Abstract: An aqueous dispersion comprising a binder or a surfactant, a substantially light-insensitive and substantially water-insoluble organic silver salt and a photosensitive silver halide, wherein the aqueous emulsion further comprises a sensitization agent selected from the group consisting of: tin(II) bromide, aminoiminomethane sulfinic acid, water-soluble salts of H3PO3, water-soluble salts of H3PO2, water-soluble SO32− salts and water-soluble HSO3− salts; and production process for therefor and a photothermographic recording material comprising a support and a photo-addressable thermally developable element, the photo-addressable thermally developable element fulfilling two requirements: (i) the photo-addressable thermally developable element contains a substantially light-insensitive and substantially water-insoluble organic silver salt, a reducing agent for the substantially light-insensitive and substantially water-insoluble organic silver salt and in thermal working relationship therewith, a pho

Abstract: A process for producing an aqueous dispersion comprising: preparing a dispersion of photosensitive silver halide and a binder or a surfactant in an aqueous medium; and subsequently either (a) adding a first silver salt to the silver halide dispersion and then adding a second silver salt; or (b) adding the second silver salt to the silver halide dispersion and then adding the first silver salt, wherein the aqueous dispersion is substantially free of a water-soluble metal or ammonium salt of an aliphatic carboxylic acid with greater than 12 carbon atoms, the first silver salt is a substantially light-insensitive and substantially water-insoluble silver salt of an organic carboxylic acid, and the second silver salt has a water-solubility greater than 0.1 g in 1 L of water at 20° C.; an aqueous dispersion obtainable therewith; a photothermographic recording material prepared with the aqueous dispersion; and a process for preparing the photothermographic recording material.

Abstract: High-speed black-and-white photothermographic emulsions and materials comprise chemically sensitized photosensitive silver halide grains, at least 70% of the total photosensitive silver halide projected area being provided by tabular silver halide grains comprising at least 70 mole % bromide (based on total silver halide). The tabular grains have an average thickness of at least 0.02 &mgr;m and up to and including 0.10 &mgr;m, an equivalent circular diameter of at least 0.5 &mgr;m and up to and including 8 &mgr;m, and an aspect ratio of at least 5:1. These high-speed materials can be imaged in any suitable fashion using ultraviolet, visible, infrared, or X-radiation. In one embodiment, they have one or more thermally developable layers on both sides of the support and can be imaged using X-radiation with or without a phosphor intensifying screen in an imaging assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a photothermographic element comprising silver halide, a blocked developer, a coupler, and core/shell particles, each such particle comprising a mixture of at least two non-photosensitive organic silver salts, which particle comprises a center portion comprising a non-photosensitive first organic silver salt and at least one shell portion covering the center portion, the shell comprising a non-photosensitive second organic silver salt. The organic silver salt in the shell has a lower pKsp relative to the organic silver salt in the core. This invention also provides a composition comprising the core/shell non-photosensitive organic silver salt particles, and a method of making the particles.

Abstract: Aqueous-based photothermographic materials that are sensitive to visible or X-radiation contain X-radiation sensitive phosphors in association with specific chemically sensitized tabular silver halide grains. The silver halide grains comprise at least 70 mol % bromide, based on total silver halide, have an average thickness of at least 0.02 &mgr;m and up to and including 0.10 &mgr;m, an equivalent circular diameter (ECD) of at least 0.5 &mgr;m and up to and including 8 &mgr;m, and an aspect ratio of at least 5:1. These materials can be imaged in any suitable fashion but preferably they have one or more photothermographic layers on both sides of the support and can be imaged using X-radiation with or without an associated phosphor intensifying screen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat-developable photosensitive material having a substrate, an undercoat layer and a photosensitive layer containing silver behenate in this order, wherein an adhesive roll having an adhesive force of at least 35 hPa is brought into contact with one face or both faces of the photosensitive material before the photosensitive layer is formed, and a method of producing the same.

Abstract: A transmission heat-development photosensitive material having an exposure wavelength of 750 nm or shorter having a property that an adsorbance of the material with respect to an exposing wavelength before an exposure and development process is 0.5 or smaller and a highest density of 2.8 can be realized with energy which is not larger than 7 times (in a case of a negative-type material) exposing energy required to realize a density of 1.2 or not smaller than {fraction (1/7)} (in a case of a positive-type material) of the exposing energy.

Abstract: A method for producing an image comprising a step for heat-developing after light exposure a photothermographic material containing elsewhere on a support a non-photosensitive organic acid silver salt, a photosensitive silver halide, a nucleation aid, a binder and at least one compound expressed by the formula (A) below, at a line speed of 140 cm/min or faster: [where R1, R2, R3, X1 and X2 independently represent a hydrogen atom, halogen atom or the like; at least either one of X1 and X2 is a group expressed as —NR4R5, where R4 and R5 independently represents a hydrogen atom, alkyl group or the like] is provided. The method for producing an image of the present invention is successful in raising Dmax (maximum density), suppressing increase in fog during a long-term storage, and suppressing dimensional instability of line width affected by the energy of exposure.

Abstract: A heat-developable image-recording material which is heat-developed at a development temperature of from 80° C. to 140° C., and comprises, on both sides of a support, undercoat layers comprising a vinylidene chloride copolymer containing at least 70% by weight of vinylidene chloride monomer repeating units and having a thickness of 0.3 &mgr;m or more for each.

Abstract: Photothermographic materials comprise heat-bleachable antihalation compositions in backside antihalation layers. These compositions comprise a hexaarybiimidazole and an oxonol dye that can be represented by the following Structure I: A1═L1—(L2═L3)p—(L4═L5)q—(L6═L7)r—A2−(M)k wherein A1 and A2 are the same or different activated methylene moieties, L1 through L7 independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted methine group, M represents a counterion, k is the number of M counterions necessary to provide neutral charge for Structure I, p, and q, are independently 0 or 1, and r is 0, 1, or 2. The antihalation composition is typically bleached when subjected to a temperature of at least 90° C. for at least 0.5 seconds.

Abstract: A silver salt photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising on a support (a) a light-insensitive organic silver salt, (b) light-sensitive silver halide and (c) a reducing agent capable of reducing a silver ion of the organic silver salt to silver upon heating, wherein when the exposed and thermally processed photothermographic material having a density of 3.0 have been kept at 50° C. and 50% RH for 120 hr., the photothermographic material exhibits a variation of density from 3.0 being within ±0.2.

Abstract: A photothermographic material comprising, on one surface of a support, at least one kind of photosensitive silver halide, a silver salt of an organic acid, a reducing agent for silver ions, and a binder, wherein (1) said material further comprises two or more kinds of organic polyhalogenated compounds, and (2) a melting point of a mixture which consists of the organic polyhalogenated compounds in the same content ratio as the content ratio of said compounds in the photothermographic material is in the range of from −10° C. to 50° C. relative to a heat development temperature for the photothermographic material. The photothermographic material of the present invention shows high sensitivity and superior storability before heat development, and the material can be used for medical images, photoengraving and the like.

Abstract: A surface treatment method for enhancing hydrophobicity of the surface of a film support is disclosed, comprising subjecting at least one side of the surface to a gas-discharge plasma treatment in a gas phase atmosphere comprising (a) an inert gas comprising argon or helium and (b) a reactive gas comprising a hydrocarbon gas or fluorinated hydrocarbon gas. There is also disclosed a photothermographic material by the use of the support having been subjected to the surface treatment.

Abstract: A process for preparing monosheet black and white photothermographic recording material, the photothermographic recording material being exclusive of a dye-providing compound and comprising a support and a photo-addressable thermally developable element, the photo-addressable thermally developable element being thermally developable under substantially water-free conditions and consisting of one or more layers, the layers together comprising photosensitive silver halide, a substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent therefor in thermal working relationship therewith and a binder, comprising the steps of: (i) coating at least one of the one or more layers of the photo-addressable thermally developable from an aqueous medium; (ii) drying the layer or layers coated in step (i); and (iii) heating the photothermographic recording material at a temperature of at least 35° C. in the dark for a period of at least 3 days; and a photothermographic recording material obtainable therewith.

Abstract: A heat developable photosensitive material comprising at least two layers is disclosed. The first layer is formed by coating a first coating composition containing the organic silver salt, the photosensitive silver halide, the reducing agent, polymer latex in an amount of at least 30 percent by weight of the first layer at dried state and a solvent, the solvent comprising water in an amount of at least 50 percent by weight of the solvent, and the second layer is formed by coating a second coating composition comprising a polymer latex in an amount of at least 50 percent of the second layer at dried state and a solvent, the solvent comprising water in an amount of at least 60 percent by weight of the solvent, and the second coating composition having a viscosity of from 50 to 1,000 cP at 25 ° C., and the viscosity at 5° C being at least 1.5 times higher than that at 25° C.

Abstract: Aqueous-based thermally sensitive emulsions and imaging materials include two or more hindered phenol silver ion reducing agents in a non-crystalline reducing agent composition. Such compositions can be provided as evaporated dispersions and can be formulated in aqueous coating compositions to provide thermally developable materials such as thermographic and photothermographic materials.

Abstract: A photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising a support having thereon an image recording layer comprising an organic silver salt, a silver halide, a reducing agent and a binder, wherein the outermost surface of the image recording layer side of the photothermographic material exhibits a difference in center-line mean roughness of not more than 10 nm between before and after being subjected to thermal processing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photothermographic material containing a non-photosensitive silver salt and a photosensitive silver halide on a support, wherein the photosensitive silver halide is spectrally sensitized with a spectral sensitizing dye so that maximum spectral sensitivity wavelength could become longer than 730 nm and the conditions defined by the following formulas (1) and (2) and/or the conditions defined by the following formulas (3) and (4) could be satisfied: 300≧S(&lgr; max)/S(&lgr; max+30 nm)≧4.5  Formula (1) 30≧S(&lgr; max)/S(&lgr; max−30 nm)≧2  Formula (2) 300≧Abs.(&lgr; max)/Abs.(&lgr; max−30 nm)≧4.5  Formula (3) 30≧Abs.(&lgr; max)/Abs.(&lgr; max−30 nm)≧2  Formula (4) wherein, in the above formulas, &lgr;max denotes maximum spectral sensitivity wavelength, Abs.(&lgr;) denotes optical density at a wavelength of &lgr; and S(&lgr;) denotes spectral sensitivity at a wavelength of &lgr;.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photothermographic material containing a non-photosensitive silver salt, a photosensitive silver halide and a binder on a support, which comprises a nucleating agent and a surfactant represented by the following formula (F): [Rf-(Rc)n]m-Z  Formula (F): wherein Rf represents a perfluoroalkyl group, Rc represents an alkylene group, and Z represents a group having an anionic group, cationic group, betaine group or nonionic group required for imparting surface activity, n is 0 or 1 and m is 1, 2 or 3. According to the present invention, there is provided a photothermographic material, in particular, for photomechanical processes, more specifically, for scanners and image setters, which shows low fog and high Dmax (maximum density), and exhibits little increase of fog even after the photosensitive material after development is stored for a long period of time.

Abstract: This invention relates to a color photothermographic element comprising an imaging layer having associated therewith a compound of Structure I: wherein DEV, LINK, TIME, n, T, t, C*, R12, D, p, X, q, W, and w are defined in the application. Such compounds have good reactivity as developing agents when thermally activated under preselected conditions. The invention is also directed to a method of developing a color photothermographic element, including dry development systems.

Abstract: An silver halide photothermographic light sensitive material comprising a support having thereon a undercoating layer and a photographic light-sensitive layer containing a light-sensitive silver halide, and organic silver salt, a reducing agent and a binder, wherein the undercoating layer contains fine particles having a mean primary particle size of 0.01 to 1.6 &mgr;m and satisfying the following equation, 1≦(r2/r1)≦1.4 wherein r1 and r2 are respectively an inscribed circle radius and a circumscribed circle radius of each of projected images of the fine particles obtained by a microscope, and (r2/r1) is an average value of r2/r1 of projected images of 500 fine particles randomly selected from the whole fine particles.

Abstract: This invention comprises an imaging element comprising an imaging layer having associated therewith a compound of Structure I: In the above Structure I, the substituents are as defined in the application. Such compounds have good reactivity and can by used to block photographically useful compounds such as developing agents until thermally activated under preselected conditions. Compounds according to the present invention are especially useful in color photothermographic imaging elements.

Abstract: A silver salt photothermographic dry imaging material comprising a support having thereon a photosensitive layer comprising silver aliphatic carboxylate grains and photosensitive silver halide grains, a reducing agent for silver ions, a binder and a cross-linking agent, wherein the photothermographic material has a silver coverage of 1.0 to 1.7 g/m2; the photosensitive silver halide grains have a mean grain size of 0.03 to 0.055 &mgr;m and a degree of grain size dispersity of not more than 30%; after the dry imaging material has been subjected to photothermographic processing at a temperature of 100 to 200° C. for 5 to 50 seconds, the photosensitive layer exhibits a thermal transition temperature of 46 to 200° C.

Abstract: A processing method of a photothermographic material is disclosed comprising subjecting the photothermographic material to heat development by the use of a thermal processing apparatus, wherein the photothermographic material comprises a support, organic silver salt particles, light sensitive silver halide grains, a reducing agent and a contrast-increasing agent; and after having been subjected to heat development, the photothermographic material exhibits a distortion of not more than 0.03 degree. A thermal processing apparatus for the photothermographic material is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention involves the use of ionic liquids as coupler solvents in a color or monochrome photothermographic system. The presence of an ionic liquid can increase the amount of density or dye formed. The ionic liquid may be combined with other coupler solvents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spectrally sensitized photothermographic silver halide element comprising a support layer having on at least one surface thereof a photothermographic composition which displays uniform image density across its surface when exposed to floodlight or uniform incandescent light exposure at radiation wavelengths to which the element is sensitive, said element comprising at least two layers, including a top layer and a photothermographic emulsion layer, said photothermographic emulsion layer comprising a binder, a light insensitive silver source, a reducing agent for silver ion and infrared radiation sensitive silver halide grains, wherein the coherent radiation is rendered more diffuse in its passage through the element than when it strikes the top layer. This may be accomplished at least in part by 1) the top layer of the element having haze induced therein of 0.

Abstract: A photothermographic material exhibiting satisfactory photographic properties can be prepared using an aqueous dispersion of components. A photosensitive layer is formed by dispersing a binder and silver halide in an aqueous solvent containing at least 30 wt % of water to form an aqueous dispersion, coating the aqueous dispersion onto a support, and drying the coating. The binder is a polymer having an equilibrium moisture content of 0.1-2 wt % at 25° C. and RH 60% or a thermoplastic resin. The binder is preferably based on a styrene-butadiene copolymer. Fog is suppressed even when the material is stored in a humid atmosphere.

Abstract: A photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising on a suppot an organic silver salt, silver halide grains, a reducing agent, a contrast-increasing agent and a binder, wherein the photothermographic material has a residual organic solvent content of 30 to 500 mg/m2 and exhibits a sensitivity maximum at a wavelength of 350 to 450 nm. an image forming method is also disclosed, comprising exposing the photothermographic material to light using a light source having emission within the wavelength region of 350 to 450 nm.

Abstract: A photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising a support provide thereon an image forming layer containing a light sensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt and a reducing agent and at least a component a layer, wherein the component layer contains a compound capable of trapping a material causing odor and is provided farther from the support than image forming layer.

Abstract: Bisphenol-phosphorus compound complexes represented by the following general formula (1) are disclosed (R1 to R4 represent hydrogen atom or a group that can be a substituent on a benzene ring; L represents —S— group or a —CHR5— group where R5 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and R6 to R8 represent an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group etc.). The present invention provides reducing agents that can realize thermally processed image recording materials that can provide sufficient image density at a practical reaction temperature (specifically 100-140° C.) and within a practical reaction time (specifically 1-30 seconds), and can sufficiently suppress the coloration of white portions when the materials are stored in a dark place after the development.

Abstract: Photothermographic materials comprise heat-bleachable antihalation compositions in antihalation layers. These compositions comprise a hexaarybiimidazole and one or more infrared radiation absorbing compounds that are represented by the following Structure I: A1—L1—A2  I wherein A1 represents a group derived from a dye base, a heterocyclic group, or an electron-donating aromatic group, A2 represents a group derived from a dye base, a heterocyclic group, a group derived from a dye acid, or an electron-donating aromatic group, and L1 represents a conjugated linking group that maintains electron delocalization between A1 and A2 to provide infrared absorbance. The antihalation composition is typically bleached when subjected to a temperature of at least 90° C. for at least 0.5 seconds.

Abstract: Aqueous-based photothermographic materials have improved stability to increase in Dmin during aging by including certain water-soluble or water-dispersible antifoggants that have a pKa of 8 or less. These antifoggants are represented by Structure I: R1—SO2—C(R2)R3—(CO)m—(L)n—SG  I wherein R1 is an aliphatic or cyclic group, R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen or bromine as long as at least one of them is bromine, L is an aliphatic divalent linking group, m and n are independently 0 or 1, and SG is a solubilizing group having a pKa of 8 or less.

Abstract: A photothermographic material having an image-forming layer that contains at least a non-photosensitive silver salt of an organic acid, a photosensitive silver halide, a nucleating agent and a binder on a support, and a protective layer at a position remoter from the support compared with the image-forming layer, which shows a saturation swelling time of 60 seconds or longer in distilled water at 21° C. According to the present invention, there is provided a photothermographic material for photographic art, in particular, for scanners, image setters and so forth, which shows low humidity dependency during development for developed character line width and can secure high image density (Dmax) even in a low humidity environment.

Abstract: Provided is a photothermographic material having, on one surface of its support, at least one type of photosensitive silver halide grains, a non-photosensitive silver salt of an organic acid, a reducing agent for silver ions, and a binder; which contains an organic polyhalogen compound of the following general formula (I) and in which the silver halide grains have a hexacyano-metal complex of the following general formula (II) in their outermost surfaces: wherein Q represents an alkyl group optionally having one or more substituents, an aryl group optionally having one or more substituents, or a heterocyclic group optionally having one or more substituents; X1 and X2 each independently represent a halogen atom; Z represents a hydrogen atom or an electron-attracting group; Y represents —C(═O)—, —SO— or —SO2—; and n indicates 0 or 1; [M(CN)6]n−  (II) wherein M represents Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Cr or Re; and n indicates 3 or

Abstract: This invention comprises an imaging element comprising an imaging layer having associated therewith a compound of Structure I: wherein PUG is a photographically useful group; LINK 1 and LINK 2 are linking groups; TIME is a timing group; T represents t independently selected substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aryl groups, t is 0, 1, or 2 and if t is 2, the T groups can form a ring; HET is a heterocyclic group which optionally can form a ring with a T group; R12 is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or R12 can form a ring with a T group or with HET; 1 is 0 or 1; m is 0, 1, or 2; and n is 0 or 1.

Abstract: This invention relates to a photothermographic color element containing a mixture of blocked developers in the same emulsion layer, which blocked developers having different onset temperatures. Such a mixture has been found to allow for lower film processing temperatures and/or shorter times of development with respect to the blocked developer having a higher onset temperature. Conversely, improved discrimination can be obtained with respect to the blocked developer having the lower onset temperature.

Abstract: Image-forming materials including photographic, thermographic, and thermally-developable imaging materials include one or more transparent electrically conductive, non-charging layers to provide antistatic control on one or both sides of subbed or unsubbed supports. The electrically conductive, non-charging layers comprise colloidal, electrically conductive polymer particles that can be dispersed in a film-forming binder in an amount to provide from about 10 to about 90 volume % of polymer particles. Particularly useful polymer particles include pyrrole-containing, thiophene-containing, and aniline-containing polymers. The particles generally exhibit a packed powder specific resistivity of 105 ohm-cm or less and generally have a mean diameter of 0.5 &mgr;m or less. The electrically conductive, non-charging layers generally exhibit a surface electrical resistivity of less than 1×1012 ohm per square.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a color photothermographic film in which particles comprising an organic silver salt is treated with a passivating agent. In particular, the present invention involves passivating the organic silver salts with an organic adsorbate that blocks the surface of the organic silver salt or ligand, resulting in a reduction of speed loss. The invention is also directed to a method of making a photothermographic element to improve raw stock keeping.

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 developer solution followed by desilvering in one or more subsequent solutions to obtain a color negative film, or (2) a dry thermal process without the use of aqueous solutions in which a blocked developing agent located within the photographic element is thermally activated or unblocked, optionally 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 a dry thermal process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a color photothermographic element comprising a support, at least one photothermographic imaging layer, and at least one antihalation layer or filter layer, wherein the antihalation or filer layer comprises an aqueous heat-bleachable composition comprising at least one zwitterionic 1-aminopyridinium dye having a methine linkage terminated by a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic nucleus.

Abstract: A photothermographic material disclosed, comprising on a support a light sensitive layer containing an organic silver salt, light sensitive silver halide grains and a solvent, wherein the organic silver salt comprises tabular organic silver salt grains exhibiting an average needle ratio of not less than 1.1 and less than 10.0, the light sensitive silver halide grains having been subjected to chemical sensitization.

Abstract: A photothermographic material comprising a defined amount of a compound represented by the following general formula as a reducing agent is disclosed. In the following general formula, R1 and R1′ each independently represent an alkyl group, at least one of which is a secondary or tertiary alkyl group; R2 and R2′ each independently represent hydrogen atom or a group that can be a substituent on benzene ring; L represents —S— group or a —CH(R3)— group where R3 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and X and X′ each independently represent hydrogen atom or a group that can be a substituent on benzene ring. The photothermographic material is characterized by providing sufficient image density by heat development, and showing good silver color tone and little change with time after the development.

Abstract: Provided is a photothermographic material having, on one surface of its support, at least one type of photosensitive silver halide grains, a non-photosensitive silver salt of an organic acid, a reducing agent for silver ions, and a binder; which contains a compound of the following general formula (I) and in which the silver halide grains have a hexacyano-metal complex of the following general formula (II) in their outermost surfaces: wherein R11, R12, R13 and R14 may be the same or different, and each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, a nitro group, a cyano group, a carboxyl group or its salt, a sulfo group or its salt, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, or a group of R15—D—; where R15 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, a nitro group, a cyano group a carboxyl group or its salt, a sulfo group or its salt, an alkyl group, an alk

Abstract: A silver salt photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising a support provided thereon at least one light-sensitive layer containing an organic silver salt, light-sensitive silver halide grains and a reducing agent, wherein the surface of at least one side of the photothermographic material exhibits a coefficients of dynamic friction of 0.1 to 0.4 when being in contact with a stainless steel plate heated at a temperature of 100° C. The photothermographic material also contains solid lubricant particles.

Abstract: Disclosed in an image recording material comprising, on a support, a photosensitive silver halide, a reducing agent, a binder and a compound represented by the following Formula (1): wherein, in Formula (1), R1 and R2 each independently represent a substituent, R1 and R2 may be bonded to each other to form a ring, X represents a halogen atom, L represents a methylene group, m represents an integer of 0-7, Y represents a divalent bridging group, n represents 0 or 1 and Z represents a residue derived from a photographically useful compound. This image recording material exhibits high sensitivity, low fog and good storage stability, and is stable against fluctuation of development conditions.

Abstract: Desclosed is a heat-developable image-recording material including a support on which are formed at least one image-forming layer and at least one protecting layer formed on top of said image-forming layer, the heat-developable image-recording material being developed by use of a heat development apparatus comprising a roller coming into a driving contact with a surface of the material on the side having the image-forming layer, the apparatus comprising a smooth surface coming into a sliding contact for transport with a surface of the material opposite to the surface on the side having the image-forming layer, wherein at the temperature where the development is carried out, the ratio is 1.

Abstract: A thermographic recording element comprising a thermographic recording layer containing an organic silver salt and a reducing agent on a support is provided with an antistatic layer containing acicular conductive metal oxide particles having an aspect ratio of from 3 to 50. In another embodiment, the element is provided with at least two back layers, the outermost layer of which contains a hydrophobic polymer binder and another layer of which contains a matte agent. The element has improved transparency, conductivity and high-speed processing adaptability.

Abstract: A method of imaging comprising: providing a photothermographic material having at least one photothermographic medium and exposing said material to a source of narrow band radiation, wherein said material comprises one or more non-sensitizing acutance or antihalation dyes associated with said photothermographic medium providing an absorption maximum (&lgr;max) within 10 nm of the wavelength of maximum output of said narrow band source and an optical density of at least 0.05 at a wavelength (&lgr;max+50) nm.

Abstract: Photothermographic imaging materials having increased photospeed are provided by certain tellurium chemical sensitizers that are added during the formulation of a photothermographic emulsion.

Abstract: A method for recording an image on a thermographic material (m) provides a thermographic material, a transparent thermal head (TH) having energizable heating elements (Hi), and a radiation beam (L). The heating elements of the thermal head are activated and the radiation beam is passed through transparent parts of the thermal head. Herein, the total energy resulting from the thermal head and from the radiation beam has a level corresponding to a gradation of the image to be recorded. Further embodiments comprise e.g. holding the thermographic material on one and a same drum during both an imagewise exposing step and a heating step.