Abstract: This invention relates to packaged photographic film that is capable of being alternately processed, according to individual consumer choice, by either (1) a traditional wet-chemistry process with a phenylenediamine-containing developer solution followed by desilvering in one or more subsequent solutions to obtain a color negative film, or (2) a thermal process involving the use of a relatively minor amount of an aqueous solution containing a liberating agent such as alkaline base to activate (unblock) a blocked phenylenediamine developing agent located within the photographic element, followed by electronic scanning of the developed film without desilvering. This invention enables a single film stock to be developed in both a conventional deep tank process and in an apparently dry process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of processing color photographic film that has been imagewise exposed in a camera, said film having at least three light-sensitive units which have their individual sensitivities in different wavelength regions, each of the units comprising at least one light-sensitive silver-halide emulsion, binder, and dye-providing coupler, which method in order comprises (a) thermally developing the film step without any externally applied developing agent, comprising heating said film to a temperature greater than 80° C.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of processing color photographic film that has been imagewise exposed in a camera, said film having at least three light-sensitive units which have their individual sensitivities in different wavelength regions, each of the units comprising at least one light-sensitive silver-halide emulsion, one or more organic silver salts, a binder, and dye-providing coupler, which method in order comprises: (a) thermally developing the film step without any externally applied developing agent, comprising heating said film to a temperature greater than 80° C.

Abstract: The invention provides a photographic element comprising at least one emulsion layer comprising at least 50 mol % silver chloride, which layer comprises at least one DIR coupler in association with at least one image dye-forming coupler, characterised in that the relative reactivity ratio krel of at least one DIR coupler and an associated image coupler is less than or equal to 1.0, wherein krel=k1/k2; k1=the second order rate constant for the reaction of DIR coupler with oxidised developer and k2=the second order rate constant for the reaction of image coupler with oxidised developer. The DIR couplers when associated with image couplers such that the above condition is satisfied efficiently reduce development of silver halide emulsions containing at least 50 mol % silver chloride, there being a reduction in contrast providing a linear sensitometric curve over a good latitude with negligible speed penalty.

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 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: 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: 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 system and method of offering photofinishing services involves receiving an exposed photographic film from a customer; developing and scanning the film to produce a digital image; displaying examples of a plurality of looks on a color display medium to a customer; receiving a selection of a preferred look from the customer; and applying the selected look to the digital image to produce a processed digital image having the preferred look.

Abstract: Image formation in photosensitive materials can be simplified by photoprocessing the imagewise exposed materials using photochemical delivery articles that consist essential of nonporous substrate and a hydrogel that contains the one or more photochemicals needed for image formation. 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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a camera for thermal development comprising a receiving chamber for a film supply cartridge, drive means to advance thermal film from said film supply cartridge, a lens and exposure control system to accurately capture scene information onto thermally developable film, an optical writer to write information onto the thermally developable film, a magnetic reader and writer to read and write magnetic information onto the film, a heater to develop said thermal film, a scanner to scan the thermally developed film, a display, and a light-tight container for said chamber and heater.

Abstract: Image formation in photosensitive silver halide materials can be simplified by photoprocessing the imagewise exposed materials using photochemical delivery articles that consist essential of a nonporous substrate and a hydrogel that contains the one or more photochemicals needed for image formation. The delivery articles can be laminated or otherwise contacted with the imagewise exposed materials on the silver halide emulsion side allowing photochemicals to diffuse into and out of the materials for the desired photochemical reactions. Multiple delivery articles can be used in sequence to provide the desired sequence of photochemical reactions. Resulting images at any stage of processing can be digitized by scanning and the images can be stored, printed, displayed or transmitted electronically for a number of useful purposes.

Abstract: This invention relates to packaged photographic film that is capable of being alternately processed, according to individual consumer choice, by either (1) a traditional wet-chemistry process with a phenylenediamine-containing developer solution followed by desilvering in one or more subsequent solutions to obtain a color negative film, or (2) a thermal process involving the use of a relatively minor amount of an aqueous solution containing a liberating agent such as alkaline base to activate (unblock) a blocked phenylenediamine developing agent located within the photographic element, followed by electronic scanning of the developed film without desilvering. This invention enables a single film stock to be developed in both a conventional deep tank process and in an apparently dry process.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for thermal development comprising a receiving chamber for a thrust cartridge, drive means to advance thermal film from said thrust cartridge and rewind film into said thrust cartridge, an optical writer to write information onto the thermally developable film, a magnetic reader and writer to read and write magnetic information onto the film, a scanner to scan the thermally developable film, an accumulator to gather said film after it has left the cartridge, a heater located between said chamber and said accumulator to develop said thermal film as it passes between said cartridge and said accumulator, and a lighttight container for said chamber, heater, and accumulator.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for electronically processing an image scanned from a scene exposed onto a color negative photographic element. The element is especially capable of producing images that, when scanned, converted to electronic form, corrected and then converted to a viewable form, exhibit excellent color, reduced granularity and improved sharpness. The photographic elements contain blue, green and red recording layer units capable of forming spectrally differentiated dye images. The layer units are substantially free of colored masking coupler, and each exhibit a dye image gamma of less than 1.5. The element exhibits an exposure latitude of at least 2.7 log E. The gamma ratios of the blue, green and red recording layer units are between 0.80 and 1.2. A method for producing a viewable image is additionally disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to packaged photographic film that is capable of being alternately processed, according to individual consumer choice, by either (1) a traditional wet-chemistry process with a phenylenediamine-containing developer solution followed by desilvering in one or more subsequent solutions to obtain a color negative film, or (2) a thermal process involving the use of a relatively minor amount of an aqueous solution containing a liberating agent such as alkaline base to activate (unblock) a blocked phenylenediamine developing agent located within the photographic element, followed by electronic scanning of the developed film without desilvering. This invention enables a single film stock to be developed in both a conventional deep tank process and in an apparently dry process.

Abstract: A digital photofinishing station is capable of being loaded with one or more distinct films in need of photofinishing. The digital photofinishing station has the capability to identify the film and apply a specific correction algorithm based on the identified film. More specifically, the digital photofinishing station is capable of handling films of different density forming properties, process these films using a common developing process, and apply a proper correction algorithm based on the type of film. Further, chemical constituents of the developer solution in the development process can be monitored, and based on known deviations in development caused by specific deviations in the developer solution, a proper correction algorithm is applied. In a further feature of the present invention, film can be developed and scanned at the digital photofinishing station.

Abstract: A method of creating image-bearing electronic signals from an imagewise exposed and processed color negative photographic element is disclosed. The color element is especially suited for preloading in a one-time-use camera and is capable of producing images that, when scanned, converted to electronic form and then converted to a viewable form, exhibit excellent color, reduced granularity and improved sharpness. The photographic elements contain blue, green and red recording layer units capable of forming spectrally differentiated dye images. The layer units are substantially free of colored masking coupler, and each exhibit a dye image gamma of less than 1.5. The element exhibits an exposure latitude of at least 2.7 log E. The gamma ratios of the blue, green and red recording layer units are between 0.80 and 1.2.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging member comprising at least one light insensitive layer substantially free of an oxidant and comprising a catalytic center and 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: A color negative silver halide photographic element is disclosed that is capable of producing images that, when converted to electronic form and then converted to a viewable form, exhibit reduced granularity. The photographic elements contain blue, green and red recording layer units capable of forming spectrally differentiated dye images. The layer units are substantially free of masking coupler, each exhibit a dye image gamma of less than 1.5 and an exposure latitude of at least 2.7 log E. Greater than 50 mole percent of development inhibitor compound in at least one of the layer units exhibits a diffusion factor of less than 0.4.