Abstract: A method for the production of a silver image with improved contrast by the development of an image-wise exposed photographic silver halide emulsion layer material with a developer liquid containing a hydroquinone in the presence of an auxiliary developing agent, wherein said developer liquid is applied to said photographic material containing silver halide grains that have been chemically sensitized with organic thiosulphonic acid anions in combination with a gold sensitizer in the absence of thiosulphate ions.

Abstract: A new class of photographic masked stabilizers is disclosed showing following general chemical formula (Ia) or (Ib): ##STR1## wherein X and Y each independently represent N or CR, R being hydrogen or lower alkyl,Z represents a lower alkyl group, a nitro group, a halogen atom or hydrogen, andM represents a positive counterion, preferably an alkali cation, ammonium or substituted ammonium.The compounds are demasked by hydrolysis under alkaline conditions. They can be incorporated in a developing solution or in a photographic material, preferably in the backing layer. They show an enhanced solvability in water compared to the corresponding unmasked stabilizers.A preferred compound is 1-(2-sulphonatobenzoyl)-5-nitroindazole trimethylamine, sodium or potassium salt.

Abstract: A method for high contrast development of an image-wise exposed photographic element comprising a support and at least one silver halide emulsion layer, which method comprises contacting said exposed element in the presence of a hydrazine compound with an aqueous alkaline developing solution which has a pH between 10 and 13 and contains a dihydroxybenzene developing agent a 3-pyrazolidinone or an aminophenol developing agent sulphite ions and a contrast promoting amount of an amino compound characterized in that said developing solution further contains an aprotic solvent corresponding to general formula (I) or (II) : ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkylamino or substituted alkylamino, andR.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each independently represent alkyl substituted alkyl orwherein R.sub.1 together with R.sub.2 represent the necessary atoms to form together with the carbon and the nitrogen atom respectively to which they are attached, a heterocyclic ring, and R.sub.

Abstract: A developer liquid suited for use in development of photographic silver halide emulsion layer materials which liquid contains:1) hydroquinone or a substituted hydroquinone as sole developing agent or said hydroquinone as main developing agent in combination with an auxiliary developing agent in an amount less than 10 mole % with respect to the main developing agent,2) an inorganic compound yielding free sulphite ions in an amount of at least 5 grams per liter,3) an organic anti-fogging agent corresponding to the following general formula (Z): ##STR1## wherein: X.sup.2 represents an alkyl group or an aryl group including said groups in substituted form or an amino group including said group in substituted form;the amount of anti-fogging agent being in the range of 50 mg to 1 g per liter,4) a polymer containing a plurality of alkylene oxide units, and5) the necessary alkaline material to have in said liquid a pH of at least 10.5. Optional additives can also be present in the developing liquid.

Abstract: A method of effecting high contrast development of an image-wise exposed photographic silver halide emulsion layer material wherein the developing proceeds in an aqueous medium having a pH of 10 to 12 and containing:(a)(i) hydroquinone or a substituted hydroquinone,(ii) an auxiliary developing agent having a developing activity of such degree as to give when utilized in the Standard Development Test defined in the specification a relative development rate (f.sub.x) in the range of about 1-2(b) free sulphite ions in an amount of at least 5 grams per liter of the medium,(c) an organic anti-fogging agent, and(d) a polymer containing a plurality of alkylene oxide units having a molecular weight of at least about 1500.

Abstract: A high contrast silver metal image can be formed in an exposed photographic silver halide emulsion layer material, the silver halide of which is at least 90 mole percent silver bromide, with the balance being silver chloride and/or silver iodide by developing the same in a developing medium in the presence of hydroquinone as sole developing agent, a large amount of sulphite derived from an inorganic sulphite compound, a nitro-indazole anti-fogging agent, and a polyoxyethylene polymer, and an inorganic alkaline compound to impart to the medium a pH of at least 10.5 provided the amounts of these ingredients meets certain requirements.