Abstract: A color-forming composition contains (A) a radical generator, (B) a compound represented by the following formula (1) and (C) a binder polymer: wherein, in the formula (1), R1 represents a group which reacts with a radical generated from the radical generator (A) to be released and forms a dye after the release, and T represents a nitrogen-containing hetero ring.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for preparing a relief printing form from a photosensitive element that includes a photopolymerizable composition layer having an exterior surface and capable of being partially liquefied. The method includes the steps of (a) heating the exterior surface of the photopolymerizable composition layer to a temperature sufficient to cause a portion of the layer to liquefy, forming the liquefied material; and (b) removing the liquefied material; wherein the heating step is performed using vibrationally-induced frictional energy.

Abstract: A method of processing a photothermographic material by a thermal processor is disclosed, wherein the photothermographic material comprises on one side of a support a light-sensitive layer containing an organic silver salt, silver halide grains, a binder and a reducing agent and a light-insensitive layer and on the other side of the support a back coating layer; the thermal processor uses a transport system in which a feed roller is disposed with being in contact with a bundle of plural stacked film sheets of the photothermographic material so as to feed the uppermost film sheet of the bundle of film sheets through rotation of the feed roller to expose and develop the fed film sheet; the light-insensitive layer or the back coating layer contains a lubricant having a mass average molecular weight of 550 or more.

Abstract: An image forming method comprising the steps of: (1) applying a laser beam to a heat developable photosensitive material with a scanning exposure part comprising a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror, and an imaging lens formed of a resin, the imaging lens comprising at least one of an f? lens and a cylindrical lens, and (2) thermally developing the exposed imaging material to record an image, wherein the heat developable photosensitive material is provided on a support with a photosensitive layer, comprising an organic silver salt, a silver halide, a binder and a reducing agent on a support, and the reducing agent is a compound represented by following Formula (RD1):

Abstract: A thermal developing apparatus for thermally developing a latent image formed on a thermal developing recording material by a thermal developing portion, the apparatus comprising: a heating unit that heats the thermal developing recording material carried to the thermal developing portion, the heating unit comprising a plurality of heating portions that are aligned in a direction that intersects orthogonally with a carrying direction of the thermal developing recording material; and a plurality of temperature measuring portions that measure temperatures of the plurality of heating portions respectively, each of said plurality of temperature measuring portions being arranged to measure a center portion of a temperature distribution in each of said plurality of heating portions.

Abstract: A photothermographic material having a Dmin and Dmax optical density. The material includes a support having hereon one or more thermally-developable imaging layers which are developable to produce an image when the photothermographic material is thermally processed; and an area disposed along a length of at least one edge of the photothermographic material, wherein the area has an optical density less than the Dmax and greater than the Dmin of the photothermographic material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photothermographic material having, on at least one side of a support, an image forming layer including at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent for silver ions, and a binder, and at least one non-photosensitive layer, wherein: 1) a mean grain size of the photosensitive silver halide is from 10 nm to 40 nm in terms of equivalent circular diameter, and a number of coated grains thereof is from 550 grains/?m2 to 10000 grains/?m2; and 2) the photothermographic material includes a fluorocarbon compound represented by the following formula (FC-1), (FC-2), or (FC-3). A photothermographic material and an image forming method which exhibit improved coated surface state and high quality are provided.

Abstract: A photothermographic material including, on at least one surface of a support, at least a photosensitive silver halide containing a silver iodide at 40 mol % or more, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, and a reducing agent, wherein the photothermographic material contains two or more kinds of the reducing agent at the mixing ratio to satisfy at least one of a), b), c) and d): a) a difference between a sensitivity or b) a difference between a maximum density is 0.10 or less, when developed at 120° C. for 10 sec and a sensitivity when developed at 120° C. for 14 sec; c) a difference between a sensitivity or d) a difference between a maximum density is 0.10 or less, when developed at 117° C. for 12 sec and a sensitivity when developed at 123° C. for 12 sec. An image forming method using the photothermographic material is also provided.

Abstract: A heater includes: a hollow tube sealed hermetically and reduced in pressure, the interior of the hollow tube being divided by at least one partition wall into a plurality of regions arranged side by side in a longitudinal direction of the tube; an electron source provided in each of the divided regions, the electron source being supported inside the hollow tube in an electrically insulated state from the hollow tube; a power supply that applies a voltage between the hollow tube and the electron source with the electron source as a negative polarity side; and the electron source emitting electrons toward an inner periphery surface of the hollow tube to heat the hollow tube.

Abstract: A method of forming an image using a photothermographic material containing a support having thereon an image forming layer which contains an organic silver salt, silver halide grains, a binder and a reducing agent, the method including the steps of: imagewise exposing the photothermographic material to light to form a latent image; and simultaneously or sequentially heating the exposed photothermographic material to develop the latent image, wherein at least two matting agents are contained on one surface of the support, and an average particle size LA of Matting agent A and an average particle size LB of Matting agent B satisfy the following relationship: 1.5?LB/LA?6.0, provided that Matting agent A is the matting agent having a largest weight ratio; and Matting agent B is the matting agent having a second largest weight ratio.

Abstract: A method of forming an image comprising the steps of: (a) exposing a photothermographic material comprising a support having thereon an image forming layer comprising organic silver salt grains, silver halide grains, a reducing agent, a development accelerator and a binder, the image forming layer being formed by application of a coating composition comprising more than 30% water as a solvent of the coating composition, and (b) conducting thermal development of the exposed photothermographic material employing a thermal developing device at a distance of 0 to 50 cm between an exposing section and a developing section to obtain a maximum density of 3.8 to 5.0 of the photothermographic material after the thermal development.

Abstract: A heat-developable photosensitive material comprising a support, providing thereon, an organic silver salt, silver halide, a binder and a reducing agent, wherein a value of Rz(E)/Rz(B) is from 0.1 to 0.7 in which Rz(E) is the ten-point average roughness of the outermost surface of the image forming layer side and Rz(B) is the ten-point average roughness of the outermost surface of the side of the support opposite to the side of the image forming layer.

Abstract: A thermally developable photographic material containing a support, provided thereon: (i) a photosensitive layer containing photosensitive silver halide particles, and (ii) a layer containing at least one represented by formula below on one or both surfaces of the support

Abstract: An image forming method comprising by imagewise exposing a photothermographic material comprising at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent, and a binder, on at least one surface of a support, and thermally developing the photothermographic material at a line speed of 20 mm/sec or higher using an image forming apparatus, wherein the reducing agent is a bisphenol compound which has at a meso-position a substituent with ring structure or a substituent having an unsaturated bond.

Abstract: A method of forming an image using a photothermographic material containing a support having thereon an image forming layer which contains an organic silver salt, silver halide grains, a binder and a reducing agent, the method including the steps of: imagewise exposing the photothermographic material to light to form a latent image; and simultaneously or sequentially heating the exposed photothermographic material to develop the latent image, wherein at least two matting agents are contained on one surface of the support, and an average particle size LA of Matting agent A and an average particle size LB of Matting agent B satisfy the following relationship: 1.5?LB/LA?6.0, provided that Matting agent A is the matting agent having a largest weight ratio; and Matting agent B is the matting agent having a second largest weight ratio.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming method including providing a photothermographic material having image forming layers containing at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent, and a binder on both surfaces of a support, imagewise exposing the photothermographic material with a fluorescent intensifying screen, and thermally developing the photothermographic material in a thermal developing apparatus having a heating section, wherein the heating section has at least two heating means and a difference between a sensitivity when the photothermographic material is developed at 25° C. and relative humidity of 75% and a sensitivity when the photothermographic material is developed at 25° C. and relative humidity of 20% is 0.20 or less. An image forming method similar to that described above in which the photothermographic material has an antistatic layer is also provided.

Abstract: In a thermal development method for generating a image from a latent image recorded on an image formation layer of a photosensitive photothermographic recording material, by means of heating the photosensitive photothermographic recording material, a first surface, which is one surface of the photosensitive photothermographic recording material A, and a second surface, which is the remaining surface of the same, are heated; and a total amount of heat applied to the second surface is controlled so as to fall within a range of 100±30 when a total amount of heat applied to the first surface is taken as 100 in connection with the respective total amounts of heat which are applied to the image formation layer from the first and second surfaces and equal to and higher than the development reaction temperature.

Abstract: A heating control method of a heat development recording device includes a heating step in which after start-up of the heat development recording device, a heat development section is heated to a target temperature by a plate heater, a temperature holding step in which after the temperature of the plate heater has reached the target temperature, the target temperature is held for a prescribed time, and a step in which after the target temperature has been held for the prescribed time, the heat development section is set up in the recordable state, wherein after start-up of the heat development recording device, operation history information from the time of the last start-up is collected; and after reaching the target temperature at the time of the present start-up, a temperature holding time is determined depending upon the operation history information.

Abstract: Thermally developable materials including photothermographic and thermographic materials have an outermost backside layer that includes a combination of a polysiloxane and a smectite clay that has been modified with a quaternary ammonium compound. The resulting outermost backside layers exhibit improved abrasion resistance. The materials can also include conductive layers underneath the outermost backside layer.

Abstract: A thermal development apparatus for thermally developing a thermal developable recording material in a thermal development section, the thermal developable recording material having a latent image formed in advance, wherein the thermal development section has: a heating member made of a porous body having a gas permeability, the heating member having a heating surface that is disposed so as to face a surface of the thermal developable recording material; and an air feed unit for feeding heated air to the thermal developable recording material through the heating member.

Abstract: An image forming method for forming an image by exposing a photothermographic material to a laser beam, the laser beam being a laser diode beam having a peak light-emission intensity at a wavelength of 350 nm to 450 nm. The photothermographic material comprises at least a non-photosensitive silver salt, a photosensitive silver halide, a binder and a reducing agent, wherein a silver iodide content of the photosensitive silver halide is 40% by mole or more.

Abstract: A heat development apparatus for heat developing a heat-developable recording material from one surface side by a heating unit, while transporting the heat-developable recording material by a transportation unit, the apparatus comprising: an inversion processing mechanism for inverting the heat-developable recording material discharged from a heating region in which the heat developing is made by the heating unit, and returning it to the heating region; and a transportation route switching unit for selectively switching a route of the heat-developable recording material discharged from the heating region to a side of the inversion processing mechanism or a discharge-side transportation route.

Abstract: A method of forming an image using a photothermographic material containing a support having thereon an image forming layer which contains an organic silver salt, silver halide grains, a binder and a reducing agent, the method including the steps of: imagewise exposing the photothermographic material to light to form a latent image; and simultaneously or sequentially heating the exposed photothermographic material to develop the latent image, wherein at least two matting agents are contained on one surface of the support, and an average particle size LA of Matting agent A and an average particle size LB of Matting agent B satisfy the following relationship: 1.5?LB/LA?6.0, provided that Matting agent A is the matting agent having a largest weight ratio; and Matting agent B is the matting agent having a second largest weight ratio.

Abstract: In a thermal development method for generating an image from a latent image recorded on an image formation layer of a photosensitive photothermographic recording material, by means of heating the photosensitive photothermographic recording material, a first surface, which is one surface of the photosensitive photothermographic recording material, and a second surface, which is the remaining surface of the same, are heated; and wherein a second total amount of heat applied to one surface of the first and second surfaces, the one surface having a larger contact area, is controlled so as to be a value of 80 or less when a first amount of heat applied to the other surface having a smaller contact area is taken as 100, wherein the first and second amounts of heat are total amounts of heat applied to the image formation layer from the first and second surfaces, respectively.

Abstract: In a thermal development method for generating a image from a latent image recorded on an image formation layer of a photosensitive photothermographic recording material, by means of heating the recording material, a first surface, which is one surface of the recording material, and a second surface, which is the remaining surface of the same, are heated; and wherein a second total amount of heat applied to one surface of the first and second surfaces, the one surface being on the side of one unit having a higher heat conductivity of first and second heating units, is controlled so as to be a value of 80 or less when a first amount of heat applied to the other surface is taken as 100, wherein the first and second amounts of heat are total amounts of heat applied to the image formation layer from the first and second surfaces, respectively.

Abstract: This invention relates to an imaging element comprising an imaging layer having associated therewith a compound of Structure I: wherein: the substituents are as defined in the application.

Abstract: Thermally developable materials including photothermographic and thermographic materials having an outermost backside layer that includes amorphous silica particles having a narrow particle size distribution. The narrower particle size distribution provides reduced haze and increased surface roughness that reduces blocking and machine feeding at comparable weight percent. The materials can also include conductive layers underneath the outermost backside layer.

Abstract: The use of metal antimonates at high metal antimonate to binder ratios in buried backside conductive layers of thermographic and photothermographic materials allows the use of thin backside overcoat layers. The combination provides antistatic constructions having excellent antistatic properties that show less change in resistivity with changes in humidity. The thin backside overcoat layer serves to protect the buried antistatic layer.

Abstract: Backside conductive layers with increased conductive efficiency can be provided for thermally developable materials by formulating hydrophilic metal oxide clusters in a hydrophobic environment using low shear mixing conditions. The dry thickness and coating weight of the conductive layer are thereby reduced.

Abstract: Thermally developable materials for thermography or photothermography have imaging layers on one or both sides of the support. Buried conductive underlayers are disposed under these imaging layers on one or both sides of the support, and these conductive underlayers include conductive metal oxide(s) and optionally a smectite clay or lithium salt.

Abstract: Thermally developable imaging materials have an outermost protective layer that is composed of one or more hydrophilic film-forming components. The predominant film-forming component is a positively-charged latex polymer that has cationic groups. The charged latex polymer is present as latex particles that have prepared in the presence of a non-ionic or cationic stabilizer in an amount of at least 0.5% (by weight) that has an HLB value of 7 to 20. The nonionic or cationic stabilizer becomes associated with the latex polymer particles. Both thermographic and photothermographic materials can be prepared with such protective layers.

Abstract: Thermally developable imaging materials have an outermost protective layer that is composed of one or more hydrophilic film-forming components. Between the outermost protective layer and the underlying thermally developable imaging layers is an interlayer containing a film-forming ionic latex polymer other than a carboxy-containing latex polymer. This ionic polymer can be negatively-charged or positively-charged. The ionic latex polymer is present as latex particles that have been prepared in the presence of a stabilizer in an amount of at least 0.5% (by weight) that has an HLB value of 7 to 20. The stabilizer becomes associated with the latex polymer particles. Both thermographic and photothermographic materials can be prepared with such protective layers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming a positive image in a photothermographic film exposed by electrons in a transmission electron microscope to form a latent image in the film. The photothermographic film has at least one imaging layer comprising a potentially negative-working emulsion, but wherein thermal development of unexposed silver salts in exposed areas relative to unexposed areas is inhibited when thermally developing the imagewise exposed assembly, thereby producing a positive image. The present invention is also directed to the processing of the photothermographic film in which a positive image characterized by high speed and discrimination is formed in the film when heated above 150° C.

Abstract: Backside conductive layers with increased conductive efficiency can be provided for thermally developable materials by providing a buried conductive coating containing a lower molecular weight polyvinyl acetal binder (that is, a molecular weight of at least 8,000 and less than 30,000).

Abstract: A black and white monosheet thermographic recording material comprising a support and a thermosensitive element, the thermosensitive element containing a substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt, an organic reducing agent therefor in thermal working relationship therewith, a binder and at least one toning agent, wherein the at least one toning agent is represented by formula (I): wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, an alkaryl, an aryl, a heterocyclic or a heteroaryl group all of which may be optionally substituted; with the proviso that R1 may not be a hydrogen atom if both R2 and R3 are both hydrogen atoms; R2 and R3 are independently a hydrogen or a halogen atom or an amino, amide, ester, carboxy, carbonate, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, alkaryl, aryl, heterocyclic or heteroaryl group all of which may be optionally substituted; R2 and R3 may together represent the atoms necessary to complete a heteroaromatic ring with no more than one nitrog

Abstract: Thermally developable materials such as photothermographic and thermographic materials have a backside conductive layer with increased conductive efficiency. This backside conductive layer is a buried conductive coating and is overcoated with a layer that contains a smectite clay modified with a quaternary ammonium compound.

Abstract: Thermally developable materials such as thermographic and photothermographic materials include a co-precipitate comprising first and second organic silver salts, the first organic silver salt comprising a silver salt of a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound containing an imino group, and the second organic silver salt comprising a silver salt of a mercaptotriazole. The first organic silver salt can be used in the imaging process as a source of reducible silver ions, and the second organic silver salt can be a source of a toning agent. The co-precipitate can be prepared using double-jet precipitation techniques to provide an aqueous dispersion that can be used in imaging formulations.

Abstract: Thermographic and photothermographic materials comprise a barrier layer to provide physical protection and to prevent migration of diffusible imaging components and by-products resulting from high temperature imaging and/or development. The barrier layer comprises a scavenger that is a metal hydroxide or ester. This barrier layer is capable of retarding diffusion of mobile chemicals such as organic carboxylic acids, developers, and toners.

Abstract: An image forming method comprising exposing a heat-developable light-sensitive material comprising a support having thereon at least a light-sensitive silver halide having a silver iodide content of 5 to 100 mol %, a light-insensitive organic silver salt, a heat developing agent, and a binder by means of a scanning optical system having a light source emitting a laser beam having an emission peak between 350 nm and 450 nm to form a latent image on said heat-developable light-sensitive material, heating said heat-developable light-sensitive material to about 80 to 250° C. in a heat development section, and cooling said heat-developable light-sensitive material having been heat treated in said heat development section to or below a development stopping temperature while said heat-developable light-sensitive material is transported in a cooling section.

Abstract: A method for producing a holographic stereogram, comprising the steps of:

Abstract: A photothermographic film and a method for making same is taught. The film includes a support, a photothermographic imaging layer coated on the support, and a complement film generally confining the photothermographic imaging layer between the support and the complement film. The complement film is applied to the photothermographic imaging layer prior to exposure of the photothermographic imaging layer. The complement film retains any volatile materials present in the photothermographic imaging layer generated when thermal energy is applied thereto to develop a latent image exposed on the photothermographic imaging layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photothermographic material comprising a support, a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide having a silver iodide content of 10 mol % or more and a reducing agent and a non-photosensitive layer provided on the support, wherein at least one of the photosensitive layer and the non-photosensitive layer contains a dye showing an absorption maximum in a wavelength range of 350 nm to 430 nm. The photothermographic material exhibits high image quality, superior color tone and superior image stability after development.

Abstract: A silver halide photosensitive material having a substrate, a heat-responsive-discolorable coloring layer and a photosensitive layer coated thereon and having a silver halide, dye-providing compound and a binder, the heat-responsive-discolorable coloring layer containing a heat-responsive-discolorable coloring composition, which is colored at a temperature lower than its discoloration initiation temperature (T) of 60 to 200° C.; which is substantially discolored at a temperature equal to or higher than T; and which does not recover its color once discolored, even when its temperature is lowered to a temperature lower than T again, and the heat-responsive-discolorable coloring composition containing a polymer having a glass transition temperature of 60 to 200° C.

Abstract: Thermally developable materials that comprise a support have at least two backside layers. One of these layers can be a protective layer comprising a film-forming polymer. The materials also includes a non-imaging backside conductive layer comprising non-acicular metal antimonate particles in a mixture of two or more polymers that includes a first polymer serving to promote adhesion of the backside conductive layer directly to the support or other layers, and a second polymer that is different than and forms a single phase mixture with the first polymer.

Abstract: In the processing of thermal films, following processing, negatives are scanned and the resulting image files are digitally manipulated to render a desired output. Since it is desirable to return thermally processed films to a control location for silver recovery, the negatives are not returned to the consumer. In the method and apparatus of the present invention, after processing and scanning, the film or negative can be rendered unscannable by heating it to a temperature that develops the entire film to its maximum density and destroys the images on the film. As a further option, the film can be physically destroyed by use of for example, a shredder or illuminator downstream of the scanner.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method of making a color photothermographic element such as a capture film intended to be developed to yield an image by the application of heat, preferably without the addition of processing solutions. In particular, this invention relates to the annealing of a photothermographic imaging element prior to storage and use. It has been found that the use of such an annealing process improves raw stock storage and hence, the performance of color photothermographic systems.

Abstract: This invention comprises an imaging element comprising an imaging layer having associated therewith a phenolic activating agent in combination with a blocked color-forming agent of Structure I: wherein PUG is a photographically useful color-forming agent, LINK 1 and LINK 2 are linking groups; TIME is a timing group; HET is a heterocyclic group, and the other groups are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: This invention relates to a color photothermographic element comprising an imaging layer having associated therewith a compound of Structure I: wherein DEV, LINK, TIME, n, T, t, C*, R12, D, p, X, q, W, and w are defined in the application. Such compounds have good reactivity as developing agents when thermally activated under preselected conditions. The invention is also directed to a method of developing a color photothermographic element, including dry development systems.

Abstract: This invention comprises an imaging element comprising an imaging layer having associated therewith a compound of Structure I: In the above Structure I, the substituents are as defined in the application. Such compounds have good reactivity and can by used to block photographically useful compounds such as developing agents until thermally activated under preselected conditions. Compounds according to the present invention are especially useful in color photothermographic imaging elements.

Abstract: A photothermographic material having an image-forming layer that contains at least a non-photosensitive silver salt of an organic acid, a photosensitive silver halide, a nucleating agent and a binder on a support, and a protective layer at a position remoter from the support compared with the image-forming layer, which shows a saturation swelling time of 60 seconds or longer in distilled water at 21° C. According to the present invention, there is provided a photothermographic material for photographic art, in particular, for scanners, image setters and so forth, which shows low humidity dependency during development for developed character line width and can secure high image density (Dmax) even in a low humidity environment.