. The mesoionic 1,2,4-triazolium-3-thiolates are also silver halide stabilizers and fixing agents in photographic silver halide processing compositions.

Abstract: In an electrically activatable recording element improvements are provided by an electrically conductive interlayer (ECI layer) separating (a) an electrically activatable recording layer from (b) a photoconductive layer or electrical activating means. The ECI layer comprises electrically conductive particles uniformly dispersed in an electrically insulating binder. The interlayer enables imaging with a minimized air gap between (a) and (b). The recording element is room light handleable. The element provides an image by dry development processing or by means of processing solutions.

Abstract: A positive, continuous tone, dye image is produced by means of a dye imbibition imaging element comprising (a) a support having thereon, (b) a cationic mordant layer for an anionic dye, and (c) a sensitized photohardenable photopolymer layer consisting essentially of a photosensitive polyesterionomer. A process for forming a positive, continuous tone dye image in a dye imbibition imaging element, as described, comprises the steps of: (1) imagewise exposing the photopolymer layer of the element to activating radiation to imagewise harden the photopolymer layer; then (2) developing the photopolymer layer by means of water rinsing; and, then (3) imbibing an anionic dye into the mordant layer through the unexposed areas of the photopolymer layer. Alternatively, the process comprises immersing the imagewise-exposed element from step (1) into a bath comprising the anionic dye without the need for a water rinsing step.

Abstract: Oxoindolizine and oxoindolizinium dyes are useful in photographic materials and processes as image dyes. These dyes are formed in unexposed areas of photographic materials, especially photothermographic materials, by the reaction of a photosensitive cyclopropenone with a pyridine compound. Oxoindolizine and oxoindolizinium dyes are alternatively formed by (1) reaction of a photosensitive cyclopropenone with a pyridine compound and (2) reaction of the resulting product with a color forming coupler. The photographic material is imagewise exposed and then heated to a processing temperature to form a dye image. Alternatively, the oxoindolizine and oxoindolizinium dyes are produced by imbibing at least one of the reactants into the photographic material comprising a photosensitive cyclopropenone.

Abstract: In a photographic material for producing a dye image or a dye image and silver image comprising (1) a photographic metal salt, such as photographic silver halide, and (2) a dye precursor, improved images are provided by means of a color-forming para-sulfonamidodiphenylamine dye precursor having one to two sulfonamido groups in positions ortho to the --NH-- moiety separating the two phenyl groups of the sulfonamidodiphenylamine and wherein the sulfonamidodiphenylamine, in oxidized form, intramolecularly reacts to produce a sulfonamido-substituted phenazine dye. An exposed photographic material containing the color-forming sulfonamidodiphenylamine dye precursor is processed to produce a negative phenazine dye-enhanced silver image. Alternatively, the exposed photographic material is processed to produce a positive phenazine dye image.

Abstract: Mesoionic 1,2,4-triazolium-3-thiolate silver halide stabilizer precursors are novel compounds useful in a heat developable and heat stabilizable photographic silver halide materials and processes. After imagewise exposure of the photographic material, a developed and stabilized silver image is produced by heating the element. Mesoionic stabilizer precursors are also useful in photographic silver halide processing compositions.

Abstract: A stain retarding concentration of a phosphine antistain agent or phosphine antistain agent precursor in the undercoat layer of a photographic silver halide element comprising a support having thereon (a) a photographic silver halide gelatino emulsion layer, and (b) an undercoat layer between the emulsion layer and the support, provides reduced stain in the element upon exposure and processing. The photographic element preferably comprises a silver halide developing agent. The photographic element, after exposure, is preferably processed by means of an aqueous alkaline activator bath and then an aqueous thiosulfate stabilizer bath.

Abstract: A dye-forming electrically activatable recording element comprises an electrically conductive support having thereon (a) an electrically activatable recording layer comprising in an electrically conductive polymeric binder, an organic silver salt and a reducing agent, (b) a photoconductive layer separated from (a) by an air gap of up to 20 microns, and (c) an electrically conductive layer on (b), wherein the recording layer (a) comprises in reactive association, (A) a dye-forming coupler, and (B) an oxidation-reduction combination comprising (i) an organic silver salt oxidizing agent, with (ii) a reducing agent which in its oxidized form forms a dye with the dye-forming coupler. The recording element can be room light handleable and can provide a dye image and silver image by dry development processing.

Abstract: In an electrically activatable recording element, such as one comprising an electrically conductive support having thereon, in sequence: (a) a polymeric electrically active conductive (EAC) layer, (b) an electrically activatable recording layer comprising (A) a dye-forming coupler, and (B) an oxidation-reduction combination comprising (i) an organic silver salt oxidizing agent consisting essentially of a silver salt of a 1,2,4-mercaptotriazole derivative, with (ii) a reducing agent which, in its oxidized form, forms a dye with the dye-forming coupler, (c) a photoconductive layer separated from (b) by an air gap of up to 20 microns, and (d) an electrically conductive layer; improvements are provided by means of a polymeric EAC layer (a) consisting essentially of a vinyl addition polymer, such as poly(methyl acrylate-co-vinylidene chloride). The recording element is room light handleable and provides a dye image and silver image by dry development processing.

Abstract: In an electrically activatable recording element, such as one comprising an electrically conductive support having thereon, in sequence: (a) a polymeric electrically active conductive (EAC) layer, (b) an electrically activatable recording layer comprising (A) a dye-forming coupler, and (B) an oxidation-reduction combination comprising (i) an organic silver salt oxidizing agent, such as a silver salt of a 1,2,4-mercaptotriazole derivative, with (ii) a reducing agent which, in its oxidized form, forms a dye with the dye-forming coupler, (c) a photoconductive layer separated from (b) by an air gap of up to 20 microns, and (d) an electrically conductive layer; improvements are provided by means of a polymeric EAC layer (a) comprising a halogen containing polyester, such as poly(2,2'-oxydiethylene:2,2'-dimethyl 1,3-propylene 50:50-2,5-dibromoterephthalate) and poly(ethylene:2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propylene 50:50-2,5-dibromoterephthalate).

Abstract: In a photothermographic element comprising (A) at least one photosensitive layer comprising a photosensitive component, such as photosensitive silver halide or a diazotype photosensitive material, (B) at least one layer comprising a processing agent for the photosensitive component and (C) a separation polymer between (A) and (B), increased preexposure storage stability is provided by a polysulfonamide as separation polymer (C). After imagewise exposure of the photothermographic element, an image can be developed by merely heating the element to moderately elevated temperatures.

Abstract: In a photothermographic silver halide composition capable of being coated on a support comprising a hydrophilic photosensitive silver halide emulsion containing a gelatino peptizer with an organic solvent mixture, a hydrophobic binder and an oxidation-reduction image-forming composition comprising (i) a silver salt of a long-chain fatty acid with (ii) an organic reducing agent, improvements are provided by a solvent mixture comprising a combination of (A) an alcohol photographic speed-increasing solvent which is a compound selected from the group consisting of benzyl alcohol photographic speed-increasing solvents and 2-phenoxyethanol speed-increasing solvents with (B) an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent that is compatible with the alcohol solvent and (C) 0 to 10% by weight of the solvent mixture of such hydrophobic binder.

Abstract: In a dry physical development photothermographic element for a dry thermal silver-dye bleach process wherein the element comprises a silver halide complexing concentration of a silver halide complexing agent improvements are provided when the complexing agent is an organic ammonium chloride, bromide or iodide. After imagewise exposure of the element, a dye image can be produced by uniformly heating the element. Improvements are also produced by providing a dry activator element for producing a dye image in a separate photographic element by means of a dry physical development thermal dye-bleach process, wherein the activator element comprises a support having thereon a layer comprising a synthetic hydrophobic polymeric binder, a silver halide complexing concentration of a silver halide complexing agent, as described, a bleachable dye and a thermal solvent.

Abstract: A heat developable photographic material comprising in reactive association (a) photosensitive silver halide, (b) an image-forming combination comprising (i) a complex of silver with a nitrogen acid selected from the group consisting of imidazole, pyrazole, urazole, 1,2,4-triazole and 1H-tetrazole nitrogen acids or combinations thereof, with (ii) an organic reducing agent, and (c) a polymeric binder, provide developed images without the need for processing solutions or baths. An image can be developed in this heat developable material by merely heating the material to moderately elevated temperatures. Other addenda employed in heat developable materials can be employed with the heat developable photographic materials described.

Abstract: A Te(II) complex represented by the formula: RTeM(R').sub.3 wherein M is lead, tin, germanium or silicon; R and R' are alkyl or aryl is useful in an imaging material to provide a non-silver image. The imaging material can be a photographic material, especially a heat-developable photographic material containing, for example, a photosensitive metal salt other than the Te(II) material or other sources of developable nuclei.

Abstract: An activator-stabilizer precursor which comprises a certain acylhydrazine which releases a base moiety upon being heated to a temperature above about 130.degree. C. provides improved heat developable and heat stabilizable photographic materials comprising, in binder, and in reactive association, (a) a photosensitive silver salt, (b) a photosensitive silver salt developing agent, and (c) a stabilizing concentration of the described activator-stabilizer precursor having an acid portion and a base portion. The heat developable and heat stabilizable photographic element provides essential freedom from visual crystal formation in the processed photographic element. After imagewise exposure, a developed and stabilized image can be produced in the photographic element by heating the element to processing temperature.

Abstract: Improved photographic speed is provided in a photothermographic material comprising in reactive association (a) photosensitive silver halide, (b) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (i) a long-chain fatty acid silver salt oxidizing agent, with (ii) a reducing agent, (c) a synthetic polymeric binder, and (d) a photographic speed increasing concentration of a certain non-dye, thione speed increasing addendum. A developed image having increased photographic speed can be provided in the described photographic material, after imagewise exposure, by heating the element to moderately elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A print-out image can be produced with certain internally photosensitive silver halide materials by a high intensity exposure to provide a print-out image that is resistant to background print-up under ambient illumination. The photographic silver halide material with which the process is useful comprises photosensitive silver halide grains in which the sensitivity sites where a latent image can be formed on light exposure are predominantly inside the grains. Also, at least one electron-accepting compound having a polarographic reduction potential within the range of about -0.8 volt to about -0.01 volt is required on the photosensitive silver halide in the process. The photosensitive silver halide is imagewise exposed to illumination having an intensity greater than about 3 watts per square centimeter. Following imagewise exposure, a print-out image can be observed; if the exposed element is not exposed to ambient light, the print-out image can be intensified by developing in a surface developer.

Abstract: A heat bleachable material comprises (i) at least one hexaarylbiimidazole with (ii) at least one dye, especially an antihalation or filter dye, that is reactive with the product of the hexaarylbiimidazole formed upon heating the material to a temperature above about 90.degree. C. This provides a material that becomes at least 40% colorless within about 20 minutes, typically within about 30 seconds, upon heating to a temperature as described. The dye-containing material is especially useful for antihalation and filter purposes in a photographic element. The material can be a heat bleachable dye layer of a photothermographic element. The heat bleachable dye layer can also be useful in a thermographic element.

Abstract: A photographic speed-increasing concentration of a certain organic photographic speed-increasing electron acceptor provides increased photographic speed in a charge-sensitive recording composite material having an ohmic resistivity of at least about 1.times.10.sup.10 ohm-cm. The charge-sensitive recording material can comprise (a) a first electrically conducting layer in association with (b) a photoconductor layer, (c) an electrically activated recording layer comprising an image-forming combination of (i) an organic, heavy metal salt oxidizing agent with (ii) a reducing agent and (iii) the described speed-increasing electron acceptor, and a binder, and (d) a second electrical conducting layer. This recording material can be room light handleable and can provide a developed image with increased speed by dry development subsequent to electrical exposure.