Photographic developer compositions

Claim 1

An alkaline aqueous developer composition suited for producing halftone images showing the lith-gradation by development of silver halide recording materials in which the halide consists of at least about 50 mole % of chloride wherein said composition comprises: 1. a p-dihydroxybenzene developing agent in an amount of about 0.05-0.50 mole per liter, 2. a sulfite compound providing an amount of sulfite ions (SO 3 - - ) of at least about 5 grams per liter, 3. a sufficient amount of an alkaline compound to impart to said composition a pH of about 9.7-11.5, 4. a nitro-indazole corresponding to the following general formula: ##SPC5## wherein: R is hydrogen or a lower (C 1 -C 5 ) alkyl group, and the nitro-group is in the 5- or 6-position, 5. a polymer containing a plurality of alkylene oxide units and having a molecular weight of at least about 1500, said polymer being present in a concentration of at least 500 mg per liter, 6. bromide ions in a concentration of at least 0.2 g per liter, said composition containing not more than about 0.05 g/l of any auxiliary developing agent that shows a superadditive developing effect with said p-dihydroxybenzene developing agent.

Claim 15

A method for developing a silver halide emulsion recording material in which the halide consists essentially of at least 50 mole % of chloride and which has been subjected to an exposure for producing an halftone print wherein the development of said material is carried out in a aqueous alkaline developing composition comprising: 1. a p-dihydroxybenzene developing agent in an amount of about 0.05-0.50 mole per liter, 2. a sulfite compound providing an amount of sulfite ions (SO 3 - - ) of at least about 5 grams per liter, 3. a sufficient amount of an alkaline compound to impart to said composition a pH of about 9.7-11.5, 4. a nitro-indazole corresponding to the following general formula: ##SPC6##wherein: R is hydrogen or a lower (C 1 -C 5 ) alkyl group, and the nitro group is in the 5- or 6-position, 5. a polymer containing a plurality of alkylene oxide units, said polymer being present in a concentration of at least 500 mg per liter, 6. bromide ions in a concentration of at least 0.2 g per liter, said composition containing not more than about 0.05 g/l of any auxiliary developing agent that shows a superadditive developing effect with said p-dihydroxybenzene developing agent.

Claim 16

A method for developing a silver halide emulsion recording material in which the halide consists essentially of at least 50 mole % of chloride and which has been subjected to an exposure for producing an halftone print wherein the development of said material is carried out in a aqueous alkaline developing composition comprising: 1. a p-dihydroxybenzene developing agent in an amount of about 0.05-0.50 mole per liter, 2. a sulfite compound providing an amount of sulfite ions (SO 3 - - ) of at least about 5 grams per liter, 3. a sufficient amount of an alkaline compound to impart to said composition a pH of about 9.7-11.5, 4. a nitro-indazole corresponding to the following general formula: ##SPC6##wherein: R is hydrogen or a lower (C 1 -C 5 ) alkyl group, and the nitro group is in the 5- or 6-position, 5. a polymer containing a plurality of alkylene oxide units, said polymer being present in a concentration of at least 500 mg per liter, 6. bromide ions in a concentration of at least 0.2 g per liter, said composition containing not more than about 0.05 g/l of any auxiliary developing agent that shows a superadditive developing effect with said p-dihydroxybenzene developing agent.