Abstract: A method is disclosed for the formation of a heat mode image with good differentiation between Dmin and Dmax. The method essentially comprises information-wise laser exposure of a layer pack comprising a layer containing a reducing agent, a barrier layer, and a layer containing a reducible organic metal salt, preferably silver behenate. The barrier layer is destructible by laser radiation and allows transfer of reducing agent in the exposed parts while no such transfer occurs in the unexposed parts. Preferably, an overall heat post-treatment is given. A mono-sheet and a two-sheet version of the invention are described.

Abstract: Provided are a method for heat developing a photosensitive material comprising the steps of heating the surface of the photosensitive material at a first temperature at which decarboxylation and release of a base by decomposition of a base precursor proceed, the surface being exposed to an atmosphere in a non-contact state, and then heating the photosensitive material at a second temperature which a hardening reaction proceeds at and is higher than the first temperature; and an apparatus comprising a non-contact heating section for heating the photosensitive material in the non-contact state at the first temperature and a contact heating section for heating the photosensitive material in a contact state at the second temperature. The method and apparatus efficiently liberate from the photosensitive material carbonic acid gas generated by decomposition of the base precursor to make smooth progress of the heat development reaction possible.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material which comprises a first support having thereon at least one photographic light-sensitive layer comprising a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion, a developing agent, a compound capable of forming a dye upon coupling reaction with an oxidation product of the developing agent, a binder, and a mercaptoazole compound, and a color image forming method comprising imagewise exposing the above-described silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material, supplying water to the light-sensitive material or a processing material comprising a second support having thereon a base or a base precursor, in an amount ranging from 1/10 to the equivalent of an amount which is required for the maximum swelling of the all coated layers of these materials, placing the light-sensitive material and the processing material face to face, and heating the materials at a temperature of 60.degree. to 100.degree. C.

Abstract: An image formation process comprising image exposing a photosensitive element which contains at least a photosensitive silver halide, a binder and a dye donating compound which forms or releases a diffusive dye corresponding or inversely corresponding to an exposure amount, and transferring the diffusive dye formed or released to a dye fixing element by heat development in the presence of a base and/or a precursor thereof, wherein the process further comprises the step of feeding water to said photosensitive element after image exposure, and the photosensitive element is maintained at a temperature of 40.degree. to 90.degree. on undergoing exposure, whereby photographic performance of the heat development photosensitive material exhibits good stability to changes in ambient temperature on undergoing exposure.

Abstract: A thermosensitive recording material suited for use in direct thermal imaging by means of an information-wise energized heating element, said recording material containing a thermosensitive recording layer of which the optical density is changed by heat, characterized in that said recording layer is coated with a protective transparent resin layer essentially consisting of a polycarbonate or copolycarbonate derived from one or more bisphenols, wherein at least 25 mole % of said bisphenols consists of a bis-(hydroxyphenyl)-cycloalkane corresponding to following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein: each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 , R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 (same or different) represents hydrogen, halogen, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl group, a substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl group, a C.sub.5 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl group, a substituted C.sub.5 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl group, a C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl group, a substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl group, a C.sub.7 -C.sub.12 aralkyl group, or a substituted C.sub.7 -C.sub.

Abstract: Provided are a processing material used for forming images on a heat-developable photosensitive material by heating the processing material and the photosensitive material in a condition that they are brought into face-to-face contact, with the processing material comprising a long web support, preferably having a thickness of from 4 to 40 .mu.m, provided thereon a processing layer, preferably comprising a base or a precursor of bases; and a method of forming images on a heat-developable photosensitive material, which comprises a step of supplying a fountain water to the photosensitive material, a step of bringing the dampened photosensitive material into face-to-face contact with the aforesaid processing material and a step of applying heat thereto.

Abstract: An image forming method comprising the steps of:(a) superposing a heat development photosensitive material on a sheet after or simultaneously with imagewise exposing the heat development photosensitive material, wherein the photosensitive material comprises a support having thereon at least a photosensitive silver halide, a hydrophilic binder and a slightly water-soluble basic metal compound, and the sheet comprises a support having thereon at least a compound which forms a complex with the metal ion constituting the basic metal compound, a solvent for a silver halide and a physical development nucleus; and(b) heat developing the laminate in the presence of a reducing agent and water to form an image on either or both of the photosensitive material and the sheet,wherein the reducing agent comprises a 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone compound and a dihydroxybenzene compound having an inorganic value of not less than 215 and an organic value of from 120 to 400.

Abstract: A pyrazolylazophenol dye exhibiting excellent spectral characteristics and having high fastness to light, heat, air or chemicals, and a color light-sensitive material containing an image forming compound comprising the dye, which releases a magenta dye exhibiting excellent spectral characteristics and having high fastness to light, heat, air or chemicals.

Abstract: A bisguanidine salt selected from the group consisting of a 4-(phenylsulfonyl)phenylsulfonylacetic acid salt of N,N'-bis(1,3-diethylguanyl)ethylenediamine, a 4-(phenylsulfonyl)phenylsulfonylacetic acid salt of N,N'-bis(1,3-diisopropylguanyl)ethylenediamine, a 4-(phenylsulfonyl)phenylsulfonylacetic acid salt of N,N'-bis-(imidazoline-2-yl)ethylenediamine, a 4-(phenylsulfonyl)-phenylsulfonylacetic acid salt of 1,4-bis(1,3-diisopropylguanyl)piperazine, a 4-(phenylsulfonyl)phenylsulfonylacetic acid salt of 1,4-bis(1,3-diethylguanyl)piperazine, a 4-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)phenylsulfonylacetic acid salt of N,N'-bis(1,3-diethylguanyl)ethylenediamine and a 4-(4-ethylphenylsulfonyl)phenylsulfonylacetic acid salt of 1,4-bis(1,3-diethylguanyl)piperazine which can be used as a base precursor which is rapidly decomposed by heat treatment at 120.degree. C. or less to release a base.

Abstract: An image formation method comprising imagewise exposing a silver halide light-sensitive material comprising a support having thereon a light-sensitive silver halide, a binder, a slightly water soluble basic metal compound, and a dye composition which is decolorized or discolored on heat development; contacting the surface of the light-sensitive material with a sheet coated with a binder and a compound which forms a complex with a metal ion constituting the basic metal compound and heating them in the presence of a reducing agent and water after or during the imagewise exposing; and peeling off the sheet to obtain an image on at least the light-sensitive material and the sheet, wherein the dye composition comprises an oil-soluble dye formed by a leuco dye and a color developer.

Abstract: An aqueous solid particle dispersion of a thermal solvent, where said thermal solvent is a water-immiscible phenol derivative and has a melting point, T.sub.m, between 30.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C., wherein said dispersion contains a dispersing aid, and wherein the thermal solvent particles in said dispersion are essentially nanocrystalline is disclosed. Also disclosed is a process for forming a coating comprising the steps of:providing an aqueous solid particle dispersion of thermal solvent, where said thermal solvent is a water-immiscible phenol derivative and has a melting point, T.sub.m, between 30.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C., and where said dispersion contains a dispersing aid;combining said aqueous solid particle thermal solvent dispersion with a coating melt composition, where said coating melt composition is maintained at a temperature, T.sub.c, during the preparation and coating of said coating melt composition, and where T.sub.c <T.sub.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the the formation of a photo mode image based on a the introduction on exposure of a difference of tackiness in a photosensitive layer which contains a reducible silver salt such as silver behenate. After exposure the still tacky parts selectively take up a reactive toner containing a reducing agent. By means of a heat post-treatment density is built up by reduction of the organic silver salt. This density can be increased by the presence in the toner of a pigment, preferable carbon black. In this way high maximal densities can be obtained. In a preferred embodiment the difference in tackiness is introduced by image-wise photopolymerization of a monomer also present in the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: A heat developable color light-sensitive material is disclosed, comprising a support having provided thereon at least a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion(s), a binder and a dye-donating compound, wherein at least one of the light-sensitive silver halide emulsion(s) (a) (a-1) comprises grains containing silver iodide in an amount of 0.1 mol % or more based on silver in the inside of the grains, and (a-2) contains at least one compound represented by formula (I-a), (I-b) or (I-c); or (b) (b-1) comprises silver chloroiodobromide grains containing silver iodide in an amount of 0.1 mol % or more based on silver in the inside of the grains and silver chloride in an amount of 10 mol % or more based on silver, (b-2) contains a sensitizing dye added before chemical sensitization, and (b-3) chemically sensitized in the presence of a nucleic acid decomposition product:Z--SO.sub.2.S--M (I-a)The substituents Z and M in formula (I-a) are disclosed in the specification.

Abstract: There are described image-recording materials which include an image dye-providing compound comprising a novel naphthol azo cyan dye having a 3-aminobenzoisothiazole moiety. The image dye-providing compound includes a diffusion control moiety such as a hydroquinonyl developer group, a precursor thereof or a thiazolidine moiety and, may be diffusible or nondiffusible as a function of the diffusion control moiety.Image-recording materials according to the invention including those which contain high potential developers such as aminoreductone allow sufficient cyan chromophore to diffuse to the image-receiving layer to provide an acceptable photograph and result in no appreciable reduction of the 3-aminobenzoisothiazole moiety of the novel naphthol azo cyan dye.

Abstract: The present invention provides new image forming methods. The image forming methods use a combination of a light-sensitive material and an image receiving material. The light-sensitive material comprises a support, a strippable layer and a light-sensitive polymerizable layer in order. The light-sensitive polymerizable layer contains silver halide, a reducing agent and an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable compound or a cross-linkable polymer. The light-sensitive polymerizable layer may further contain a colorant. An image forming method using the light-sensitive polymerizable layer containing no colorant comprises an exposing step, a developing step, a toning step and a transferring step. Another image forming method using the colorant-containing light-sensitive polymerizable layer comprises an exposing step, a developing step, a removing step and a transferring step.

Abstract: A heat developable photosensitive image-recording element is described comprising photosensitive silver halide, either as the only source of silver present or in association with a substantially light-insensitive source of silver, a reducing agent, a silver solvent and an image-receiving layer including silver nucleating material. The total amount of silver present is arranged in two adjacent discrete layers, one of which includes the silver reducing agent and the other of which does not. The image-recording element provides an image having significantly increased image density upon exposure and photographic processing.

Abstract: A process for simply and rapidly producing a lithographic printing plate is disclosed, which comprises image-wise exposing a silver halide photosensitive material comprising a substantially water-insoluble basic metal compound and optionally having a physical-development nucleus layer on the external surface thereof, superposing the silver halide photosensitive material either after or simultaneously with the image-wise exposure on an image-receiving material which contains a complex-forming compound and has a physical-development nucleus layer on the external surface thereof or on a sheet which contains a complex-forming compound, in such a manner that the coating side of the photosensitive material is in contact with the coating side of the image-receiving material or the sheet, heating the superposed materials in the presence of a reducing agent and water, and subsequently separating both materials from each other to form a silver image as an ink-receptive area on the physical-development nucleus layer by

Abstract: A heat development color photographic material excellent in discrimination and raw preservability of images, which comprises a support, and at least a light-sensitive silver halide, a binder, a coupler and a reducing agent formed thereon, in which a 2-acylamino-4-sulfonamidophenol derivative represented by the following general formula (I) is contained as said reducing agent: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents a substituent group (for example, alkyl or aryl); R.sub.2 to R.sub.4 each represents hydrogen or a substituent group (for example, halogen, alkyl or aryl); and R.sub.5 represents a substituent group (for example, alkyl or aryl).

Abstract: An image forming method is disclosed.

Abstract: An image formation method is described, which comprises overlaying a silver halide light-sensitive material with a sheet after or during imagewise exposure, the light-sensitive material comprising a support having provided thereon at least a light-sensitive silver halide mainly comprising silver chloride, a hydrophilic binder, a reducing agent and a slightly water-soluble basic metal compound, the sheet comprising a support having provided thereon at least a compound forming a complex with a metal ion constituting said basic metal compound, a physical development nucleus, and a compound represented by the following formula (I) or a compound containing a sulfite ion; and heat-developing the material in the presence of water to form a silver image on at least one of the light-sensitive material and the sheet: ##STR1## wherein Q represents an atomic group necessary to form a 5- or 6-membered imide ring.

Abstract: There are described heat-developable photosensitive image-recording elements which have an alkali-generating system incorporated therein. In the alkali-generating system, a slightly water-soluble metal compound is reacted with a salt of 2-hydroxy-pyridine-N-oxide, or its derivatives, in the presence of a fluid such as water, to form an insoluble precipitate and the alkali required for silver image development during processing. The image-recording materials are useful as image-forming materials in thermographic and photothermographic processes.

Abstract: Certain squaric acid derivatives are useful for the thermochemical generation of acid. The squaric acid derivatives may be used in imaging media in conjunction with acid-sensitive materials which undergo a color change when contacted by the acid generated from the squaric acid derivatives. Preferably, the acid-sensitive materials undergo an irreversible color change, so that the image can be fixed by neutralizing all the acid generated with excess base, thereby preventing further color change in the image during long term storage.

Abstract: A photosensitive material comprises a photosensitive composition comprising a photosensitive and heat-developable element and a photopolymerizable element. An imagewise unexposed area on the material is polymerized by imagewise exposure, heating and whole areal exposure. The photosensitive and heat-developable element comprises at least a photosensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt and a reducing agent of the formula ##STR1## The photopolymerizable element comprises at least a polymerizable polymer precursor and a photopolymerization initiator. An image forming method comprises the steps; subjecting a photosensitive material in the same layer to imagewise exposure and heating to form an image; and subjecting the resultant photosensitive material to whole areal exposure to polymerize and imagewise unexposed or exposed area thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat-developable photographic light-sensitive material which can give a high contrast image. A novel heat-developable photographic light-sensitive material is provided, comprising at least one compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein Z represents a non-metallic atom group necessary for the formation of a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group.

Abstract: Pyridone dyes useful for thermal transfer have the formula ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 - alkyl,R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are identical or different and each is, independently of the other, hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 -cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted pyridyl, substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkanoyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkylsulfonyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 -cycloalkylsulfonyl, substituted or unsubstituted phenylsulfonyl, substituted or unsubstituted pyridylsulfonyl, substituted or unsubstituted benzoyl, pyridylcarbonyl or thienylcarbonyl or are together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded unsubstituted or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 - alkyl-substituted succinimido, unsubstituted or C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: An image-receiving element for use in photographic and photothermographic diffusion transfer film units of the type wherein the image-receiving element is designed to be removed or "peeled-apart" from a photosensitive element following exposure and processing. The present image-receiving element comprises in sequence, a support, an image-receiving layer, and an overcoat layer. The overcoat layer comprises a major amount by dry weight of water-insoluble particles and a minor amount by dry weight of a water-insoluble polymeric latex binder material. The water-insoluble particles may comprise inorganic particles such as colloidal silica, and/or organic particles such as water-insoluble polymeric latex particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a donor for use in thermal transfer printing. The donor element comprises on a support a donor layer comprising a binder and a mixture of at least two thermotransferable reducing agents capable of reducing a silver source to metallic silver upon heating. The donor element is image-wise heated while being in contact with an image receiving material comprising a thermoreducible silver source. By using a mixture of reducing agents crystallization is reduced and the obtained images exhibit an increased density and a more neutral grey hue.

Abstract: The present invention provides new image forming methods. The image forming methods use a combination of a light-sensitive material and an image receiving material. The light-sensitive material comprises a support, a strippable layer and a light-sensitive polymerizable layer in order. The light-sensitive polymerizable layer contains silver halide, a reducing agent and an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable compound or a cross-linkable polymer. The light-sensitive polymerizable layer may further contain a colorant. An image forming method using the light-sensitive polymerizable layer containing no colorant comprises an exposing step, a developing step, a toning step and a transferring step. Another image forming method using the colorant-containing light-sensitive polymerizable layer comprises an exposing step, a developing step, a removing step and a transferring step.

Abstract: A thermal imaging process is provided using (i) a donor element comprising on a support a donor layer comprising a binder, a thermotransferable reducing agent capable of reducing a silver source to metallic silver upon heating and a thermotransferable toning agent and (ii) a receiving element comprising on a support a receiving layer comprising a silver source capable of being reduced to metallic silver by means of heat in the presence of a reducing agent, said thermal imaging process comprising the steps ofbringing said donor layer of said donor element into face to face relationship with said receiving layer of said receiving element,image-wise heating a thus obtained assemblage preferably by means of a thermal head, thereby causing image-wise transfer of an amount of said thermotransferable reducing agent to said receiving element in accordance with the amount of heat supplied andseparating said donor element from said receiving element.

Abstract: Toning agents are provided for use in thermographic and photothermographic materials, either on their own or in combination with at least one other toning agent, with improved compatibility with hydrophobic media as shown by reduced crystallization and reduced diffusion through the material, which properties enabling an improved imaging performance to be achieved and in particular a more neutral image tone after storage.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the formation of a heat mode image comprising the steps of (i) bringing in close contact a donor element, containing a reducing agent and an radiation to heat converting compound, and an acceptor element, containing a reducible organic silver salt, (ii) exposing this assemblage information-wise by intense infra-red laser radiation, (iii) peeling apart the elements and (iiii) optionally overall heating the separated acceptor element.In a preferred embodiment the laser is an infra-red laser and the radiation to heat converting compound is an infra-red absorbing compound.In an alternative embodiment the radiation to heat converting compound is incorporated in the acceptor.

Abstract: An image-receiving element for use in photographic and photothermographic diffusion transfer film units of the type wherein the image-receiving element is designed to be removed or "peeled-apart" from a photosensitive element following exposure and processing. The present image-receiving element comprises in sequence, a support, an image-receiving layer, and a strip-coat layer. The strip-coat layer serves to facilitate separation of the image-receiving layer from a photosensitive element after processing. The strip-coat layer comprises a copolymer including: 1) at least about 50% by weight of monomer units, the same or different, derived from an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or salt thereof, 2) at least about 15% by weight of monomer units of vinyl pyrrolidone, and 3) at least about 5% by weight of monomer units, the same or different, represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reproducing continuous tone images by means of a thermal head. The method involves the image-wise heat transfer of a reducing agent from a donor element to a receiving layer of a receiving element. The receiving element contains a thermoreducible silver source such as e.g. silver behenate. The process of the present invention provides high density images with multiple intermediate density levels.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a thermal imaging process using (i) a donor element comprising on a support a donor layer comprising a binder and a thermally transferable reducing agent capable of reducing a silver source to metallic silver upon heating and an oxidised form of the reducing agent being colored or being capable of forming a color and (ii) a receiving element comprising on a support a receiving layer comprising a silver source capable of being reduced by means of heat in the presence of a reducing agent and comprising the steps of:bringing said donor layer of the donor element in face-to-face relationship with the receiving layer of the receiving element,image-wise heating a thus obtained assemblage to cause image-wise transfer of the thermally transferable reducing agent from the donor layer to the receiving layer in accordance with the amount of heat applied andseparating the donor element from the receiving element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal imaging process using (i) a donor element comprising on a support having a thickness of 3-10 .mu.m a donor layer comprising a binder, a thermotransferable reducing agent capable of reducing a silver source to metallic silver upon heating and particles protruding from the surface of said donor layer and (ii) a receiving element comprising on a support a receiving layer comprising a silver source capable of being reduced by means of heat in the presence of a reducing agent, said thermal imaging process comprising the steps ofbringing said donor layer of said donor element into face to face relationship with said receiving layer of said receiving element,image-wise heating a thus obtained assemblage, thereby causing image-wise transfer of an amount of said thermotransferable reducing agent to said receiving element in accordance with the amount of heat supplied by said thermal head andseparating said donor element from said receiving element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a donor element comprising on a support a donor layer comprising a binder, a thermotransferable reducing agent capable of reducing a silver source to metallic silver upon heating and a thermotransferable dye. When such a donor element is used in a thermal transfer printing process in conjunction with a receiving element having a receiving layer that contains a thermoreducible silver source, an image of a neutral black tone and having a high optical density is obtained.

Abstract: A direct thermal recording process wherein a direct thermal recording material is heated dot-wise and said direct thermal recording material comprises on a substrate an imaging layer containing uniformly distributed in a film-forming polymeric binder (i) one or more substantially light-insensitive organic silver salts being no double salts, said silver salt(s) being in thermal working relationship with (ii) an organic reducing agent therefor, characterized in that said reducing agent is a benzene compound the benzene nucleus of which is substituted by no more than two hydroxy groups which are present in 3,4-position on said nucleus and have in the 1-position of said nucleus a substituent linked to said nucleus by means of a carbonyl group.

Abstract: A transfer recording medium comprising a substrate and a distributed layer of image forming elements, and an image forming method using the recording medium are provided. The distributed layer comprises first and second image forming elements. The first image forming elements comprise at least two species of different coloring characteristics which are capable of decreasing their transferabilities when provided with at light and heat energy under respectively prescribed at least two energy application conditions corresponding to the coloring characteristics. The second image forming element is capable of decreasing its transferability under any one of the at least two energy application conditions.

Abstract: There are described heat-developable photosensitive image-recording materials which include a compound having at least one cyclic 1,3-sulfur-oxygen moiety. The compound is stable in the photographic processing composition but capable of undergoing cleavage in the presence of an imagewise distribution of silver ions and/or soluble silver complex made available as a function of development to liberate a reagent in an imagewise distribution corresponding to that of the silver ion and/or the soluble silver complex. The reagent includes a photographically useful group such as a complete dye or dye intermediate.

Abstract: Image forming method is disclosed using a light-sensitive material which comprises a support and a light-sensitive layer provided thereon. The light-sensitive layer contains silver halide, a reducing agent and an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable compound. The light-sensitive material of the present invention further contains a polymerization inhibitor releasing (PIR) compound. The polymerization inhibitor releasing compound has a function of releasing a polymerization inhibitor when the compound is heated or reacted with a base. The silver halide, the reducing agent, the polymerizable compound and the polymerization inhibitor releasing compound are preferably contained in microcapsules which are dispersed in the light-sensitive layer.

Abstract: N-acyl-hydrazine compounds are useful as contrast enhancers when used in combination with (i) hindered phenol developers, and (ii) trityl hydrazide and/or formyl-phenyl hydrazine co-developers, to produce ultra-high contrast black-and-white photothermographic and thermographic elements.The photothermographic and thermographic elements may be used as a photomask in a process where there is a subsequent exposure of an ultraviolet or short wavelength visible radiation-sensitive imageable medium.

Abstract: A heat-developable color light-sensitive material is described, which comprises, on a support, at least a light-sensitive silver halide, a non-diffusible dye-donating compound capable of releasing or forming a diffusible dye in correspondence or reverse correspondence with a reaction of reducing the silver halide to silver, and a binder, which contains a specific solid organic pigment in at least one layer of a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and/or its adjacent layer(s) and which contains an alginic acid derivative in the same layer containing the solid organic pigment.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a thermal imaging process using (i) a donor element comprising on a support a donor layer containing a binder and a thermotransferable reducing agent capable of reducing a silver source to metallic silver upon heating and (ii) a receiving element comprising on a support in the order given a receiving layer and a curable layer, said receiving layer comprising a silver source capable of being reduced by means of heat in the presence of a reducing agent for said silver source and a binder, said thermal imaging process comprising the steps ofbringing said donor layer of said donor element into face to face relationship with said receiving layer of said receiving element,image-wise heating a thus obtained assemblage, thereby causing image-wise transfer of an amount of said thermotransferable reducing agent to said receiving element in accordance with the amount of heat supplied,separating said donor element from said receiving element,curing said release layer andoverall heating sai

Abstract: A heat-developable photosensitive material for use in diffusion transfer process is disclosed, comprising a support having in one or more layers a hydrophilic binder, photosensitive silver halide and dye-providing compound represented by the following formula,[A-(J.sub.1).sub.a -(X).sub.b ].sub.c -J.sub.2 -Dyewhich is capable of releasing [-(J.sub.1).sub.a -(X).sub.b ].sub.c -J.sub.2 -Dye residue upon cleavage in the presence of a silver ion or a soluble silver complex.

Abstract: A silver halide light-sensitive material is disclosed. The light-sensitive material comprises a support and two or more layers. Silver halide, a reducing agent, an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable compound or a cross-linkable polymer and a base precursor are independently contained in at least one of the layers. A layer containing the base precursor further contains a specific polyvinyl alcohol. The first embodiment of the specific polyvinyl alcohol (I) has such a chemical structure that a terminal alkyl group having 4 or more carbon atoms is attached to a polyvinyl alcohol. The second embodiment of the specific polyvinyl alcohol (II) is a block copolymer consisting of a vinyl alcohol unit and a hydrophobic unit, which is more hydrophobic than the vinyl alcohol unit. The third embodiment is a mixture of two polyvinyl alcohols (III) and (IV). The polyvinyl alcohol (III) has a saponification degree of not less than 95%.

Abstract: Thermally processable imaging elements in which the image is formed by imagewise heating or by imagewise exposure to light followed by uniform heating are provided with an electroconductive overcoat layer or an electroconductive backing layer or both an electroconductive overcoat layer and an electroconductive backing layer. Such electroconductive layers are comprised of electrically-conductive metal-containing particles dispersed in a polymeric binder in an amount sufficient to provide a surface resistivity of less than 5.times.10.sup.11 ohms/square.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing process using a donor element and a receiving element. The donor element comprises on a support a donor layer comprising a binder and a thermotransferable strong reducing agent capable of reducing a silver source to metallic silver upon heating.The donor element is image-wise heated while being in contact with an image receiving material comprising a thermoreducible silver source and a weak reducing agent, only being capable of reducing a silver source to metallic silver in the presence of metallic silver formed by said strong reducing agent. Image density is increased and stability of the reductor donor element can be improved.

Abstract: A dry process silver salt photosensitive material has a support and provided thereon a photosensitive layer containing at least an organic silver salt, a reducing agent and a photosensitive silver halide or a photosensitive silver halide forming component. The photosensitive layer is incorporated with a compound selected from the compounds (i), (ii) and (iii).

Abstract: An image forming method comprises the steps of (a) exposing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material comprising a first support and provided thereon, a photographic component layer comprising a first binder, light sensitive silver halide and a sparingly water soluble metal compound; (b) superposing the exposed material on an image receiving material comprising a second support and provided thereon, an image receiving layer comprising a second binder and a compound represented by Formula (I), ##STR1## wherein A represents a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic ring; and M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 independently represent an alkali metal atom, an ammonium ion or a quaternary ammonium ion; (c) heating the superposed materials in the presence of water; and (d) separating the image receiving material from the exposed material to obtain an image on the image receiving layer of the image receiving material.

Abstract: Heat-developable silver-based photosensitive imaging element comprising a heat-reducible organic silver salt, a photosensitive silver halide, a developing agent, and a releasing compound that upon reaction with either the reduced or the oxidized form of the developing agent is capable of releasing a hydrophobizing agent. The invention also relates to a method for producing a lithographic printing plate comprising image-wise exposing an imaging element, bringing the exposed element in face-to-face contact with an oleophobic surface of a printing plate precursor, heating the imaging element while in contact or before being brought in contact with the oleophobic surface to cause reduction of the organic silver salt and to cause the release of the hydrophobizing agent from the releasing compound, allowing the hydrophobizing agent to diffuse to the oleophobic surface to render the surface image-wise oleophilic, and separating the resulting lithographic printing plate from the imaging element.