Abstract: Disclosed is a light sensitive photographic element comprising a support, a convergent micro-lens array, and an interposed light sensitive silver halide emulsion layer unit. Also disclosed is a camera combination and imaging method. Embodiments of the invention provide improved sensitivity and latitude in scene exposure range.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for thermal development having a receiver for receiving an imagewise exposed thermal film, an accumulator for gathering the film, a drive for advancing the film from the receiver to the accumulator, a heater located between the receiver and the accumulator for developing the film as it passes between the receiver and the accumulator, a compound image scanner for scanning the film after it has been thermally developed, the scanner having a first light source and a first sensor placed for forming a first electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by reflection, a second light source and a second sensor placed for forming a second electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by an opposing reflection, and a third sensor and a third light source placed for forming a third electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by transmission, and a lighttight container for the receiver and the heater.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel blocked phenylenediamine developer useful, in reactive association, for enabling, on development, a non-magenta color, for example a cyan color, from a dye-forming coupler. In one embodiment, the developer has the property that the dye color formed with the coupler is distinctly different from the color formed by the same coupler with an oxidized form of the conventional developer 4-(N-ethyl-N-2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methylphenylenediamine. The invention is also directed to a light-sensitive silver-halide color photographic element comprising the blocked developing agent according to the present invention.

Abstract: An image forming assembly and method utilizes a laminate processing sheet. The laminate processing sheet is applied on an emulsion side of an exposed photosensitive film which includes sprocket holes along opposing edges. In a first feature of the present invention, a width of the laminate processing sheet is confined to an image area between the opposing sprocket holes, so as to reduce or eliminate the possibility of processing marks in or around an area of the opposing sprocket holes. In a further feature of the present invention, an absorbing sheet can be applied to the backside of the photosensitive film, to absorb any excess processing or wetting solution that is applied to the photosensitive film. This also aids in reducing or eliminating unwanted processing marks at the sprocket holes or an area in the vicinity of the sprocket holes.

Abstract: An image forming assembly and method utilizes a laminate processing sheet. The laminate processing sheet is applied on an emulsion side of an exposed photosensitive film which includes sprocket holes along opposing edges. In a first feature of the present invention, a width of the laminate processing sheet is confined to an image area between the opposing sprocket holes, so as to reduce or eliminate the possibility of processing marks in or around an area of the opposing sprocket holes. In a further feature of the present invention, an absorbing sheet can be applied to the backside of the photosensitive film, to absorb any excess processing or wetting solution that is applied to the photosensitive film. This also aids in reducing or eliminating unwanted processing marks at the sprocket holes or an area in the vicinity of the sprocket holes.

Abstract: A light sensitive silver halide color photographic element having a common chromogenic coupler and a distinct developer associated with each color forming layer unit is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the light sensitive silver halide color photographic element has a red light sensitive silver halide layer unit and a first blocked coupling developer, a green light sensitive silver halide layer unit and a second blocked coupling developer and a blue light sensitive silver halide layer unit having a third blocked coupling developer and wherein each layer unit has the same chromogenic coupler. In a second embodiment, the light sensitive silver halide color photographic element has a red light sensitive silver halide layer unit and a first blocked coupling developer, a green light sensitive silver halide layer unit and a second blocked coupling developer and a blue light sensitive silver halide layer unit having a third blocked coupling developer.

Abstract: A light-sensitive silver-halide color photographic element comprising at least two different chromogenic couplers including, in reactive association, a multifunctional coupler and a developer precursor that liberates a developing agent enabling cyan color from the multifunctional coupler on development, wherein the multifunctional coupler has the property that it is capable of forming a distinctly colored dye with an oxidized form of the developer 4-(N-ethyl-N-2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methylphenylenediamine. In one embodiment, the multifunctional coupler has the property that it is capable of forming a distinctly colored magenta dye with an oxidized form of the developer 4-(N-ethyl-N-2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methylphenylenediamine. By means of the present invention, light-sensitive color photothermographic elements can form yellow, magenta and cyan dye records of consistent density forming ability and consistent stability in all three color records.

Abstract: A light-sensitive silver-halide color photographic element comprising a multifunctional coupler enabling formation of an infrared dye on development, wherein the multifunctional coupler has the property that it is capable of forming a distinctly colored cyan dye with an oxidized form of the developer 4-(N-ethyl-N-2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methylphenylenediamine.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a photothermographic element in which the density formed in a thermally processed photothermographic element is limited for the purpose of scanning the element prior to removal of silver halide, metallic silver, and/or any organic silver salts. In one embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by employing limited quantities of sensitized silver halide in a photothermographic element.

Abstract: A light-sensitive silver-halide color photothermographic element comprises a typically magenta dye-forming pyrazolone coupler in the cyan record by rendering the hue of the resultant dye a cyan hue. The use of certain para-phenylenediamine developers, for example, containing a substituent group in both the 2- and 6-positions (ortho, ortho') relative to the coupling nitrogen, along with selected magenta dye-forming couplers, when oxidized, yield cyan dyes with certain couplers, resulting in the superior non-hue characteristics of magenta couplers in the cyan layer. By means of the present invention, light sensitive color photothermographic elements can form image dye records of consistent density forming ability and consistent stability in all three color records. Also disclosed is a method of processing such a color photographic element.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a photothermographic element in which the density formed in a thermally processed photothermographic element is limited for the purpose of scanning the element prior to removal of silver halide, metallic silver, and/or any organic silver salts. In one embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by employing limited quantities of sensitized silver halide in a photothermographic element.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of scanning silver-halide-containing color photographic and photothermographic film. In particular, the present invention comprises record shifting by means by employing at least one infrared dye in a color unit of the film, thereby forming at least one image record in the infrared. This expedient leads to the formation of high quality images, especially when scanning photothermographic elements in which the silver halide, metallic silver, and/or any organic silver salts have not been removed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for thermal development having a receiver for receiving an imagewise exposed thermal film, an accumulator for gathering the film, a drive for advancing the film from the receiver to the accumulator, a heater located between the receiver and the accumulator for developing the film as it passes between the receiver and the accumulator, a compound image scanner for scanning the film after it has been thermally developed, the scanner having a first light source and a first sensor placed for forming a first electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by reflection, a second light source and a second sensor placed for forming a second electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by an opposing reflection, and a third sensor and a third light source placed for forming a third electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by transmission, and a lighttight container for the receiver and the heater.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging member comprising at least one light insensitive layer comprising an oxidant and a multifunctional dye-forming coupler. It further relates to a method of imaging comprising providing an imaging member comprising at least one light insensitive layer comprising a catalytic center and multifunctional dye-forming coupler, imagewise applying a first developer solution that will react with said multifunctional dye-forming coupler, imagewise applying a second developer solution that will react with multifunctional dye-forming coupler, wherein said first developer solution and said second developer solution produce different colors.

Abstract: An image forming assembly and method utilizes a laminate processing sheet. The laminate processing sheet is applied on an emulsion side of an exposed photosensitive film which includes sprocket holes along opposing edges. In a first feature of the present invention, a width of the laminate processing sheet is confined to an image area between the opposing sprocket holes, so as to reduce or eliminate the possibility of processing marks in or around an area of the opposing sprocket holes In a further feature of the present invention, an absorbing sheet can be applied to the backside of the photosensitive film, to absorb any excess processing or wetting solution that is applied to the photosensitive film. This also aids in reducing or eliminating unwanted processing marks at the sprocket holes or an area in the vicinity of the sprocket holes.

Abstract: An image forming assembly and method utilizes a laminate processing sheet. The laminate processing sheet is applied on an emulsion side of an exposed photosensitive film which includes s rocket holes along opposing edges. In a first feature of the present invention, a width of the laminate processing sheet is confined to an image area between the opposing sprocket holes, so as to reduce or eliminate the possibility of processing marks in or around an area of the opposing sprocket holes. In a further feature of the present invention, an absorbing sheet can be applied to the backside of the photosensitive film, to absorb any excess processing or wetting solution that is applied to the photosensitive film. This also aids in reducing or eliminating unwanted processing marks at the sprocket holes or an area in the vicinity of the sprocket holes.

Abstract: A photographic material processing apparatus and method provides for a homogeneous application of processing solution which leads to homogeneous development. The apparatus utilizes a spreader member in the form of, for example, a spreader bar that applies a limited quantity of developer solution to photographic material such as imagewise exposed film. A pressure member in the form of, for example, a weighted roller or spring-loaded roller acts a squeegee roller and improves contact of the film with a support and/or a heating source. A roller arrangement which includes at least the spreader member and pressure member is configured to enable multiple contacts of the spreader member and pressure member with the photographic material to aid in the agitation of the applied developer solution. In a further embodiment, an additional member in the form of, for example, a mixer member can be utilized to further agitate the applied solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for thermal development having a receiver for receiving an imagewise exposed thermal film, an accumulator for gathering the film, a drive for advancing the film from the receiver to the accumulator, a heater located between the receiver and the accumulator for developing the film, a compound image scanner for scanning the film after it has been thermally developed, the scanner having a first light source and a fist sensor placed for forming a first electronic record of the image formed on the developed firm by reflection, a second light source and a second sensor placed for forming a second electronic record of the image by an opposing reflection, and a third sensor and a third light source placed for forming a third electronic record of the image formed by transmission, and a lighttight container for the receiver and the heater.

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: An apparatus can be used to process photographic silver halide materials in an “almost dry” format. This apparatus includes means for supplying the photographic material as well as photochemical delivery articles and means for providing the chemicals for photochemical reaction and image formation. The apparatus can also include heating means for speeding up the reaction, scanning means and solution applicators at various stations. The delivery articles can be laminated or other wise contacted with the imaged photographic materials on the silver halide emulsion side allowing photochemicals to diffuse into and out of the materials for the desired chemical reactions. Multiple delivery articles can be used in sequence to provide the desired sequence of photochemical reactions.