Novel photographic products and processes

Claim 2

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said polymer comprises an alkaline processing composition hydrolyzable polymeric ester.

Claim 3

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 3 wherein said polymeric ester is a polycarboxylic acid ester.

Claim 4

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 4 wherein said polycarboxylic acid ester is cellulose acetate.

Claim 5

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said cellulose acetate contains an acetate substituent ratio of 1.5 to 2.8 acetate groups per anhydroglucose unit.

Claim 6

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 1 including opacifying agent, in a quantity sufficient to mask dye image-forming material associated with said photosensitive silver halide layer, adapted to be disposed intermediate said photosensitive silver halide layer and said layer adapted to receive dye image-forming material diffusing thereto.

Claim 7

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 1 including a rupturable container retaining said processing composition positioned extending transverse an edge of the film unit to effect, upon application of compressive pressure to said container, discharge of said container''s processing composition contents into contact with said photosensitive silver halide layer.

Claim 8

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 8 wherein said rupturable container retaining said processing composition is adapted, upon application of compressive pressure to the container, to discharge the container''s processing composition contents iNtermediate said photosensitive layer and the layer adapted to receive dye image-forming material diffusing thereto.

Claim 9

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 9 wherein said processing composition includes opacifying agent in a quantity sufficient to mask dye image-forming material associated with said photosensitive layer.

Claim 10

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 10 including a dimensionally stable opaque layer positioned contiguous the surface of said photosensitive layer opposite said layer adapted to receive dye image-forming material diffusing thereto.

Claim 11

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 11 including a separate dimensionally stable transparent layer positioned contiguous the surface of said layer adapted to receive dye image-forming material diffusing thereto opposite said photosensitive layer.

Claim 12

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 8 including a dimensionally stable transparent layer positioned contiguous the surface of said photosensitive silver halide layer opposite said layer adapted to receive dye image-forming material diffusing thereto, an opaque layer adapted to reflect incident visible radiation positioned intermediate said photosensitive silver halide layer and the layer adapted to receive dye image-forming material diffusing thereto and said rupturable container retaining said processing composition is adapted, upon application of compressive pressure to the container, to discharge the container''s processing composition contents intermediate said photosensitive silver halide layer and said dimensionally stable transparent layer.

Claim 13

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said dye image-forming material is a dye which is a silver halide developing agent.

Claim 14

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said mordant is a basic mordant adapted to mordant an acid dyestuff.

Claim 15

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said polymer is an alkali hydrolyzable polymeric salt.

Claim 16

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 1 including at least two selectively sensitized silver halide layers each having a dye image-forming material associated therewith.

Claim 17

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 17 wherein each of the selectively sensitized silver halide layers possesses predominant spectral sensitivity to separate regions of the spectrum and the dye image-forming material associated with each of said silver halide layers possesses a spectral absorption range subsequent to processing substantially complementary to the predominant sensitivity range of its associated silver halide layer.

Claim 18

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 18 which comprises, in combination: a photosensitive element including a composite structure containing, as essential layers, a dimensionally stable opaque layer; at least two selectively sensitized silver halide emulsion layers possessing predominant spectral sensitivity to separate regions of the visible electromagnetic spectrum, said silver halide emulsion layers having associated therewith a dye which is a silver halide developing agent and is soluble and diffusible, in alkaline processing composition, at a first pH, possessing a spectral absorption range subsequent to processing substantially complementary to the predominant sensitivity range of its associated emulsion layer; an alkaline solution dyeable mordant retaining polycarboxylic acid ester layer adapted to provide, as a function of contact with an alkaline processing composition, acid in a concentration effective subsequent to substantial dye transfer image formation in said dyeable polymeric layer to reduce alkaline processing comPosition possessing said first pH at which said dyes are soluble and diffusible to a second pH at least one pH unit lower than said first pH at which said dyes are substantially nondiffusible; a dimensionally stable transparent layer; and means securing the layers in substantially fixed relationship; and a rupturable container retaining an alkaline processing composition possessing said first pH at which said dyes are soluble and diffusible and opacifying agent in a quantity sufficient to mask dye associated with said selectively sensitized silver halide emulsion layers, said rupturable container positioned and extending transverse an edge of the photosensitive element to effect unidirectional discharge of the container''s alkaline processing composition intermediate the dyeable polymeric layer and the selectively sensitized silver halide emulsion layer next adjacent thereto.

Claim 19

A photographic diffusion transfer color process film unit as defined in claim 19 adapted to be processed by passage of said unit between a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying members and which comprises, in combination: a photosensitive element including a composite structure containing, as essential layers, in sequence, a dimensionally stable alkaline solution impermeable opaque layer; a red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith cyan dye; a green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith magenta dye; a blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a yellow dye, said cyan, magenta and yellow dyes comprising silver halide developing agents soluble and diffusible, in alkaline processing composition, at a first pH; an alkaline solution dyeable mordant retaining cellulose acetate layer adapted to provide upon contact with alkaline processing composition acid in a concentration effective to reduce an alkaline processing composition having said first pH at which said cyan, magenta and yellow dyes are soluble and diffusible to a second pH at least one pH unit lower than said pH at which said cyan, magenta and yellow dyes are substantially nondiffusible; a dimensionally stable alkaline solution impermeable transparent layer; and means securing said layers substantially in fixed relationship; and a rupturable container retaining an aqueous alkaline processing composition having said first pH at which said cyan, magenta and yellow dyes are soluble and diffusible and opacifying agent in a quantity sufficient to mask, upon distribution of the aqueous alkaline processing composition as a layer, intermediate the dyeable polymeric layer and said blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, cyan, magenta and yellow dye associated with said red-, green-, and blue-sensitive emulsion layers, said container fixedly positioned and extending transverse an edge of the photosensitive element to effect, upon application of compressive force to said container, unidirectional discharge of the container''s aqueous alkaline processing composition contents intermediate said dyeable polymeric layer and said blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer.

Claim 20

A process of forming transfer images in color which comprises, in combination, the steps of: a. exposing a photographic film unit which comprises a plurality of layers including a photosensitive silver halide layer having associated therewith a diffusion transfer process dye image-forming material adapted to provide a dye image to a contiguous image-receiving layer during processing of the unit as a function of the point-to-point degree of the photosensitive layer''s exposure to radiation actinic thereto and an image-receptive layer, adapted to receive dye image-forming material diffusing thereto, which is a substantially continuous polymeric layer consisting essentially of a neutral synthetic polymer which provides acid as a function of alkaline hydrolysis, upon contact with aqueous alkaline processing composition, adapted to reduce the alkaLinity of said image-receptive layer at least one pH unit, having associated therewith in said layer a mordant adapted to mordant dye image-forming material diffusing to said layer; b. contacting said photosensitive silver halide layer with an aqueous alkaline processing composition; c. effecting thereby development of the photoexposed silver halide layer; d. forming thereby an imagewise distribution of diffusible dye image-forming material, as a function of the point-to-point degree of the silver halide layer''s exposure to incident actinic radiation; e. transferring, by diffusion, at least a portion of said imagewise distribution of said diffusible dye image-forming material to said image-receptive layer to provide a dye image to said layer in terms of said imagewise distribution; and f. reducing, subsequent to substantial transfer of said diffusible dye image-forming material to said image-receptive layer, the pH of said image-receptive layer at least one pH unit.

Claim 21

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 21 wherein said diffusion transfer process dye image-forming material is diffusible at a first alkaline processing pH as a function of the photoexposure of said film unit and is substantially nondiffusible at a second pH at least one pH unit lower than said first pH and said neutral polymer is adapted to interact with said aqueous alkaline processing composition possessing said first pH to provide by hydrolysis acid in a concentration effective, subsequent to substantial dye transfer image formation, to reduce said processing composition in contact with said image-receptive layer to said second pH at which said dye image-forming material is substantially nondiffusible.

Claim 22

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 22 wherein said hydrolyzable polymer comprises an aqueous alkaline processing composition hydrolyzable polymeric ester.

Claim 23

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 23 wherein said hydrolyzable polymeric ester is a polycarboxylic acid ester.

Claim 24

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 24 wherein said polycarboxylic acid ester is cellulose acetate.

Claim 25

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 25 wherein said cellulose acetate comprises an acetate group substituent ratio 1.5 to 2.8 acetate groups per anhydroglucose unit.

Claim 26

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 26 wherein said mordant is poly-4-vinyl pyridine.

Claim 27

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 21 wherein said mordant is a basic mordant adapted to mordant an acid dyestuff.

Claim 28

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 21 wherein said dye image-providing material is a dye which is a silver halide developing agent.

Claim 29

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 21 wherein said photosensitive element comprises in contiguous relationship at least two selectively sensitized silver halide layers having associated therewith a dye image-providing material which is diffusible during processing as a function of the point-to-point degree of the photoexposure of its associated silver halide layer.

Claim 30

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 30 wherein said selectively sensitized silver layers possess predominant spectral sensitivity to separate regions of the visible spectrum and the dye image-providing material associated with each of said emulsion layers provides a dye possessing subsequent to processing a spectral absorption range sustantially complementary to the predominant sensitivity range of its associated emulsion layer.

Claim 31

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 31 wherein said photosensitive element contains, as essential layers, in sequence, a support layer; a red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith cyaN dye; a green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith magenta dye; a blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith yellow dye, each of said cyan, magenta and yellow dyes being a silver halide developing agent.

Claim 32

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 21 wherein said film unit possesses a rupturable container retaining said aqueous alkaline processing composition positioned extending transverse an edge of said film unit adapted to effect, upon application of compressive pressure to said container, discharge of said container''s processing contents into contact with said photosensitive silver halide layer, and including the step of applying compressive pressure to said container and discharging said container''s processing composition contents into contact with said photosensitive layer.

Claim 33

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 33 wherein said aqueous alkaline processing composition includes an opacifying agent.

Claim 34

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 33 wherein said aqueous alkaline processing composition is discharged intermediate said photosensitive silver halide layer and said image-receptive layer.

Claim 35

A process of forming transfer images in color as defined in claim 33 wherein said film unit contains an aqueous alkaline processing composition permeable opaque layer disposed intermediate said photosensitive silver halide layer and said image-receptive layer.

Claim 36

A photographic diffusion transfer color process image-receiving element which comprises a dye image-receiving layer, adapted to receive diffusion transfer process dye image-forming material diffusing thereto, which is a substantially continuous polymeric layer consisting essentially of a synthetic neutral polymer, adapted to react with aqueous alkaline processing composition in contact with said layer to provide, as a function hydrolysis, acid in a concentration effective to reduce the alkalinity of said layer at least one pH unit, having associated therewith in said layer a mordant adapted to mordant diffusion transfer process dye image-forming material diffusing to the layer.

Claim 37

A photographic diffusion transfer color process image-receiving element as defined in claim 37 wherein said image-receiving layer is carried on a separate dimensionally stable support.

Claim 38

A photographic diffusion transfer color process image-receiving element as defined in claim 38 wherein said dimensionally stable support is substantially transparent with respect to visible light.

Claim 39

A photographic diffusion transfer color process image-receiving element as defined in claim 38 wherein at least the surface of the dimensionally stable support next adjacent the image-receiving layer is reflective with respect to visible light.

Claim 40

A photographic diffusion transfer color process image-receiving element as defined in claim 37 wherein said polymer is an aqueous alkaline processing composition hydrolyzable polymeric ester adapted to generate acid as a function of hydrolysis.

Claim 41

A photographic diffusion transfer color process image-receiving element as defined in claim 41 wherein said polymeric ester is a polycarboxylic acid ester.

Claim 42

A photographic diffusion transfer color process image-receiving element as defined in claim 42 wherein said polycarboxylic acid ester is cellulose acetate.

Claim 43

A photographic diffusion transfer color process image-receiving element as defined in claim 43 wherein said cellulose acetate contains an acetate ratio of 1.5 to 2.8 acetate groups per anhydroglucose unit.

Claim 44

A photographic diffusion transfer color process image-receiving element as defined in claim 44 wherein said cellulose acetate contains an acetate ratio of 2.3 acetate groups per anhydroglucose unit.