Silver transfer diffusion process

Claim 2

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said silver halide developing agent is an N,N-bis-alkoxyalkylhydroxylamine wherein each of said alkoxy and alkyl radicals contain from one to three carbons.

Claim 3

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said silver halide solvent is an organic silver halide solvent.

Claim 4

The method as defined in claim 4 wherein silver halide solvent is a cyclic imide.

Claim 5

The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said cyclic imide is uracil.

Claim 6

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said stratum of regenerated cellulose is contiguous with a stratum of an alkali-hydrolyzable cellulose ester containing a mercapto-substituted compound, at least a portion of said mercapto-substituted compound being diffused to said stratum of regenerated cellulose during the formation of said silver transfer image.

Claim 7

The method as defined in claim 7 wherein said stratum of cellulose ester also contains a silver precipitating agent.

Claim 8

The method as defined in claim 7 wherein said silver halide developing agent is an N,N-dialkyl substituted hydroxylamine and said silver halide solvent is a cyclic imide.

Claim 9

The method as defined in claim 7 wherein said mercapto-substituted compound is effective to increase the stability of said silver transfer image.

Claim 10

The method as defined in claim 10 wherein said mercapto-substituted compound is a mercapto-thiadiazole.

Claim 11

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said silver precipitating agent is a colloidal metal sulfide.

Claim 12

A diffusion transfer film unit comprising a photosensitive silver halide emulsion in which the silver halide is substantially completely in the form of grains having a diameter greater than 0.5 microns, an image receiving layer comprising a stratum of regenerated cellulose containing a silver precipitating agent, and a processing composition comprising an aqueous alkaline solution, said film unit including a hydroxylamine silver halide developing agent and a silver halide solvent, said photosensitive silver halide emulsion and said image receiving layer being carried by a single support or being carried by separate superposable supports.

Claim 13

A film unit as defined in claim 13 wherein less than 1% of the silver halide grains of said silver halide emulsion have a diameter less than 0.5 microns.

Claim 14

A film unit as defined in claim 14 wherein said silver halide solvent is an organic silver halide solvent.

Claim 15

A film unit as defined in claim 15 wherein said silver halide solvent is a cyclic imide.

Claim 16

A film unit as defined in claim 16 wherein said cyclic imide is uracil.

Claim 17

A film unit as defined in claim 13 wherein said silver halide developing agent is an N,N-bis-alkoxyalkylhydroxylamine wherein each of the alkoxy and alkyl radicals contains from one to three carbon atoms.

Claim 18

A film unit as defined in claim 13 wherein said stratum of regenerated cellulose is contiguous with a stratum of an alkali hydrolysable cellulose ester positioned between said regenerated cellulose stratum and the support carrying said regenerated cellulose stratum.

Claim 19

A film unit as defined in claim 19 wherein said stratum of alkali hydrolysable cellulose ester contains a diffusible mercapto substituted compound.

Claim 20

A film unit as defined in claim 20 wherein said mercapto substituted compound is a mercapto-thiadiazole.

Claim 21

A film unit as defined in claim 19 wherein said stratum of alkali hydrolysable cellulose ester contains a silver precipitating agent.

Claim 22

A film unit as defined in claim 22 wherein said silver precipitating agent is a colloidal metal sulfide.

Claim 23

A diffusion transfer film unit comprising a first support carrying a photosensitive silver halide emulsion wherein less than 1% of the silver halide grains have a diameter less than 0.5 microns, a second support carrying an image receiving layer comprising a stratum of regenerated cellulose containing silver precipitating agent contiguous with a stratum of alkali hydrolysable cellulose ester, and a rupturable container releasably holding a processing composition comprising an aqueous alkaline solution, an N,N-dialkyl substituted hydroxylamine silver halide developing agent and an organic silver halide solvent, said rupturable container being so positioned as to discharge its contents for distribution between said silver halide emulsion and said image-receiving layer.