Abstract: A method of providing photoprocessing services utilizes a packaging system in which photoprocessing solutions are distributed from a source of manufacture to a photofinishing site. The packaging system includes a rigid or semi-rigid outer container and at least one internal container. The internal container includes the processing solution, and can be made of a rigid or flexible material. The internal container may be separable from the outer container or may be in the form of an internal compartment that is integral with the outer container. As an option, the outer container can house a further container that is designed to collect waste or spent solution from the photoprocessing site. With the system of the present invention, a designated supplier entity can follow the packaging system through an entire usage cycle of the system.

Abstract: A method of reducing the tendency toward formation of coating non-uniformities in the coating of multilayer photographic elements is disclosed. More particularly, the present invention involves the coating of a non-gelatin coating over a topmost gelatin layer in a photographic element. In one embodiment, a processing-solution-permeable overcoat is simultaneously coated with the emulsion layers onto a photographic substrate, which overcoat becomes water and stain resistant in the photochemically processed product. In the latter embodiment, the overcoat formulation comprises at least one water-dispersible hydrophobic polymer interspersed with a water-soluble polymer.

Abstract: A method of processing a photographic imaging element to obtain a protective overcoat is disclosed, which overcoat provides, in the final product, resistance to fingerprints, common stains, and spills. More particularly, the present invention involves a processing-solution-permeable overcoat that becomes water and stain resistant in the photochemically processed product. The overcoat formulation comprises at least one water-dispersible hydrophobic polymer interspersed with a water-soluble polymer. During development or thereafter, before drying, the water-soluble polymer is removed to a significant extent. Subsequently, the imaged element is dried at an elevated temperature to facilitate coalescence of the overcoat to thereby provide enhanced stain resistance and water-resistance.

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 a porous image-receiving layer comprising at least about 90% by weight of particles and less than about 10% by weight of a binder, the image-receiving layer also containing a nonionic surfactant having an HLB number of less than about 10 in an amount to substantially prevent foaming of the coating composition which is used to coat the support with the image-receiving layer; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink; and D) printing on the porous image-receiving layer using the ink jet ink in response to the digital data signals.

Abstract: A process for forming a silver halide photographic emulsion is disclosed comprising precipitating silver halide grains in an aqueous dispersing medium to which has been added silver and halide salt solutions while agitating the dispersing medium, wherein the precipitation is done in the presence of an antifoamant compound of the formula RO(CH2CH2O)nH wherein R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group containing 10 to 25 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof, and n represents a mean value of from 2 to 4. The antifoamant material may be delivered to the aqueous dispersing medium as a small particle dispersion, made with the same peptizer used for manufacturing the emulsion or another stabilizer. A further embodiment of the invention is directed towards a silver halide photographic material comprising a support upon which is coated at least one light sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, comprising a silver halide emulsion precipitated in accordance with the described process.

Abstract: The present invention is also directed to a method of photoprocessing a photographic imaging element having a processing-solution-permeable overcoat that comprises at least one water-dispersible hydrophobic polymer interspersed with a water-soluble hydrophilic polymer. During photoprocessing, a surface-active water-soluble hydrophilic polymer is leached into a photoprocessing solution. However, foaming due to the hydrophilic polymer in the photoprocessing solution is prevented by the presence of a non-ionic surfactant having an HLB of less than 12.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of providing an imaging element which includes providing a gravure cylinder having an outer surface having a plurality cells. The surface of the cylinder is moved through a coating solution of a film forming organic polymer to fill the cells with coating solution. An imaging element is moved across the outer surface of the gravure cylinder to deposit the coating solution onto the imaging element such that a fraction of the imaging element of from 0.02 to 0.98 remains uncovered with coating solution. The coating solution is dried to form a discontinuous overcoat on the imaging element.

Abstract: A process for forming a silver halide photographic emulsion is disclosed comprising precipitating silver halide grains in an aqueous dispersing medium to which has been added silver and halide salt solutions while agitating the dispersing medium, wherein the precipitation is done in the presence of an antifoamant which comprises a hydrophobic group containing nonionic mono- or di-saccharide compound having an HLB number of between 2 and 12. The antifoamant material may be delivered to the aqueous dispersing medium as a small particle dispersion, made with the same peptizer used for manufacturing the emulsion or another stabilizer. A further embodiment of the invention is directed towards a silver halide photographic material comprising a support upon which is coated at least one light sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, comprising a silver halide emulsion precipitated in accordance with the described process.

Abstract: The present invention is an imaging element which includes a support, an imaging layer superposed on a side of said support and an overcoat overlying the imaging layer. The overcoat is composed of an organic polymer. The overcoat is discontinuous such that a fraction of the surface area of the imaging layer remains uncovered by said polymer, wherein the fraction of area not covered by the said polymer is from 0.02 to 0.98. The present invention is a photographic which includes a support, a silver halide emulsion layer superposed on a side of said support and an overcoat overlying the silver halide layer. The overcoat is composed of an organic polymer. The overcoat is discontinuous such that a fraction of the surface area of the silver halide emulsion layer remains uncovered by said polymer, wherein the fraction of area not covered by the said polymer is from 0.02 to 0.98. In one embodiment, the discontinuous overcoat is a series of parallel stripes.

Abstract: The present invention is an imaging element which includes a support, an imaging layer superposed on a side of said support and an overcoat overlying the imaging layer. The overcoat is composed of an organic polymer. The overcoat is discontinuous such that a fraction of the surface area of the imaging layer remains uncovered by said polymer, wherein the fraction of area not covered by the said polymer is from 0.02 to 0.98. The present invention is a photographic which includes a support, a silver halide emulsion layer superposed on a side of said support and an overcoat overlying the silver halide layer. The overcoat is composed of an organic polymer. The overcoat is discontinuous such that a fraction of the surface area of the silver halide emulsion layer remains uncovered by said polymer, wherein the fraction of area not covered by the said polymer is from 0.02 to 0.98. In one embodiment, the discontinuous overcoat is a series of parallel stripes.

Abstract: The present invention is an imaging element which includes a support, an imaging layer superposed on a side of said support and an overcoat overlying the imaging layer. The overcoat is composed of an organic polymer. The overcoat is discontinuous such that a fraction of the surface area of the imaging layer remains uncovered by said polymer, wherein the fraction of area not covered by the said polymer is from 0.02 to 0.98. The present invention is a photographic which includes a support, a silver halide emulsion layer superposed on a side of said support and an overcoat overlying the silver halide layer. The overcoat is composed of an organic polymer. The overcoat is discontinuous such that a fraction of the surface area of the silver halide emulsion layer remains uncovered by said polymer, wherein the fraction of area not covered by the said polymer is from 0.02 to 0.98. In one embodiment, the discontinuous overcoat is a series of parallel stripes.

Abstract: A photographic element containing a support; at least two contiguous layers, at least one of which is a silver halide emulsion layer superposed on a side of said support; a processing solution permeable protective overcoat containing a urethane-vinyl copolymer having acid functionalities wherein a weight ratio of a urethane component in the copolymer comprises from 20 to 100 percent and a weight ratio of a vinyl component in the copolymer comprises from 0 to 80 percent; a crosslinker for the said copolymer; and a second polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose ethers, n-vinyl amides, polyesters, poly(ethylene oxide), starch, proteins, whey, albumin, poly(acrylic acid), alginates and gums overlying the said at least two contiguous layers; and wherein the ratio of the gelatin to non-gelatin content of the dried layers immediately underlying the uppermost gelatin layer is less than 1.

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 protective overcoat overlying the silver halide emulsion layer. The processing-solution-permeable overcoat is composed of a polyurethane-containing component having acid functionalities wherein the polyurethane-containing component is an interpenetrating network further comprising at least two polymers, including at least one vinyl polymer and at least one urethane polymer. Suitably, a water-soluble polymer is also present in the overcoat. The present invention is also directed to a method of making a photographic print involving developing the photographic element in an alkaline developer solution.

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 protective overcoat overlying the silver halide emulsion layer. The processing solution permeable overcoat is composed of a urethane-vinyl copolymer having acid functionalities wherein a weight ratio of the urethane in the copolymer comprises from 20 to 100 percent and a weight ratio of the vinyl in the copolymer comprises from 0 to 80 percent. The present invention is a method of making a photographic element which includes providing an photographic element having a support, a silver halide emulsion layer superposed on the support and a processing solution permeable protective overcoat overlying the silver halide emulsion layer.

Abstract: The present invention is an imaging element which includes a support, an image forming layer superposed on the support; and an antistatic layer superposed on the support. The antistatic layer includes electrically conductive particles at a 10-60 volume percent and microgel particles. The microgel particles are composed of 25 to about 80 weight percent of an oleophilic monomer, 5 to about 45 weight percent of a hydrophilic monomer, and 0 to 20 weight percent of a crosslinking monomer having at least two addition polymerizable groups. In an alternative embodiment the antistatic layer also includes a binder.

Abstract: A process of washing an emulsion such as a silver halide emulsion which contains a hydrophilic colloid comprises deionizing the emulsion and coagulating the emulsion with an anionic polymer and separating the coagulum from the supernatant and resuspending the coagulum with hydrophilic colloid, water and a base.

Abstract: A photographic element is disclosed comprising a film support, at least one light-sensitive layer, a highly loaded layer which contains more than 30 volume percent of non-film forming particulate material, and upper and lower aqueous coated adjacent layers which are next to the highly loaded layer, the upper adjacent layer being further from the support and the lower adjacent layer being closer to the support relative to the highly loaded layer, each adjacent layer having a film forming binder content of greater than 70 volume percent, and the lower adjacent layer being at least 1.0 micron thick.

Abstract: A photographic element comprising a support, a light-sensitive layer on one side of the support, and on the other side of the support, at least one backing layer and a protective outermost lubricating layer, the protective layer comprising a solid wax and a non-ionic fluorinated surfactant in an amount less than the surfactant's solubility in the wax, said protective layer being coated from a mixture of an aromatic solvent and at least one lower alkyl alcohol.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive silver halide film for reproducing digitally stored medical diagnostic images through a series of laterally offset exposures by a controlled radiation source followed by processing in 90 seconds or less, including development, fixing and drying. The film exhibits an average contrast in the range of from 1.5 to 2.0, measured over a density above fog of from 0.25 to 2.0. An emulsion layer is provided in which silver bromochloride grains (a) comprised of at least 10 mole percent bromide, based on silver, (b) having a mean equivalent circular diameter of less than 0.40 .mu.m, (c) exhibiting an average aspect ratio of less than 1.3, and (d) coated at a silver coverage of less than 40 mg/dm.sup.2. Adsorbed to the surfaces of the silver bromochloride grains at least one spectral sensitizing dye having an absorption half peak bandwidth in the spectral region of exposure by the controlled exposure source.

Abstract: A process for making a direct dispersion of a photographically useful material is disclosed comprising subjecting a mixture of an aqueous gelatin solution, a liquid organic phase comprising a photographically useful material, and an ionic polymer to conditions of high shear or turbulence to form a fine dispersion of the organic phase having an average particle size of less than 0.5 micron dispersed in the aqueous solution; wherein the ratio of the organic phase viscosity to the aqueous gelatin solution viscosity in the absence of the ionic polymer, measured at the temperature of the dispersion forming step, is greater than a value of 2.0, and the ionic polymer is a water soluble or dispersible substantially non-surface active polyelectrolyte which has a molecular weight of at least 10,000 selected from: i) synthetic polymers derived from at least 5 mole % of monomers which contain --OSO.sub.3 M, --SO.sub.3 M, --COOM, or ---OPO(OM).sub.