Additive diffusion transfer color photographic processes and film units for use therewith

Claim 2

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said silver precipitating nuclei are present in a concentration effective to provide a silver image derived from unexposed silver halide crystals possessing greater covering power than a silver image derived from exposed silver halide crystals.

Claim 3

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 3 wherein said silver image derived from unexposed silver halide crystals comprises silver of a first physical character and said silver image derived from exposed silver halide crystals comprises silver of a second physical character, said first physical character silver possessing higher optical density than said second physical character silver per unit mass.

Claim 4

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 4 which is a permanent laminate and comprises a transparent support carrying a color screen and, in contiguous relationship, a first substantially discrete photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer comprising, dispersed in a processing composition permeable polymeric binder, photosensitive silver halide crystals and silver precipitating nuclei and a second substantially discrete photoinsensitive layer comprising silver precipitating nuclei present in a concentration effective to provide upon development in the presence of a silver halide solvent, as a function of exposure, a silver image comprising said first and said second physical character silver.

Claim 5

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 3 which is a permanent laminate and comprises a transparent support carrying one one surface a color screen and a photosensitive silver halide emulsion comprising photosensitive silver halide crystals and silver precipitating nuclei in superposed relationship with a substantially photoinsensitive layer comprising silver precipitating nuclei, said silver precipitating nuclei present in a concentration effective to provide upon processing in the presence of a silver halide solvent, as a function of exposure, a silver image derived from development of exposed silver halide crystals possessing a maximum image density at least 1.0 density units less than the maximum density of a silver image derived from development of unexposed silver halide crystals.

Claim 6

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 6 which is a permanent laminate and comprises a transparent support carrying one one surface a multicolor screen, a photosensitive silver halide emulsion first layer comprising photosensitive silver halide crystals and silver precipitating nuclei dispersed in a processing composition permeable binder and a substantially photoinsensitive second layer comprising silver precipitating nuclei dispersed in a processing composition permeable binder, said processing composition permeable binders effecting to substantially prevent microscopic distortion of image components in registration with individuals color screen optical filter elements through which the photosensitive emulsion was exposed, said silver precipitating nuclei present in a concentration effective to provide upon processing in the presence of a silver halide solvent, as a function of exposure of the unit to actinic radiation, a minimum image density not in excess of about 0.5 and a maximum image density of not less than about 1.5.

Claim 7

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said permeable polymeric binder comprises gelaTin.

Claim 8

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 8 wherein said gelatin binder contains dispersed therein silica.

Claim 9

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 9 wherein said silica is present in a concentration of about 0.3 to 1.5 parts silica per part gelatin.

Claim 10

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 7 wherein said permeable binder of said second layer comprises deacetylated chitin.

Claim 11

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 1 including a separate processing composition permeable polymeric layer containing a silver halide developing agent positioned intermediate said color screen and said photosensitive silver halide emulsion.

Claim 12

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said color screen comprises an additive color screen.

Claim 13

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said layer comprising silver precipitating nuclei layer is located intermediate said color screen and said photosensitive emulsion.

Claim 14

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 14 including a second layer comprising silver precipitating nuclei located contiguous the surface of said photosensitive emulsion opposite said first-mentioned layer comprising silver precipitating nuclei.

Claim 15

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said photosensitive emulsion is located intermediate said color screen and said layer comprising silver precipitating nuclei.

Claim 16

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said silver precipitating nuclei are present in a concentration of about 1-25 X 10 6 moles/ft.2.

Claim 17

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said silver precipitating nuclei comprises metallic sulfides, metallic selenides or colloidal noble metals.

Claim 18

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said silver halide crystals comprise silver iodobromide crystals.

Claim 19

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 19 wherein said silver iodobromide crystals comprise about 1 to 9 percent, by weight, iodide.

Claim 20

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said photosensitive silver halide crystals are panchromatically sensitized.

Claim 21

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 21 wherein said color screen is a tricolor additive screen.

Claim 22

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 22 wherein said additive tricolor screen comprises red, green and blue colored optical filter elements.

Claim 23

A photographic film unit as defined in claim 23 which is a permanent laminate and comprises a transparent support carrying one one surface a trichromatic additive color screen comprising red, green and blue color optical filter elements, a photosensitive silver iodobromide emulsion layer comprising panchromatically sensitized silver iodobromide crystals and silver precipitating nuclei dispersed in a processing composition permeable binder matrix and a substantially photoinsensitive layer comprising silver precipitating nuclei dispersed in a processing composition permeable binder matrix, said silver precipitating nuclei comprising metallic sulfide, metallic selenide or colloidal noble metal silver precipitating nuclei present in a concentration effective to provide upon development of exposed silver iodobromide crystals in the presence of a silver halide solvent, as a function of the point-to-point degree of exposure to actinic radiation, a maximum silver image density not in excess of about 0.3 and a maximum silver image density of developed silver derived from unexposed silver halide crystals of not less than about 1.8.

Claim 24

A photographic process which comprises, in combination, the steps of exposing a photographic film unit comprising a permanent laminate containing a color screen, a photosensitive silver halide layer comprising photosensitive silver halide crystals and silver precipitating nuclei and a layer comprising silver precipitating nuclei, through said color screen, contacting said exposed silver halide layer with an aqueous processing composition containing a silver halide developing agent and a silver halide solvent thereby providing a visible silver image to said film unit in terms of the unexposed areas of said silver halide layer as the function of the point-to-point degree of exposure thereof, and maintaining said laminate intact subsequent to processing.

Claim 25

A photographic process as defined in claim 25 which comprises, in combination, the steps of exposing a photographic film unit comprising a permanent laminate containing a transparent support carrying a color screen and, in contiguous relationship, a photosensitive silver halide emulsion comprising photosensitive silver halide crystals and silver precipitating nuclei and a substantially photoinsensitive layer comprising silver precipitating nuclei, said nuclei present in a concentration effective to provide a silver image possessing optical density inversely proportional to exposure of the emulsion, through said screen, contacting said silver halide emulsion with an aqueous processing composition containing a silver halide developing agent and a silver halide solvent to provide a visible silver image to said film unit possessing optical density inversely proportional to exposure of the emulsion, and maintaining said laminate intact subsequent to processing.

Claim 26

A photographic process as defined in claim 26 which comprises, in combination, the steps of exposing a photographic film unit comprising a permanent laminate containing a transparent support carrying on one surface a color screen and a photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer comprising photosensitive silver halide crystals and silver precipitating nuclei dispersed in a processing composition permeable polymeric binder in superposed relationship to a substantially photoinsensitive layer comprising silver precipitating nuclei, said nuclei present in a concentration effective to provide a silver image derived from unexposed silver halide crystals possessing greater covering power than a silver image derived from exposed silver halide crystals, through said screen, contacting said silver halide emulsion with an aqueous processing composition containing a silver halide developing agent and a silver halide solvent for a period of time effective to provide a visible silver image to said film unit, as a function of emulsion exposure, derived from unexposed silver halide crystals possessing greater covering power than the silver image derived from exposed silver halide crystals, and maintaining said laminate intact subsequent to processing.

Claim 27

A photographic process as defined in claim 27 wherein silver image derived from unexposed silver halide crystals comprises silver of a first physical character and said silver image derived from exposed silver halide crystals comprises silver of a second physical character, said first physical character silver possessing higher optical density than said second physical character silver per unit mass.

Claim 28

A photographic process as defined in claim 27 which comprises, in combination, the steps of exposing a photographic film unit comprising a permanent laminate containing a transparent support carrying one one surface a multicolor screen, a photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer comprising photosensitive silver halide crystals and silver precipitating nuclei dispersed in a processing composition permeable binder and a substantially photoinsensitive layer comprising silver precipitating nuclei dispersed in a processing composition permeable binder, said silver precipitating nuclei present in a concentration effective to provide upon processing, as a function of exposure, a silver image derived from development of unexposed silver halide crystals possessing a maximum image density at least 1.0 density units greater than the maximum density of the silver image derived from development of exposed silver halide crystals, through said screen, contacting said silver halide emulsion with an aqueous processinG composition containing a silver halide developing agent and a silver halide solvent for a period of time effective to provide a visible silver image to said film unit in terms of the unexposed areas of said emulsion as a function of the point-to-point degree of emulsion exposure, said visible silver image derived from development of unexposed silver halide crystals and possessing a maximum image density at least 1.0 density units greater than the maximum density of developer silver derived from development of exposed silver halide crystals, and maintaining said laminate intact subsequent to processing.

Claim 29

A photographic process as defined in claim 29 which comprises, in combination, the steps of exposing a photographic film unit which is a permanent laminate and comprises a transparent support carrying on one surface a multicolor screen and a photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer comprising photosensitive silver halide crystals and silver precipitating nuclei disposed in a processing composition permeable binder and contiguous layer comprising silver precipitating nuclei disposed in a processing composition permeable binder, said silver precipitating nuclei present in a concentration effective to provide upon development of exposed silver halide crystals a maximum silver image density not in excess of about 0.5 and a maximum silver image density derived from unexposed silver halide crystals upon development of not less than about 1.5, said exposure accomplished through said color screen, contacting said silver halide emulsion with an aqueous processing composition containing a silver halide developing agent and a silver halide solvent for a sufficient time to provide a silver image to said film unit comprising a maximum density of image silver derived from development of unexposed silver halide crystals of not less than about 1.5 and a maximum density of image silver derived from development of exposed silver halide crystals not in excess of about 0.5, and maintaining said laminate intact subsequent to processing.

Claim 30

A photographic process as defined in claim 25 wherein said color screen comprises an additive color screen.

Claim 31

A photographic process as defined in claim 31 wherein said additive color screen comprises a trichromatic additive color screen comprising red, green and blue chromatic filter elements.

Claim 32

A photographic process as defined in claim 25 wherein said silver halide emulsion comprises a silver iodobromide emulsion.

Claim 33

A photographic process as defined in claim 33 wherein said silver iodobromide emulsion is panchromatically sensitized.

Claim 34

A photographic process as defined in claim 34 wherein said silver iodobromide emulsion comprises silver iodobromide crystals containing about 1 to 9 percent, by weight, iodide.

Claim 35

A photographic process as defined in claim 25 wherein said silver halide developing agent is disposed in said film unit prior to said contact of said unit with said aqueous processing composition.

Claim 36

A photographic process as defined in claim 27 wherein said processing composition permeable polymeric binder comprises gelatin.

Claim 37

A photographic process as defined in claim 37 which comprises, in combination, the steps of exposing a photographic film unit which comprises a permanent laminate containing a transparent support carrying on one surface a trichromatic additive color screen, a photosensitive silver halide emulsion comprising panchromatically sensitized silver iodobromide crystals and silver precipitating nuclei dispersed in a processing composition permeable gelatin binder, and a substantially photoinsensitive layer comprising silver precipitating nuclei dispersed in a processing composition permeable polymeric binder, said binds possessing a lattice effective to substantially prevent microscopic diffusion of image silver, said silver precipitating nuclei present in a concentration effective to provide, upon development in the presence of a silver halide soLvent and as a function of exposure, image silver derived from development of exposed silver iodobromide crystals possessing a maximum silver image density less than about 0.3 and a maximum silver image density derived from development of unexposed silver iodobromide crystals greater than about 1.8, said exposure accomplished by actinic radiation filtered by said color screen, contacting said exposed emulsion with an aqueous processing composition containing a silver halide developing agent and a silver halide solvent for a time sufficient to provide a silver image to said film unit in terms of the unexposed areas of said emulsion possessing a maximum silver image density of not less than about 1.8 and a silver image to said emulsion in terms of the exposed areas of said emulsion possessing a maximum silver image density not in excess of about 0.3, and maintaining said laminate intact subsequent to processing.

Claim 38

A photographic process as defined in claim 38 wherein said silver precipitating nuclei comprises metallic sulfides, metallic selenides or colloidal noble metals.

Claim 39

A photographic process as defined in claim 39 wherein said silver precipitating nuclei are present in a concentration of about 1 to 25 X 10 6 moles/ft.2.

Claim 40

A photographic process as defined in claim 37 wherein said panchromatically sensitized emulsion additionally contains silica dispersed therein.

Claim 41

A photographic product which comprises a permanent composite film unit including a color screen having associated therewith a developed, photoexposed preformed silver halide stratum possessing silver precipitating nuclei and a preformed stratum possessing silver precipitating nuclei, said strata taken together containing a silver image possessing optical density inversely proportional to photoexposure of said stratum.

Claim 42

A photographic product as defined in claim 42 wherein said silver image includes a positive silver image in terms of unexposed areas of said silver halide stratum comprising silver of a first physical character and a negative silver image in terms of exposed areas of said silver halide stratum comprising silver of a second physical character, said first physical character silver possessing higher optical density per unit than said second physical character silver.

Claim 43

A photographic product as defined in claim 43 wherein said positive silver image possesses maximum density at least 1.0 density units greater than the maximum density of said negative silver image in exposed areas of said silver halide stratum.

Claim 44

A photographic product as defined in claim 44 wherein said negative silver image possesses a maximum density in exposed areas of said silver halide stratum not in excess of about 0.5 and a maximum density of said positive silver image in terms of unexposed areas of said silver halide stratum of not less than about 1.5.

Claim 45

A photographic product as defined in claim 42 wherein said color screen is an additive color screen.

Claim 46

A photographic product as defined in claim 46 wherein said additive color screen is carried on a flexible transparent support and comprises a trichromatic color screen comprising red, green and blue colored optical filter elements.