Abstract: An ink jet printing method having the steps of: A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element having a support having thereon an image-receiving layer of porous polymeric particles in a polymeric binder, the polymeric binder being poly(vinyl alcohol) having a degree of hydrolysis of at least about 95% and having a number average molecular weight of at least about 45,000; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition; and D) printing on the ink jet recording element using the inkjet ink composition in response to the digital data signals.

Abstract: A self-contained photohardenable imaging assembly comprising in order: a first transparent support; an imaging layer comprising a developer material and a plurality of photohardenable microcapsules encapsulating a color precursor, and a second support, wherein an intermediate resilient layer is place beneath at least one support and above said imaging layer, which intermediate resilient layer has a thickness of 10 to 50 microns and comprises a relatively resilient material compared to the one support. The imaging assembly has been found to provide better image quality and more consistence sensitometric response to pressure development.

Abstract: The present invention is a photographic element which includes a support, at least one silver-halide emulsion layer superposed on the support and a processing-solution-permeable overcoat overlying the silver-halide emulsion layer that becomes water-resistant in the final product, without requiring lamination or fusing. The presence, in the coating composition, of a compound comprising a blocked copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide has been found to improve wet durability, prevent the retention of iron, and improve the conversion of the overcoat to a water-resistant layer during processing. The present invention is also directed to a method of making a photographic print involving developing the photographic element.

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: A method of providing an image in an imagewise exposed photographic silver halide material comprising at least one silver halide emulsion layer, which method comprises developing the silver halide and fixing the remaining silver halide by contacting it with a molten composition comprising a silver halide complexing agent which is present in sufficient amount to render the silver halide substantially clear. The photographic silver halide material may comprise at least one silver halide emulsion layer on a support wherein the material also comprises a layer of a composition comprising a silver halide complexing agent which is liquefiable by heat and which, when molten, is in reactive association with the silver halide. The image formed may be scanned to produce an electronic rendition of the image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biocidal material containing a specific mixture of a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic biocides, dispersed in a water-permeable matrix. The invention further concerns a method that uses the biocidal material of the invention to prevent microorganisms from growing in an aqueous solution in which such microorganisms are liable to grow.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of scanning silver-halide-containing color photographic and photothermographic film. In particular, the present invention comprises a photographic element comprising at least one infrared imaging dye-forming agent in a blue-sensitive color layer of the element, thereby forming at least one image record in the infrared region of the imagewise exposed and developed element. This expedient leads to the formation of high quality images when scanning photographic elements in which the silver halide, metallic silver, and/or any organic silver salts have not been removed.

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: The present invention is directed to a photothermographic element comprising at least one imaging layer with a pyrrolotriazole coupler and a developing agent, or precursor thereof, the combination of which is capable of forming an image record in the infrared region of the light spectrum in response to a selected hue of visible light. This expedient leads to the formation of high quality images, especially when scanning photothermographic elements in which the silver halide, metallic silver, and/or any organic silver salts have not been removed. Also disclosed is a method for photothermographically forming a developed image comprising an infrared image record.

Abstract: This invention involves use of ionic liquids as addenda in a photothermographic system. The presence of an ionic liquid was found to increase image density. A preferred ionic liquid comprises an organic cation associated with a suitable anion, which ionic liquid melts at a temperature of 50° C. or less.

Abstract: The present invention is a photographic element which includes, in order, a transparent support, at least one silver halide emulsion layer superposed on the support, optionally a white or diffuse reflective layer, and a processing-solution-permeable protective layer on the backside, which protective layer becomes water-resistant in the final product without lamination or fusing. The present invention is also directed to a method of making a photographic print involving developing the photographic element. The resulting print is viewed through the support, which provides protection against scratches and stains, while the polymeric overcoat provides water and stain protection to the reverse of the print where minor scratches or damage are not critical, since the image is not viewed from this side. Thus, this invention provides for a tough, stain resistant and transparent viewing surface and a stain resistant back side, which is permeable to processing solutions.

Abstract: A process for making an optical compensator comprising the steps of coating a photo-alignable resin in a solvent onto a substrate; drying the resin-containing coating to form a orientable layer; heat treating the orientable layer before and/or after orientation, orienting the orientable layer in a predetermined direction; coating an anisotropic liquid crystal compound in a solvent carrier onto the orientation layer; drying the anisotropic layer. In a preferred embodiment, these steps are repeated so that the optical axis of a first anisotropic layer is positioned orthogonally relative to the respective optical axis of a second anisotropic layer about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a photothermographic element comprising silver halide, a blocked developer, a coupler, and core/shell particles, each such particle comprising a mixture of at least two non-photosensitive organic silver salts, which particle comprises a center portion comprising a non-photosensitive first organic silver salt and at least one shell portion covering the center portion, the shell comprising a non-photosensitive second organic silver salt. The organic silver salt in the shell has a lower pKsp relative to the organic silver salt in the core. This invention also provides a composition comprising the core/shell non-photosensitive organic silver salt particles, and a method of making the particles.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a color photothermographic film in which particles comprising an organic silver salt is treated with a dye that functions as a passivating agent. In particular, the present invention involves passivating the organic silver salts with a dye that blocks the surface of the organic silver salt or ligand, resulting in a reduction of speed loss. The invention is also directed to a method of making a photothermographic element to improve raw stock keeping.

Abstract: The present invention is an imaging element which includes a support, at least one imaging layer superposed on the support and a protective topcoat superposed farthest from the support. The topcoat includes a binder and lubricant droplets. The lubricant droplets are composed of a lubricant and a water soluble polymer containing heterocyclic aromatic nitrogen groups wherein the droplets are surrounded by a particulate stabilizer. The present invention is also directed to the lubricant droplets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of fine metal particles for the recovery of silver from a silver-bearing photographic waste solution. In particular, the metal particles are encapsulated in a hydrophilic colloid that allows for the permeability of water and silver ions. When contacted with the silver-bearing photographic waste solution, the hydrophilic colloid will imbibe water and swell. At the same time, the silver ions can permeate the colloid matrix and come into contact with the metal particles, preferably iron particles, at which point a metal—metal exchange reaction takes place.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel blocked phenylenediamine developer useful, in reactive association, for enabling, on development, a non-magenta color, for example a cyan color, from a dye-forming coupler. In one embodiment, the developer has the property that the dye color formed with the coupler is distinctly different from the color formed by the same coupler with an oxidized form of the conventional developer 4-(N-ethyl-N-2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methylphenylenediamine. The invention is also directed to a light-sensitive silver-halide color photographic element comprising the blocked developing agent according to the present invention.

Abstract: A color photographic element is disclosed comprising at least three light-sensitive units which have their individual sensitivities in different wavelength regions, comprising at least one imaging layer comprising a light-sensitive silver-halide emulsion, binder, and a yellow coupler represented by the following structure: Wherein COUP is a photographic coupler residue capable of coupling with oxidized color developer to form a first yellow dye L is a linking group selected from the group consisting of —OC(═O)—, —OC(═S)—, —SC(═O)—, and —SC(═S)—, and —DYE is a releasable second yellow dye or yellow dye precursor, wherein COUP is an acetanilide compound that contains one or more electron-withdrawing groups such that the pKa at the coupling site is less than 8.7. Such yellow couplers improve activity and enhance dye densities.

Abstract: This invention relates to 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: This invention relates to a poly(ethylene terephthalate)-based photographic film base having improved properties with regard to cutting, perforating, and other finishing or phototofinishing operations. The film base comprises a material in which a specified amount of monomeric units derived from 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol (CHDM), such that the film base has a specified cutting-related property. The level of CHDM in the PET-based polyester material can be adjusted either by physical blending of polyesters containing CHDM monomeric units or by synthetic incorporation of CHDM monomer units into a PET-based polyester backbone.