Abstract: This invention contemplates a prepackaged photographic unit containing a photographic element comprising a transparent polyester film support with improved tongue retrieval performance and acceptable cutting performance in photofinishing equipment.

Abstract: A method and system for photofinishing, includes generating a unique roll ID number for a roll of photographic film to be finished; recording customer order information for the roll of film; associating the customer order information with the unique roll ID number in a central computer facility; marking the roll of film with a machine readable version of the unique roll ID number; and reading the roll ID number on the roll of film, and accessing the customer order information from the central computer facility to control a photo finishing operation, whereby the roll of film can be transported to a photofinishing laboratory without the use of an envelope bearing customer order information.

Abstract: A cassette includes a photographic element having a predetermined ISO rating suitable for capturing a plurality of images thereon and identification based on an ISO greater than the predetermined ISO rating. The identification specifically indicates that the photographic element is underexposed and, when developed, is to be processed and printed by a digital print station to correct for the underexposure.

Abstract: The present invention describes an apparatus for removing scratches from a photographic element. The apparatus includes an application device for applying a wax composition to a surface of a moving photographic web; and a buffing device for buffing the surface of the web having the applied wax composition. The present invention is also a method for removing scratches from a photographic element. The method includes the steps of providing a moving photographic web, applying the wax composition to a surface of the photographic web, and rubbing the wax composition with sufficient force thereby removing the residual wax composition to produce a refinished surface substantially free of all defects and scratches.

Abstract: The present invention is a photographic element which includes a support, at least one silver halide emulsion superposed on a front side of the support and an outermost backing layer superposed on a backside of the support. The outermost backing layer is composed of a hydrophobic binder and a hydrophilic binder wherein the backing layer has an advancing water contact angle of 70 or greater and a receding water contact angle of at least 40 less than the advancing water contact angle.

Abstract: The present invention is a composition for removing scratches from photographic elements. The composition includes a solvent, an abrasive particle, a petroleum distillate, hard wax and water.

Abstract: The present invention is an imaging element which includes a support, at least one imaging layer superposed on the support and an antistatic layer superposed on the support. The antistatic layer is composed of a wax particle having a wax phase and a polymer phase, the polymer phase formed from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer free of ionic charge groups capable of forming a water soluble homopolymer and a second ethylenically unsaturated monomer capable of forming a water insoluble homopolymer, and an antistatic agent having an ionic group.

Abstract: This invention contemplates a multilayer, multicolor photographic element comprising a support, a plurality of dye-forming hydrophilic colloid containing silver halide emulsion layers which are spectrally sensitized to different regions of the visible spectrum including at least one blue-sensitive emulsion layer, a green-sensitive emulsion layer, and a red-sensitive emulsion layer wherein the topmost silver halide emulsion layer has a water swell percentage which is greater than any other light-sensitive emulsion layer.

Abstract: The present invention is a photographic element which includes a support, at least one light sensitive silver halide layer superposed on the support, and a protective overcoat layer overlying the light sensitive silver halide layer. The protective overcoat layer includes a hydrophilic binder and permanent matte particles. The permanent matte particles are greater than 80 mole percent isobutyl methacrylate.

Abstract: This invention contemplates a multilayer, multicolor photographic element comprising a support, a plurality of dye-forming hydrophilic colloid containing silver halide emulsion layers which are spectrally sensitized to different regions of the visible spectrum including at least one blue-sensitive emulsion layer, a green-sensitive emulsion layer, and a red-sensitive emulsion layer. Each of the silver halide emulsion layers includes imaging silver having at least 25 weight percent ultrathin tabular grains having a thickness of less than 0.07 microns. One of the silver halide emulsion layers is a topmost silver halide emulsion layer having a water swell percentage which is greater than any other light-sensitive emulsion layer.

Abstract: The present invention is a silver halide photographic element which includes a support, at least one light sensitive silver halide emulsion layer; and at least one light-insensitive protective layer. The light insenstive protective layer includes a hydrophilic binder, a colloidal silver particle and an ultraviolet ray absorbing polymer particle having a mean size of greater than 0.01 .mu.m. The ultraviolet ray absorbing polymer particle contains an ultraviolet ray absorber and a polymer derived from monomer A and less than 10 weight percent of monomer B, wherein monomer A represents ethylenically unsaturated monomers which form substantially water insoluble homopolymers, and monomer B represents ethylenically unsaturated monomers capable of forming water soluble homopolymers.

Abstract: The present invention is a photographic element which includes a support, at least one silver halide emulsion layer, and a light-insensitive protective overcoat. The light insensitive protective overcoat includes a hydrophilic binder and polymer particles having a glass transition temperature of at least 70.degree. C. The polymer particles prepared by the process of mechanically forming oil-in-water droplets having a size less than 400 nm of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having hydrophobic groups, the hydrophobic groups having a logP.sub.(calc) greater than a logP.sub.(calc) of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer by at least 1 unit in an aqueous medium. A hydrophilic colloid is added to the aqueous medium in an amount sufficient to render the polymer partice compatible with the hydrophilic binder. The droplets are polymerized to a size of less than 400 nm.

Abstract: The present invention is a photographic element which includes a support, at least one silver halide emulsion layer; and at least one layer containing a binder and polymer particles. The polymeric particles are prepared by the process of mechanically forming droplets having a size less than 400 nm of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having hydrophobic groups, the hydrophobic groups having a logP.sub.(calc) greater than a logP.sub.(calc) of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer by at least 1 unit, and polymerizing said droplets so that the polymerized droplets have a size of less than 400 nm. The present invention also is a photographic element which includes a support, at least one silver halide emulsion layer; and at least one layer containing a binder and polymer particles. The polymeric particles are prepared by the process of mechanically forming droplets having a size less than 400 nm of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a logP.sub.

Abstract: The present invention is a silver halide photographic element which includes a support, at least one light sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, and an antihalation undercoat layer interposed between the at least one light sensitive silver halide layer and the support. The antihalation undercoat layer includes a hydrophilic binder and an ultraviolet ray absorbing polymer particle having a mean size of greater than 0.01 .mu.m. The ultraviolet ray absorbing polymer particle includes an ultraviolet ray absorber and a polymer derived from monomer A and less than 10 weight % of monomer B, wherein monomer A represents ethylenically unsaturated monomers which form substantially water insoluble homopolymers, and monomer B represents ethylenically unsaturated monomers capable of forming water soluble homopolymers.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a photographic element comprises a support, at least one light-sensitive layer, and a protective overcoat comprising a hydrophilic binder and permanent matte particles, the permanent matte particles comprising a polymer of methyl methacrylate and having a size distribution of a first and a second mode, with the first mode being composed of particles having a mean particle size of from 0.2 to 1.2 micrometers in a coating weight of from 10 to 200 mg/m.sup.2 and the second mode having a mean particle size of from 1.5 to 10 micrometers in a coating weight of from 5 to 150 mg/m.sup.2, the total coating weight of the particle of the first and the second modes being greater than 100 mg/m.sup.2.

Abstract: A photographic element cassette is encoded with format information (CEFI) for automatically configuring a compatible variable format camera in a selected format. According to the invention, the cassette is provided with a camera readable feature encoded with a selected exposure format that automatically sets and maintains the camera for the selected exposure format. A variable format photographic camera is also provided for use with the CEFI encoded cassette, having features responsive to the CEFI code on the cassette so that the encoded format is automatically set and maintained as long as the cassette is in the camera. A method for controlling the exposure of an entire roll of a photographic element with a consistent format in a variable format camera with or without mid roll interruption is also preferably provided.

Abstract: An imaging element comprising a support, at least one hydrophilic light-sensitive layer and at least one protective overcoat layer containing a binder and permanent matte particles, the permanent matte particles having a size distribution of a first mode and a second mode, the first mode being organic particles having a median size of from 0.2 to 1.2 micrometers in a coating weight of from 10 to 200 mg/m.sup.2, the said second mode being particles having a mean particle size of from 1.5 to 10 micrometers in a coating weight of from 25 to 150 mg/m.sup.2, the total coating weight of particles of the first and second modes being greater than 100 mg/m.sup.2.

Abstract: A photographic element comprising a support having a front side and a back side, an image forming layer on the front side of the support, a protective overcoat on the front side of the Support further removed from the support than the image forming layer, the protective overcoat comprising process surviving matte particles in a hydrophilic binder, the matte particles having a Rockwell hardness of less than M90, the back side of the support having a protective overcoat layer, the protective overcoat layer being the layer furthest removed from the back side of the support and comprising a hydrophobic material having a Delta haze less than 30%.

Abstract: An imaging element having a support, at least one light-sensitive layer and a protective layer containing a binder and lubricating particles, said lubricating particles having a volume of at least 0.085 .pi.t.sup.3 where t is the dry thickness of the protective layer.

Abstract: A process for making a photographic film support comprising applying a film forming coating composition containing an antistat agent to a first clear transparent polymeric film to form an antistat layer on the polymeric film and overcoating the free surface of the antistat layer with a second polymeric film having the same chemical composition as the first polymeric film.