Abstract: A photothermographic material comprising in reactive association (a) photosensitive silver halide, (b) an image-forming combination comprising (i) a silver salt of certain 1,2,4-mercaptotriazole derivatives with (ii) a silver halide developing agent, and (c) a polymeric binder, provides developed images without the need for processing solutions or baths. An image can be developed in this material by merely heating the material to moderately elevated temperatures. The silver salts of certain 3-amino-1,2,4-mercaptotriazole derivatives are particularly preferred compounds. Other addenda employed in heat developable photothermographic materials, such as sensitizing dyes, can be employed with the photothermographic materials described.

Abstract: An improved photothermographic material can be prepared by sequentially mixing the following components: (1) a dispersion comprising a 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, 2-mercaptobenzimidazole, 2-mercaptobenzoxazole or 2-mercaptobenzoselenazole compound and a silver salt of certain heterocyclic thiones with (2) a reducing agent solution, (3) a binder, and (4) a silver halide photosensitive composition containing a spectral sensitizing dye, such as a symmetrical or unsymmetrical thiosulfato substituted benzimidazolocarbocyanine dye. A photothermographic material containing the described components can provide a developed image after imagewise exposure by merely heating the material to moderately elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A heat developable, photographic material comprising, in reactive association, (a) a photosensitive, transition metal carbonyl compound, (b) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (i) a tellurium (II) or (IV) compound as an oxidizing agent, with (ii) a reducing agent, and (c) a binder can provide an improved non-silver image. After imagewise exposure of the heat developable material, an image can be developed by merely heating the material.

Abstract: A photographic material comprises certain dyes that, on exposure, release a species which catalyzes the reduction of silver salt oxidizing agents in the presence of organic reducing agents. The photographic material, after imagewise exposure, is heated or processed in a physical developer to develop the image.

Abstract: An activator precursor, which is preferably an activator-stabilizer precursor, containing a base portion and an acid portion has improved properties when the acid portion is a 2-carboxycarboxamide. The activator precursors are useful in photographic materials which are responsive to heat for processing. The activator stabilizers have improved coating properties and do not release undesirable volatile materials upon heating.

Abstract: A covering power imaging heat developable and heat stabilizable photographic material comprising in reactive assocation (a) photographic silver salt, (b) a photographic silver salt developing agent, (c) an activating concentration of a certain development activator precursor and (d) a polymeric binder, enables an image to develop and be stabilized even though the photothermographic material contains no separate post-processing image stabilizer, and also enables silver image development efficiency of at least 90% when the material is heated to a temperature within the range of about 120.degree. to 200.degree. C. An image can be developed in this heat developable and heat stabilizable photographic material by merely heating the material after imagewise exposure to moderately elevated temperatures. Other addenda employed in heat developable materials can be employed in the described heat developable photographic materials.

Abstract: A heat bleachable layer comprising a benzopinacol and a reducible dye or dye precursor is useful in an imaging element. The heat bleachable layer can be, for instance, an antihalation layer of a photographic element, such as a photothermographic element.

Abstract: Certain radiation sensitive quinone compounds and nitrobenzylidene dyes in photothermographic elements, compositions and processes on exposure to activating radiation, release a species which catalyzes the reduction of silver salt oxidizing agents in the presence of non-light sensitive reducing agents upon heating. The elements, after imagewise exposure, are heated to develop the image.

Abstract: A photothermographic element comprises a combination of certain energy sensitive organic dyes capable of forming or destroying an active spcies upon selective exposure to actinic radiation to give a positive or negative image after heat development of the element. The element also comprises an oxidation-reduction image-forming composition comprising a silver salt oxidizing agent and a non-radiation sensitive organic reducing agent.

Abstract: An activator-stabilizer precursor compound having an acid portion which is an alpha-sulfonylacetate is useful in a photographic composition which is responsive to heat for processing. The activator-stabilizer precursors are characterized in that their acid byproducts have reduced toxicity and volatility and are substantially inert in a processed photographic element.

Abstract: 2-Amino-2-thiazolinium carboxylates and 4,5-dihydro-6H-1,3-thiazin-3-ium carboxylates are activator-stabilizers in heat-developable and heat-stabilizable photographic materials containing photographic silver salts and photographic silver salt developing agents. An image in such a photographic material is developed and the resulting developed image is stabilized by heating the photographic material.

Abstract: In a photothermographic element, composition or process for producing developed images employing processing with heat, a combination comprising (a) photographic silver halide in association with (b) a silver salt of a long-chain fatty acid and (c) a phenolic leuco dye reducing agent for the silver salt of a long-chain fatty acid provides an image in color. After imagewise exposure of the photothermographic element or composition, a color image can be obtained by heating the photothermographic element or composition containing this combination. This combination can be in a diffusion transfer, photothermographic element.