Abstract: A method of forming a photographic image in an imagewise exposed high contrast photographic material free from nucleating agents comprising a support bearing a silver halide emulsion layer comprising silver halide grains wherein at least 10% of the silver halide grains are spectrally sensitized and a hydrophilic colloid having a silver:hydrophilic colloid ratio above 1. The method comprises developing the material in a developer comprising an ascorbic acid developing agent at a pH no greater than 10.5, the developer being free of hydroquinone.

Abstract: An RF wireless communication system operating in the presence of a periodic noise environment, includes first and second wireless devices, each such device having: a source of power; a transceiver coupled to the power source, for transmitting and receiving wireless information; a controller/CPU for controlling the operation of the transceiver; means for detecting and mapping the presence of the RF radiated periodic noise; and means responsive to the mapped periodic noise for controlling the operation of the transceiver to communicate with the other wireless device during the quiescent periods of the radiated RF periodic noise.

Abstract: A photographic system includes a photographic film having a unique identification code thereon. An identification tag is included with the photographic film; the identification tag bears a uniform resource locator that includes the unique identification code, and an associated password. The film is scanned after processing to generate a digital image and the unique identification code is associated with the digital image and stored in a digital storage device. A web server connected to the digital image storage device includes a resource identified by the uniform resource locator for accessing the digital image. A database accessible by the web server contains the unique identification code and the associated password wherein the resource is password protected and accessible by use of the password.

Abstract: A method of making a lenticular image product comprising: providing a plurality of frames oriented for viewing in a pre-selected direction; rotating each of said frames to a pre-selected angle relative to said pre-selected direction; digitizing each of said frames to create image elements parallel to said pre-selected direction generating a digital lenticular image by multiplexing said image elements of each of said frames; producing a viewable lenticular image from said digital lenticular image by scanning said multiplexed image elements on a recording element; associating said viewable lenticular image or a representation thereof with a lenticular lens element having an array of lenticules with parallel lenticule axis, said image elements being parallel with said lenticular axis; and creating a viewable lenticular image product by rotating said lenticular lens element so that said lenticule axis are at said preselected angle and said lenticular image is oriented in said preselected direction.

Abstract: A cardboard-plastic slide mount includes a cardboard bottom, a cardboard cover and a plastic brace between the bottom and the cover. The cardboard bottom and the cardboard cover include aligned film windows. The plastic brace is between the bottom and the cover to define a film nest for containing a film transparency.

Abstract: A self-cleaning printer system (400) with cleaning liquid supply (270) and print head cleaning assembly (32) and method of assembling a self-cleaning printer. The printer system (400) comprises a print head (16) defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in one or more ink ejection nozzles (25). The print head (16) also has a surface (15) thereon surrounding all the nozzles (25). Contaminant may reside on the surface (15) and also may completely or partially obstruct one or more of the nozzles (25). Therefore, the print head cleaning assembly (32) includes a roller (190) disposed relative to the surface (15) and/or nozzles (25) for cleaning the surface (15) and/or the nozzles (25). A cleaning assembly control (40) directs sliding contact of the roller (190) with the surface (15) and/or nozzles (25). The print head cleaning assembly (32) is configured to introduce cleaning liquid (300) to the print head surface (15) to facilitate and augment cleaning by the roller (190).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a binder composition including a polymer formed from at least one vinyl type monomer and at least one water dispersible polyester-ionomer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a decorative package comprising a package having adhered thereto a label comprising a transparent polymer sheet, and at least one dye containing layer is on each side of said sheet, wherein there are at least four separate dye containing layers and the dye containing layers comprise at least four spectrally distinct colors.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging element comprising a transparent polymer sheet, and at least one photosensitive dye forming coupler containing layer is on each side of said transparent sheet, wherein there are at least four separate photosensitive layers and the photosensitive layers comprise at least four dye forming couplers that form at least four spectrally distinct colors, and wherein said imaging element is adhered to a transmissive polymer sheet that has a spectral transmissiveness of greater than 15 and less than 90%.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method, comprising 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 comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving layer comprising non-porous polymeric particles in a polymeric binder, the non-porous polymeric particles being present in an amount of at least about 8 parts of particles per part of polymeric binder, and the non-porous polymeric particles having a degree of crosslinking of at least about 30 mole %; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition; and D) printing on the ink jet recording element using the ink jet ink in response to the digital data signals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for developing photographic film and distributing visual prints.

Abstract: A method of making a print head (100) includes forming a body (110) having a closed base (120) and independent fluid containment compartments (220) formed about the closed base (120). A substantially planar piezoelectric transducer (80) comprising a slab (60) of piezoelectric material provides a means of enclosing each of the independent fluid containment compartments (220). Each of the independent compartments has operably associated therewith one of a plurality of first electrodes (20) arranged on a first surface (62) of the slab (60) of piezoelectric material and a portion of a second electrode (22) arranged on an opposite second surface (64). By applying a voltage to the first and second surface electrodes (20, 22) in a predetermined manner induces an electric field in a portion of the slab (60) of piezoelectric material and thereby forces fluid composition through the independent fluid containment compartment (220).

Abstract: A system for producing composite images, includes: a digital image file containing a personal image and image control data related to the personal image; a digital image file containing an image template and image template control data related to the image template; a file containing composite image construction rules and composite control data related to the image construction rules; and an image production system including, a production rule data file, a control module for: receiving a customer order including customer order control data; retrieving the image control data, the image template control data, the composite control data and the production rule data; and generating an ENABLE/DISABLE control signal, and a composite image production module responsive to the ENABLE/DISABLE control signal for employing the personal image, the image template, and the construction rules to produce the composite image.

Abstract: Photothermographic materials have increased photospeed provided by certain organic solvent-soluble thiourea compounds that can be represented by the following Structure I, II, or III: wherein in Structure I, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, allyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heterocyclic groups, or R1 and R2 taken together, R3 and R4 taken together, R1 and R3 taken together or R2 and R4 taken together, can form a 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring, in Structure II, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, allyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heterocyclic groups, or R3 and R5 taken together, R4 and R5 taken together, R1 and R3 taken together or R2 and R4 taken together, can form a substituted or unsubstituted 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring, and in Structure III, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, allyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heterocyclic groups, or R3 and R6 taken together, R4 and R5 taken together, R1 and R3 taken togethe

Abstract: An ink jet printing process for improving the water-fastness of an ink jet image comprising: providing an ink jet recording element having a support having thereon an image-recording layer comprising a cross-linkable polymer of gelatin or acetoacetylated poly(vinyl alcohol) and a mordant; applying liquid ink droplets of an anionic, water-soluble dye on the image-recording layer in an image-wise manner; and applying an aqueous solution of a hardener to the image to cross-link the binder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photographic element comprising a support and a silve halide emulsion layer wherein the silver halide emulsion contains at least one absorber dye and at least one sensitizing dye. The wavelength of maximum absorbance of said absorber dye and the wavelength of maximum sensitivity of the emulsion provided by the spectral sensitizing dye are substantially the same. The emulsion is chemically sensitized with a stable and water soluble AuI) complex. This provides manufacturing improvements, improved detail and sharpness, improved dodging and burning and lower cost without an unwanted increase in heat sensitivity.

Abstract: A method of digital photofinishing including the steps of: producing a digital color image in printing densities of a color image captured on alternative capture photographic media; first mapping the printing densities of the alternative capture photographic media to the printing densities that would have been obtained for reference color photographic media; processing the mapped digital color image with a scene balance algorithm to produce a processed digital color image; second mapping the processed digital color image through a hard copy media characteristic curve to produce a mapped digital color image mapped to print densities of the hard copy media; sharpening the mapped digital color image with a sharpening algorithm optimized to avoid unacceptable artifacts; and digitally printing the sharpened digital color image onto hard copy media.

Abstract: A thermal processing kiosk for processing thermal film provides multiple processing options for a user. The kiosk includes a user control in the form of a touchscreen to permit the user to enter processing instructions and/or information. The thermal kiosk is adapted to accept exposed film for processing and printing in accordance with the processing instructions. In one feature of the invention, a user can prepay for processing of the film at the time of purchase of the film. The pre-paid status can be provided on the film by a marker or identifier on the cassette or the film. This helps to simplify the user interaction at the kiosk when the user submits the exposed film to the kiosk for processing. In further features of the invention, the processing flow in the thermal kiosk can be adapted to provide for rapid processing and the kiosk can include a display to permit a user to preview images prior to printing.

Abstract: Photothermographic materials provide images having improved image stability due to the presence of certain image stabilizing compounds in a silver-containing layer. These image stabilizing compounds are fluorenone, fluorene, coumarin, naphthalic acid imide, pyrazoline, or anthracene compounds. In particular, they reduce image browning that may occur from the presence of various components in the materials.

Abstract: A process of forming a single color, ablation image having improved abrasion resistance having the following steps: a) imagewise-heating, by a laser, an ablative recording element having a support having thereon an image layer having a colorant dispersed in a polymeric binder, which causes the image layer to ablate imagewise, the image layer having a near infrared-absorbing material associated therewith to absorb at a given wavelength of the laser used to expose the element, the image dye or pigment absorbing in the region of from about 300 to about 700 nm; and b) laminating a coating having polymeric particles dispersed in a binder to the surface of the ablative image under heat and pressure so that the particles will fuse into a continuous overcoat layer.