Abstract: The present invention provides a black and white photothermographic material having, on at least one side of a support, an image forming layer containing at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent for silver ions, and a binder, as well as an image forming method. The black and white photothermographic material is characterized in that 1) the non-photosensitive organic silver salt includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a silver salt of an azole compound and a silver salt of a mercapto compound, and 2) the photosensitive silver halide has a spectral sensitizing dye in the form of a multilayer adsorbed on its surface. According to the invention, an improved black and white photothermographic material and image forming method realizing high sensitivity, favorable gradation, and less dependence on developing process conditions are provided.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming method including providing a photothermographic material having image forming layers containing at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent, and a binder on both surfaces of a support, imagewise exposing the photothermographic material with a fluorescent intensifying screen, and thermally developing the photothermographic material in a thermal developing apparatus having a heating section, wherein the heating section has at least two heating means and a difference between a sensitivity when the photothermographic material is developed at 25° C. and relative humidity of 75% and a sensitivity when the photothermographic material is developed at 25° C. and relative humidity of 20% is 0.20 or less. An image forming method similar to that described above in which the photothermographic material has an antistatic layer is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a black and white photothermographic material having, on at least one side of a support, an image forming layer containing at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent for silver ions, and a binder, as well as an image forming method. The black and white photothermographic material is characterized in that 50% or more of a total projected area of the photosensitive silver halide is occupied by tabular grains having a (111) face as a major face; the tabular grains have at least 2 parallel twin crystal planes in a grain; and a variation coefficient of a distribution of distances between closest twin crystal planes is 20% or less. Also provided is an image forming method that includes image exposure using fluorescent intensifying screens and thermal development.

Abstract: A silver halide emulsion containing a compound represented by the following formula (1) or (2): wherein R1 represents an OH group, an SH group, or an —NR2R3 group in which R2 and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an alkylsulfonyl group, or an arylsulfonyl group; L represents an alkenylene group, an arylene group, an —N?N— group, a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group, or a —C(R4)?N— group in which R4 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group; n represents 0 or 1; X and Y each independently represent a nitrogen atom or a —CR5— group in which R5 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent bondable to the carbon atom; Z represents an atomic group in the 5- to 7-membered ring; and M represents a hydrogen atom, a metal ion, or a quaternary ammonium ion.

Abstract: A silver halide photographic emulsion that comprises silver halide grains. The emulsion was prepared in the presence of at least one halogen oxoacid salt represented by formula (I) below: M(XOn)m  (I) wherein M represents an alkali metal ion or alkaline-earth metal ion, X represents a halogen atom, n represents 2 or 3, and m represents 1 or 2. A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material that has at least one silver halide emulsion layer on a support. The material contains the above silver halide photographic emulsion.

Abstract: A silver halide photographic emulsion that comprises silver halide grains.

Abstract: A silver halide emulsion comprising silver halide grains. In them, 60 or more percent of the total area of all silver halide grains are occupied by tabular silver halide grains having a circle equivalent diameter of 0.6 .mu.m or less, an aspect ratio of 1.5 or more, and having dislocation lines substantially localized only in the fringe portions thereof. Also, 50 or more percent of the number of all silver halide grains are occupied by tabular silver halide grains having 10 or more dislocation lines per grain. In addition, the surface silver iodide content of all silver halide grains is 3 mol % or less when analyzed by X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy (XPS).