Abstract: A high-contrast room-light-handleable black-and-white photographic element is comprised of a support having on one side thereof a silver halide emulsion layer and having, on the same side of the support as the silver halide emulsion layer, both a filter dye layer in which the dye is immobile and a matte layer comprised of a matting agent dispersed in a hydrophilic colloid that serves as a binder. In this element, the filter dye layer serves to provide uniform filtering of incident light, while the matte layer provides a rough surface which facilitates rapid vacuum draw-down during contact exposure.