Abstract: A polymeric latex to load photographically useful compounds into photographic elements comprises, as a dispersed phase, fine particles of a hydrophobic polymer which, for at least 70% of its weight, comprises:(a) repeating units derived from an ethylenic monomer containing a sulfonic or sulfonate group which monomer is capable of forming hydrophilic homopolymers, said units comprising 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of said hydrophobic polymer,(b) repeating units derived from an N-3-oxo-alkyl-substituted acrylamide, said units comprising from 5 to 25% by weight of said hydrophobic polymer, and(c) repeating units derived from acrylic acid ester monomers having a TG lower than 0.degree. C., said units comprising at least 43.5% by weight of said hydrophobic polymer,the remaining polymer weight percentage, from zero to 30%, being formed by repeating units derived from inert monomers and/or cross-linking monomers.

Abstract: A matt surface can be provided on a photographic material comprising a support base, one or more light-sensitive gelatin silver halide emulsion layers and an outer non-light-sensitive gelatin layer coated on said layers if discrete particles, insoluble in water and substantially soluble in aqueous alkaline medium, of a carboxyl group containing copolymer are introduced into said outer layer. The particles, of a diameter between 0.5 and 4 micron, are introduced into the coating composition of the outer layer as a dispersion of a methacrylic acid and ethylmethacrylate copolymer containing 20 to 50 percent by weight of methacrylic acid, which dispersion is obtained by dispersing in an aqueous solution of a hydrophilic colloid a solution of said copolymer in ethylacetate or water-including ethylacetate.