Redox amplification process employing a combination of oxidizing agents

Claim 1

A method of forming an image comprising: in a first aqueous alkaline solution performing a first redox reaction by bringing a cobalt(III) complex, which permanently releases ligands upon reduction, and a reducing agent together and into contact with an element containing an image pattern of a heterogeneous catalyst, wherein the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of the heterogeneous catalyst, and permitting the selective reaction of the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent at the site of the heterogeneous catalyst to produce cobalt(II) as an immobile reaction product in a pattern conforming to the heterogeneous catalyst image pattern; and in a second aqueous alkaline solution performing a second redox reaction by bringing into material contact a peroxide oxidizing agent, the immobile cobalt(II) reaction product and a dye-image-generating reducing agent capable of producing a dye-image-generating reaction product, wherein the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst, and permitting the selective reaction of the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent in a pattern conforming to the heterogeneous catalyst image pattern to permit a corresponding dye image to be formed, wherein each of the first and second redox reactions is performed in an aqueous alkaline solution.

Claim 2

A method of forming an image comprising: in a first aqueous alkaline solution performing a first redox reaction by bringing a cobalt(III) complex, which permanently releases ligands upon reduction, and a reducing agent together and into contact with an element containing an image pattern of a heterogeneous catalyst, wherein the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of the heterogeneous catalyst, and permitting the selective reaction of the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent at the site of the heterogeneous catalyst to produce cobalt(II) as an immobile reaction product in a pattern conforming to the heterogeneous catalyst image pattern; and in a second aqueous alkaline solution performing a second redox reaction by bringing into material contact a peroxide oxidizing agent, the immobile cobalt(II) reaction product and a dye-image-generating reducing agent capable of producing a dye-image-generating reaction product, wherein the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst, and permitting the selective reaction of the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent in a pattern conforming to the heterogeneous catalyst image pattern to permit a corresponding dye image to be formed, wherein each of the first and second redox reactions is performed in an aqueous alkaline solution.

Claim 13

A method of forming an image comprising: developing in the presence of a developing agent to produce a silver image pattern, an imagewise-exposed photographic element comprised of a support and at least one radiation-sensitive silver halide layer containing a developable latent image therein; performing a first redox reaction by bringing a cobalt(III) complex, which permanently releases ligands upon reduction, and a reducing agent together and into contact with the element containing the silver image pattern, and permitting the selective reaction of the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent at the site of the silver image pattern to produce cobalt(II) as an immobile reaction product in a pattern conforming to the silver image pattern; and performing a second redox reaction by bringing into material contact a peroxide oxidizing agent, the immobile cobalt(II) reaction product and a dye-image-generating reducing agent capable of producing a dye-image generating reaction product, and permitting the selective reaction of the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent in a pattern conforming to the silver image pattern to permit a corresponding dye image to be formed, wherein each of the developing, first redox reaction and second redox reaction steps is performed using a common aqueous alkaline processing solution and the cobalt(III) complex, peroxide oxidizing agent, reducing agent and dye-image-generating reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst.

Claim 14

A method of forming an image comprising: developing in the presence of a developing agent to produce a silver image pattern, an imagewise-exposed photographic element comprised of a support and at least one radiation-sensitive silver halide layer containing a developable latent image therein; performing a first redox reaction by bringing a cobalt(III) complex, which permanently releases ligands upon reduction, and a reducing agent together and into contact with the element containing the silver image pattern, and permitting the selective reaction of the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent at the site of the silver image pattern to produce cobalt(II) as an immobile reaction product in a pattern conforming to the silver image pattern; and performing a second redox reaction by bringing into material contact a peroxide oxidizing agent, the immobile cobalt(II) reaction product and a dye-image-generating reducing agent capable of producing a dye-image generating reaction product, and permitting the selective reaction of the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent in a pattern conforming to the silver image pattern to permit a corresponding dye image to be formed, wherein each of the developing, first redox reaction and second redox reaction steps is performed using a common aqueous alkaline processing solution and the cobalt(III) complex, peroxide oxidizing agent, reducing agent and dye-image-generating reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst.

Claim 18

A method of forming an image comprising: in a first aqueous alkaline solution bringing a photographic element bearing a silver image pattern into contact with an aqueous alkaline first amplification solution containing less than a 0.5 molar concentration of any compound which will form a tridentate or higher dentate ligand with cobalt, at least one of the photographic element and the first amplification solution additionally containing a cobalt(III) complex which permanently releases ligands upon reduction and a reducing agent wherein the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of the image silver, and in a second aqueous alkaline solution bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline second amplification solution comprising a peroxide oxidizing agent and at least one of the photographic element and the second amplification solution containing a dye-image-generating reducing agent, wherein the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst so that a dye image can be formed conforming to the silver image pattern originally present.

Claim 19

A method of forming an image comprising: in a first aqueous alkaline solution bringing a photographic element bearing a silver image pattern into contact with an aqueous alkaline first amplification solution containing less than a 0.5 molar concentration of any compound which will form a tridentate or higher dentate ligand with cobalt, at least one of the photographic element and the first amplification solution additionally containing a cobalt(III) complex which permanently releases ligands upon reduction and a reducing agent wherein the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of the image silver, and in a second aqueous alkaline solution bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline second amplification solution comprising a peroxide oxidizing agent and at least one of the photographic element and the second amplification solution containing a dye-image-generating reducing agent, wherein the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst so that a dye image can be formed conforming to the silver image pattern originally present.

Claim 25

A method of forming an image comprising: bringing a photographic element, comprised of a support and at least one radiation-sensitive silver halide layer containing a developable latent image, into contact with an aqueous alkaline developer solution, wherein at least one of the photographic element and the developer solution contains a silver halide developing agent, so that a silver image is formed in the photographic element corresponding to the developable latent image, poisoning the silver image as a redox amplification catalyst for a peroxide oxidizing agent, bringing the photographic element bearing the silver image pattern into contact with an aqueous alkaline first amplification solution containing less than a 0.05 molar concentration of any compound which will form a tridentate or higher dentate ligand with cobalt, comprising a reducing agent and at least one of the photographic element and the first amplification solution additionally containing a cobalt(III) complex which permanently releases ligands upon reduction, wherein the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of the image silver, and thereafter bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline second amplification solution, separate from said first amplification solution, comprising a peroxide oxidizing agent capable of reacting with the cobalt(II) reaction product to form a cationic cobalt(III) oxidizing agent as a reaction product in a pattern conforming to the silver image pattern and at least one of the photographic element and the second amplification solution containing a dye-image-generating reducing agent capable of entering into a redox reaction with the cationic cobalt(III) oxidizing agent, wherein the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of the cobalt(II) reaction product, so that a dye image can be formed.

Claim 26

A method of forming an image comprising: bringing a photographic element, comprised of a support and at least one radiation-sensitive silver halide layer containing a developable latent image, into contact with an aqueous alkaline developer solution, wherein at least one of the photographic element and the developer solution contains a silver halide developing agent, so that a silver image is formed in the photographic element corresponding to the developable latent image, poisoning the silver image as a redox amplification catalyst for a peroxide oxidizing agent, bringing the photographic element bearing the silver image pattern into contact with an aqueous alkaline first amplification solution containing less than a 0.05 molar concentration of any compound which will form a tridentate or higher dentate ligand with cobalt, comprising a reducing agent and at least one of the photographic element and the first amplification solution additionally containing a cobalt(III) complex which permanently releases ligands upon reduction, wherein the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of the image silver, and thereafter bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline second amplification solution, separate from said first amplification solution, comprising a peroxide oxidizing agent capable of reacting with the cobalt(II) reaction product to form a cationic cobalt(III) oxidizing agent as a reaction product in a pattern conforming to the silver image pattern and at least one of the photographic element and the second amplification solution containing a dye-image-generating reducing agent capable of entering into a redox reaction with the cationic cobalt(III) oxidizing agent, wherein the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of the cobalt(II) reaction product, so that a dye image can be formed.

Claim 33

A method of forming an image comprising: bringing a photographic element bearing a silver image pattern into contact with an aqueous alkaline first amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 containing less than a 0.05 molar concentration of any compound which will form a tridentate or higher dentate ligands with cobalt and comprising a silver halide developing agent as a reducing agent, at least one of the photographic element and the aqueous alkaline first amplification solution comprising a cobalt(III) complex having a coordination number of 6 and only monodentate or bidentate ligands, at least 4 of the ligands being ammine ligands, thereafter bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline second amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 and containing a peroxide oxidizing agent, at least one of the photographic element and the second amplification solution containing a color-developing agent and a photographic color coupler, and bleaching at least a portion of the silver halide image to leave an amplified image comprised of image dye, wherein the cobalt(III) complex and the silver halide developing agent are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst and the peroxide oxidizing agent and the color-developing agent are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst.

Claim 34

A method of forming an image comprising: bringing a photographic element bearing a silver image pattern into contact with an aqueous alkaline first amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 containing less than a 0.05 molar concentration of any compound which will form a tridentate or higher dentate ligands with cobalt and comprising a silver halide developing agent as a reducing agent, at least one of the photographic element and the aqueous alkaline first amplification solution comprising a cobalt(III) complex having a coordination number of 6 and only monodentate or bidentate ligands, at least 4 of the ligands being ammine ligands, thereafter bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline second amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 and containing a peroxide oxidizing agent, at least one of the photographic element and the second amplification solution containing a color-developing agent and a photographic color coupler, and bleaching at least a portion of the silver halide image to leave an amplified image comprised of image dye, wherein the cobalt(III) complex and the silver halide developing agent are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst and the peroxide oxidizing agent and the color-developing agent are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst.

Claim 37

A method of forming an image comprising: bringing a photographic element comprised of a support and at least one radiation-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer containing a developable latent image into contact with an aqueous alkaline developer solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13, wherein at least one of the photographic element and the developer solution contains a silver halide developing agent, so that a silver image is formed in the photographic element corresponding to the developable latent image, bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline first amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 containing less than a 0.05 molar concentration of any compound which will form a tridentate or higher dentate ligand with cobalt and containing a developing agent as a reducing agent, at least one of the photographic element and the aqueous alkaline first amplification solution comprising a cobalt(III) complex having a coordination number of 6 and only monodentate or bidentate ligands, at least 4 of the ligands being ammine ligands, thereafter bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 and containing a peroxide oxidizing agent and a primary aromatic amine, at least one of the photographic element and the amplification solution containing a photographic color coupler, and bleaching at least a portion of the silver image to leave an amplified image comprised of image dye, wherein the cobalt(III) complex and the silver halide developing agent are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst.

Claim 38

A method of forming an image comprising: bringing a photographic element comprised of a support and at least one radiation-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer containing a developable latent image into contact with an aqueous alkaline developer solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13, wherein at least one of the photographic element and the developer solution contains a silver halide developing agent, so that a silver image is formed in the photographic element corresponding to the developable latent image, bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline first amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 containing less than a 0.05 molar concentration of any compound which will form a tridentate or higher dentate ligand with cobalt and containing a developing agent as a reducing agent, at least one of the photographic element and the aqueous alkaline first amplification solution comprising a cobalt(III) complex having a coordination number of 6 and only monodentate or bidentate ligands, at least 4 of the ligands being ammine ligands, thereafter bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 and containing a peroxide oxidizing agent and a primary aromatic amine, at least one of the photographic element and the amplification solution containing a photographic color coupler, and bleaching at least a portion of the silver image to leave an amplified image comprised of image dye, wherein the cobalt(III) complex and the silver halide developing agent are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst.

Claim 42

A method of forming a multicolor dye image in a photographic element comprised of a support and, coated thereon, at least three layer units each comprised of at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing a developable latent image pattern, each of said layer units being primarily responsible to a different one of the blue, green and red portions of the visible spectrum, the blue-sensitive layer unit containing a yellow-dye-forming color coupler, the green-sensitive layer unit containing a magenta-dye-forming color coupler and the red-sensitive layer unit containing a cyan-dye-forming color coupler, comprising: developing a silver image in each of the three layer units corresponding to the latent image pattern thereof; with a first aqueous alkaline processing solution performing a first redox reaction in each of the layer units by bringing a cobalt(III) complex, which permanently releases ligands upon reduction, and a reducing agent together and into contact with the element containing the silver image pattern in each layer unit, wherein the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of the silver image, and permitting the selective reaction of the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent at the site of the silver image pattern within each layer unit to produce cobalt(II) as an immobile reaction product in a pattern conforming to the silver image pattern in each layer unit; and thereafter, with a second aqueous alkaline processing solution performing a second redox reaction by bringing into mutual contact a peroxide oxidizing agent, the immobile cobalt(II) reaction product and a dye-image-generating reducing agent capable of producing a dye-image-generating reaction, wherein the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst, and permitting the selective reaction of the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent in a pattern conforming to the silver image pattern in each of the layer units to permit a corresponding dye image to be formed therein.

Claim 43

A method of forming a multicolor dye image in a photographic element comprised of a support and, coated thereon, at least three layer units each comprised of at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing a developable latent image pattern, each of said layer units being primarily responsible to a different one of the blue, green and red portions of the visible spectrum, the blue-sensitive layer unit containing a yellow-dye-forming color coupler, the green-sensitive layer unit containing a magenta-dye-forming color coupler and the red-sensitive layer unit containing a cyan-dye-forming color coupler, comprising: developing a silver image in each of the three layer units corresponding to the latent image pattern thereof; with a first aqueous alkaline processing solution performing a first redox reaction in each of the layer units by bringing a cobalt(III) complex, which permanently releases ligands upon reduction, and a reducing agent together and into contact with the element containing the silver image pattern in each layer unit, wherein the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of the silver image, and permitting the selective reaction of the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent at the site of the silver image pattern within each layer unit to produce cobalt(II) as an immobile reaction product in a pattern conforming to the silver image pattern in each layer unit; and thereafter, with a second aqueous alkaline processing solution performing a second redox reaction by bringing into mutual contact a peroxide oxidizing agent, the immobile cobalt(II) reaction product and a dye-image-generating reducing agent capable of producing a dye-image-generating reaction, wherein the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst, and permitting the selective reaction of the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent in a pattern conforming to the silver image pattern in each of the layer units to permit a corresponding dye image to be formed therein.

Claim 48

A method of forming a multicolor dye image in a photographic element comprised of a support and, coated thereon, at least three layer units each comprised of at least one gelatino-silver halide emulsion layer, each of said layer units being primarily responsive to a different one of the blue, green and red portions of the visible spectrum, the blue-sensitive layer unit containing an open-chain ketomethylene yellow-dye-forming color coupler, the green-sensitive layer unit containing a 5-pyrazolone magenta-dye-forming color coupler and the red-sensitive layer unit containing a phenolic cyan-dye-forming color coupler, and at least one of the layer units containing a developable latent image, comprising sequentially: bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline developer solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 wherein at least one of the photographic element and the developer solution contains at least one silver halide developing agent, so that a silver image is formed in the photographic element corresponding to the developable latent image, bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline first amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 containing less than a 0.05 molar concentration of any compound which will form a tridentate or higher dentate ligand with cobalt and comprising a silver halide developing agent as a reducing agent, at least one of the photographic element and the aqueous alkaline first amplification solution comprising a cobalt(III) complex having a coordination number of 6 and only monodentate or bidentate ligands, at least 4 of the ligands being ammine ligands, wherein the cobalt(III) complex and the silver halide developing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst, thereafter bringing the photographic element into contact with a separate aqueous aklaline second amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 and containing hydrogen peroxide and a primary para-phenylenediamine color-developing agent, and bleaching at least a portion of the silver image in each of the three layer units to leave an amplified image comprised of image dye.

Claim 49

A method of forming a multicolor dye image in a photographic element comprised of a support and, coated thereon, at least three layer units each comprised of at least one gelatino-silver halide emulsion layer, each of said layer units being primarily responsive to a different one of the blue, green and red portions of the visible spectrum, the blue-sensitive layer unit containing an open-chain ketomethylene yellow-dye-forming color coupler, the green-sensitive layer unit containing a 5-pyrazolone magenta-dye-forming color coupler and the red-sensitive layer unit containing a phenolic cyan-dye-forming color coupler, and at least one of the layer units containing a developable latent image, comprising sequentially: bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline developer solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 wherein at least one of the photographic element and the developer solution contains at least one silver halide developing agent, so that a silver image is formed in the photographic element corresponding to the developable latent image, bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline first amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 containing less than a 0.05 molar concentration of any compound which will form a tridentate or higher dentate ligand with cobalt and comprising a silver halide developing agent as a reducing agent, at least one of the photographic element and the aqueous alkaline first amplification solution comprising a cobalt(III) complex having a coordination number of 6 and only monodentate or bidentate ligands, at least 4 of the ligands being ammine ligands, wherein the cobalt(III) complex and the silver halide developing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst, thereafter bringing the photographic element into contact with a separate aqueous aklaline second amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 and containing hydrogen peroxide and a primary para-phenylenediamine color-developing agent, and bleaching at least a portion of the silver image in each of the three layer units to leave an amplified image comprised of image dye.

Claim 52

A method of forming a multicolor dye image in a photographic element comprised of a support and, coated thereon, at least three layer units each comprised of at least one gelatino-silver halide emulsion layer, each of the layer units incorporating therein a silver image formed by exposure to a separate one of the blue, green and red thirds of the visible spectrum, the layer unit containing the silver image formed by exposure to the blue third of the visible spectrum containing an open-chain ketomethylene yellow-dye-forming color coupler, the layer unit containing the silver image formed by exposure to the green third of the visible spectrum containing a 5-pyrazolone magenta-dye-forming color coupler and the layer unit containing the silver image formed by exposure to the red third of the visible spectrum containing a phenolic cyan-dye-forming color coupler, comprising: bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline first amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 which is substantially free from any compound which will form a tridentate or higher dentate ligand with cobalt and comprising from 1 to 20 grams per liter of a silver halide developing agent and from 0.2 to 20 grams per liter of cobalt hexammine acetate or chloride, and thereafter bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline second amplification solution separate from the first aqueous alkaline amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 containing 0.001 to 0.5 mole per liter of hydrogen peroxide and 1 to 20 grams per liter of a primary para-phenylenediamine color-developing agent, thereby forming the silver image in each layer unit with a dye image corresponding to the silver image pattern therein.

Claim 53

A method of forming a multicolor dye image in a photographic element comprised of a support and, coated thereon, at least three layer units each comprised of at least one gelatino-silver halide emulsion layer, each of the layer units incorporating therein a silver image formed by exposure to a separate one of the blue, green and red thirds of the visible spectrum, the layer unit containing the silver image formed by exposure to the blue third of the visible spectrum containing an open-chain ketomethylene yellow-dye-forming color coupler, the layer unit containing the silver image formed by exposure to the green third of the visible spectrum containing a 5-pyrazolone magenta-dye-forming color coupler and the layer unit containing the silver image formed by exposure to the red third of the visible spectrum containing a phenolic cyan-dye-forming color coupler, comprising: bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline first amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 which is substantially free from any compound which will form a tridentate or higher dentate ligand with cobalt and comprising from 1 to 20 grams per liter of a silver halide developing agent and from 0.2 to 20 grams per liter of cobalt hexammine acetate or chloride, and thereafter bringing the photographic element into contact with an aqueous alkaline second amplification solution separate from the first aqueous alkaline amplification solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13 containing 0.001 to 0.5 mole per liter of hydrogen peroxide and 1 to 20 grams per liter of a primary para-phenylenediamine color-developing agent, thereby forming the silver image in each layer unit with a dye image corresponding to the silver image pattern therein.

Claim 63

A method of forming an image comprising in a first aqueous alkaline processing solution, developing in the presence of a developing agent to produce a silver image pattern, an imagewise-exposed photographic element comprised of a support and at least one radiation-sensitive silver halide layer containing a developable latent image therein and performing a first redox reaction by bringing a cobalt(III) complex, which permanently releases ligands upon reduction, and a reducing agent together and into contact with the element containing the silver image pattern, wherein the developing agent, cobalt(III) complex and reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of the silver image, and permitting the selective reaction of the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent at the site of the silver image pattern to produce cobalt(II) as an immobile reaction product in a pattern conforming to the silver image pattern; and in a second aqueous alkaline processing solution, performing a second redox reaction by bringing into material contact with a peroxide oxidizing agent, the immobile cobalt(II) reaction product and a dye-image-generating reducing agent capable of producing a dye-image-generating reaction product, wherein the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst, and permitting the selective reaction of the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent in a pattern conforming to the silver image pattern to permit a corresponding dye image to be formed.

Claim 64

A method of forming an image comprising in a first aqueous alkaline processing solution, developing in the presence of a developing agent to produce a silver image pattern, an imagewise-exposed photographic element comprised of a support and at least one radiation-sensitive silver halide layer containing a developable latent image therein and performing a first redox reaction by bringing a cobalt(III) complex, which permanently releases ligands upon reduction, and a reducing agent together and into contact with the element containing the silver image pattern, wherein the developing agent, cobalt(III) complex and reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of the silver image, and permitting the selective reaction of the cobalt(III) complex and the reducing agent at the site of the silver image pattern to produce cobalt(II) as an immobile reaction product in a pattern conforming to the silver image pattern; and in a second aqueous alkaline processing solution, performing a second redox reaction by bringing into material contact with a peroxide oxidizing agent, the immobile cobalt(II) reaction product and a dye-image-generating reducing agent capable of producing a dye-image-generating reaction product, wherein the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent are chosen so that they are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst, and permitting the selective reaction of the peroxide oxidizing agent and the dye-image-generating reducing agent in a pattern conforming to the silver image pattern to permit a corresponding dye image to be formed.

Claim 66

A method of forming an image comprising bringing a photographic element comprised of a support and at least one radiation-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer containing a developable latent image into contact with an aqueous alkaline processing solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13, at least one of the photographic element and the processing solution contains a photographic color coupler and a cobalt(III) complex having a coordination number of 6 and only monodentate or bidentate ligands, at least 4 of the ligands being ammine ligands, the aqueous alkaline processing solution contains a dye-image-generating primary aromatic amine silver halide developing agent, a peroxide oxidizing agent and less than a 0.5 molar concentration of any compound which will form a tridentate or higher dentate ligand with cobalt, wherein the cobalt(III) complex, the dye-image-generating developing agent and the peroxide oxidizing agent are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst, so that a silver image is formed in the photographic element corresponding to the developable latent image and an amplified dye image is formed which corresponds to the silver image and thereafter bleaching at least a protion of the silver image to leave the amplified dye image.

Claim 67

A method of forming an image comprising bringing a photographic element comprised of a support and at least one radiation-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer containing a developable latent image into contact with an aqueous alkaline processing solution having a pH in the range of from 10 to 13, at least one of the photographic element and the processing solution contains a photographic color coupler and a cobalt(III) complex having a coordination number of 6 and only monodentate or bidentate ligands, at least 4 of the ligands being ammine ligands, the aqueous alkaline processing solution contains a dye-image-generating primary aromatic amine silver halide developing agent, a peroxide oxidizing agent and less than a 0.5 molar concentration of any compound which will form a tridentate or higher dentate ligand with cobalt, wherein the cobalt(III) complex, the dye-image-generating developing agent and the peroxide oxidizing agent are essentially inert to oxidation-reduction in the absence of a catalyst, so that a silver image is formed in the photographic element corresponding to the developable latent image and an amplified dye image is formed which corresponds to the silver image and thereafter bleaching at least a protion of the silver image to leave the amplified dye image.