Process comprising diffusion transfer silver image removal

Claim 1

A process comprising a. developing an exposed silver halide emulsion containing a developable image, with an aqueous alkaline processing composition, and forming, in terms of unexposed areas of said emulsion, as a function of said development, an image-wise distribution of a soluble silver complex; b. transferring said complex at least in part by imbibition, to a superposed silver-receptive stratum including a hydrophilic, essentially water-insoluble macroscopically continuous siliceous matrix disposed on a layer of hydrophobic material, said silver-receptive stratum and said layer of hydrophobic material comprising an image-receiving element to provide a relatively dense silver transfer image primarily within said stratum, said silver transfer image formation being carried out in the presence of an effective amount of an anti-adhesion reagent which precludes adhesion of said stratum to said hydrophobic layer therebeneath in areas of relatively dense silver deposit so that nonadhering areas of said stratum with the silver deposited therein may be removed by the application of an aqueous medium consisting essentially of water; and c. contacting said silver-receptive stratum containing said silver transfer image with an aqueous medium consisting essentially of water for a time sufficient to remove those of areas of said stratum containing relatively dense silver deposits.