Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optimizing a process of manufacturing a product. In one aspect, the method comprises repeatedly performing the following: i) selecting a configuration of input settings for manufacturing a product, based on a causal model that measures causal relationships between input settings and a measure of a quality of the product; ii) determining the measure of the quality of the product manufactured using the configuration of input settings; and iii) adjusting, based on the measure of the quality of the product manufactured using the configuration of input settings, the causal model.

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: Disclosed is a silver halide direct view multicolor photographic element comprising a green record containing a green light sensitized silver halide emulsion and comprising either (a) a magenta dye-forming coupler and a cyan dye-forming coupler in an amount of at least 0.1 mole % of the couplers present in the green record, or (b) a green record having a coupler or couplers sufficient to provide upon development a Status A red density greater than 0.23 as measured using a green light separation exposure at a Status A green density of 1.0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a silver halide direct view multicolor photographic element comprising a red record containing (1) a red light sensitized silver halide emulsion, (2) a cyan dye-forming NB first coupler, and (3) a second coupler selected from (a) a magenta dye forming coupler in an amount of 2-30 mole % of the total coupler in the red record and (b) a cyan dye-forming coupler having a greater absorption in the green spectra than the first coupler in an amount sufficient to provide a Status A green density in the range of 0.27 to 0.40 using a red light separation exposure at a Status A red density of 1.0. Such an element exhibits improved flesh tone reproduction and good dye dark stability.

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 reflecttive 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: The invention relates to a multilayer photographic element comprising a reflective support wherein the color record 1 adjacent to the support comprises at least one light sensitive layer and a non-light sensitive dye-forming interlayer; and wherein color record 2 above said color record 1 comprises at least one light sensitive layer and at least two non-light sensitive dye-forming interlayers and wherein color record 3 above said color record 2 comprises at least one light sensitive layer and a non-light sensitive dye-forming interlayer; and a top overcoat layer comprising gelatin and ultraviolet absorbing material; and wherein each interlayer is substantially scavenger free, and color records 1, 2, and 3 comprise silver halide grains comprising greater than 90% silver chloride, and wherein the reciprocity characteristics of the silver halide grains are such that for a separation exposure of 1 microsecond and 0.4 sec, at least one color record develops to a density of at least 2.

Abstract: The present invention is a polymer latex that includes polymer particles having a core portion and a shell portion. The core portion contains polymerized hydrophobic ethylenically unsaturated monomers with a water solubility less than 1% at room temperature. The shell portion contains polymerized monomers defined by formula (I) wherein X is O or NH, or NCH3, R1 and R2 are H, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, or C4H9, R3 and R4 are H or CH3, n1 and n2 are integers, n1 is from 1 to 4, n2 is from 1 to 20. The polymer particles having a size of less than 50 nm.

Abstract: An ultraviolet absorbing compound of formula (I) below, and photographic elements containing such a compound as an ultraviolet absorber: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 -R.sub.4 independently is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom such as fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo or a combination thereof; a carbalkoxy group having at least one asymmetric carbon or asymmetric silicon atom; an alkoxy group having at least one asymmetric carbon or asymmetric silicon atom, with the proviso that R.sub.2 or R.sub.3, or both R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are other than hydrogen;A* is a group having a carbon atom directly attached to 2'-hydroxyphenyl ring at the 5'-position which contains at least one asymmetric carbon atom or an asymmetric silicon atom, and;wherein the ultraviolet absorbing compound of formula (I) is a mixture of two enantiomers about the asymmetric carbon or silicon atom of A*.

Abstract: An ultraviolet absorbing compound of formula (I) below, and photographic elements containing such a compound as an ultraviolet absorber: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.4 is a substituted alkyl group, R.sub.4 may be further joined to either L or A* forming a ring and the benzo or phenyl ring shown may be further substituted or unsubstituted;L is a bivalent linking group;p is 0 or 1;A* is an alkyl group having an asymmetric carbon or asymmetric silicon atom, and;wherein the ultraviolet absorbing compound of formula (I) is a mixture of two enantiomers about the asymmetric carbon or silicon atom of A*.

Abstract: Ultraviolet absorbing compounds of formula (I) and photographic elements containing such compounds: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.4 is a bivalent linking group; the benzo or phenyl ring shown may be further substituted or unsubstituted;L is a bivalent linking group;p is 0 or 1;A* is an alkyl group having an asymmetric carbon or silicon atom, and;wherein the ultraviolet absorbing compound of formula (I) is a mixture of two enantiomers about the asymmetric carbon or silicon of A*.

Abstract: Solid particle dispersions of dyes according to the formula: ##STR1## wherein D is selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## are disclosed as filter dyes for photographic elements. In this formula, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are each independently hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy. At least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, or two of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together consist of --O--L--O-- and form a ring condensed with the phenyl ring to which they are attached wherein L is an alkylene linking group. R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, and R.sup.7 are each independently hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aryl. R is a carboxy or sulfonamido substituent, and L.sup.1, L.sup.2 and L.sup.3 are each independently substituted or unsubstituted methine groups.

Abstract: Melt crystallization of a photographic composition containing dispersed particles of a filter dye and dispersed particles of oxidized developer scavenger, in particular a hydrazide or a disulfonamidophenol oxidized developer scavenger, is inhibited by dispersing the oxidized developer scavenger in the composition in the form of particles comprising the oxidized developer scavenger dispersed or dissolved in an organic solvent selected such that the following relationship is satisfied:6.65+10.0 A-1.53 B+0.11 B.sup.2 -0.99 AB.ltoreq.4.0wherein A is the weight ratio of organic solvent to oxidized developer scavenger; and B is the log P of the organic solvent.

Abstract: Solid particle dispersions of dyes according to the formula: ##STR1## wherein D is selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## and ketomethylene nuclei are disclosed as filter dyes for photographic elements.In this formula, E.sup.1 and E.sup.2 are each independently electron withdrawing groups. R.sup.1 and R.sup.6 are each independently R or NHR, where R is aryl. R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently alkyl or aryl, or represent the carbon atoms necessary to form a fused ring with the phenyl ring to which the N atom is attached. R.sup.4 and R.sup.7 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or aryl. R.sup.5 is alkyl. Z represents the atoms necessary to complete a 5 or 6 memebered heterocyclic nucleus. M.sup.+ is a cation. L.sup.1 through L.sup.7 are each independently methine groups. m is 0, 1, 2, or 3. n is 0 or 1. p is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. q is 0, 1, 2, or 3. At least one of R.sup.1 or D includes an aryl ring substituted with a carboxy or sulfonamido substituent.

Abstract: Melt crystallization of a photographic composition containing dispersed particles of a filter dye and dispersed particles of oxidized developer scavenger, in particular a hydrazide or a disulfonamidophenol oxidized developer scavenger, is inhibited by dispersing the oxidized developer scavenger in the composition in the form of particles comprising the oxidized developer scavenger dispersed or dissolved in an organic solvent selected such that the following relationship is satisfied:6.65+10.0 A-1.53 B+0.11 B.sup.2 -0.99 AB<4.0wherein A is the weight ratio of organic solvent to oxidized developer scavenger; and B is the log P of the organic solvent.

Abstract: A direct-positive image-forming photographic material comprises a supporting substrate bearing a light sensitive, nonprefogged silver halide photographic emulsion capable of forming an internal latent image and includes a water-insoluble nucleator. The nucleator is incorporated in the photographic material in the form of a solid particle dispersion to improve the storage stability of the photographic material. The development rate of the photographic material may be increased by use of a developer containing an activator for the nucleator.

Abstract: Solid particle dispersions of dyes according to the formula: ##STR1## wherein D is selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## are disclosed as filter dyes for photographic elements. In this formula, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are each independently hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aryl. R is a carboxy or sulfonamido substituent. L.sup.1 through L.sup.5 are each independently substituted or unsubstituted methine groups, and m is 0 or 1. The dyes of the invention are particularly useful as filter dyes for light in the ultraviolet and short blue wavelength regions of the spectrum.

Abstract: Solid particle dispersions of dyes according to the formula: ##STR1## wherein D is selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## and ketomethylene nuclei are disclosed as filter dyes for photographic elements.In this formula, E.sup.1 and E.sup.2 are each independently electron withdrawing groups R.sup.1 and R.sup.6 are each independently R or NHR, where R is substituted or unsubstituted aryl. R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or represent the carbon atoms necessary to form a fused ring with the phenyl ring to which the N atom is attached. R.sup.4 and R.sup.7 are each independently hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted aryl. R.sup.5 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl Z represents the atoms necessary to complete a substituted or unsubstituted 5 or 6 membered heterocyclic nucleus. M.sup.+ is a cation. L.sup.1 through L.sup.

Abstract: Solid particle dispersions of dyes according to the formula: ##STR1## are disclosed as filter dyes for photograhic elements. In this formula,m is 0 or 1.R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or together with R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 form a heterocyclic ring.R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each H or together with R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 form a heterocyclic ring.A is a ketomethylene residue.X represents a carboxyphenyl or sulfonamidophenyl, or a carboxy or sulfonamido substituent that is appended to an aryl ring that is part of A.

Abstract: Solid particle dispersions of dyes according to the formula: ##STR1## are disclosed as filter dyes for photographic elements. In this formula, n is 0 or 1.R.sub.1 is CO.sub.2 H or NHSO.sub.2 R.sub.2 where R.sub.2 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted aryl.R.sub.3 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted aryl.Z represents the atoms necessary to complete a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic nucleus.

Abstract: Photographic elements comprising filter dyes of the formula: ##STR1## R, R', L, L', L", X, and n are as defined herein are disclosed.