Method of image formation

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein said compound having the general formula (I) has the general formulae (II), (III), (IV) or (V): ##STR26## wherein X.sup.⊖ represents an anion; R 2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an oxycarbonyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an acyloxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an amino group, an acylamino group, a sulfonamido group, a halogen atom, a carbamoyl group or a ##STR27## group; R 1 represents a --Y--COOR 3 group or a --Y--OCOR 3 group, Y represents an alkylene group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an arylene group or an aralkylene group; R 3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an aryl group or an aralkyl group; ##STR28## wherein X.sup.⊖ represents an anion; Z represents a --Y--COO--Y-- group, a --Y--COO--Y--OCO--Y-- group, a --Y--OCO--Y--COO--Y-- group and a --Y--COO--Y--COO--Y-- group; Y represents an alkylene group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an arylene group or an aralkylene group; R 2 and R 2 ' each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an oxycarbonyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an acyloxy group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an amino group, an acylamino group, a sulfonamido group, a halogen atom or a carbamoyl group; ##STR29## wherein X.sup.⊖ represents an anion; R 2 represents an oxycarbonyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an acyloxy group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, a ##STR30## group, ##STR31## group or ##STR32## group; Y represents an alkylene group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an arylene group or an aralkylene group; R 4 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms or an aralkyl group having 7 to 12 carbon atoms; or ##STR33## wherein X.sup.⊖ represents an anion; Y represents a divalent organic group; R 2 and R 2 ' each represents an oxycarbonyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms or an acyloxy group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of said compound represented by the general formula (I) is about 0.0005 g to about 10 g per mol of silver halide.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, wherein said silver halide is silver bromochloride or silver iodobromochloride containing at least about 60 mol% silver chloride, up to about 5 mol% silver iodide and the remainder silver bromide.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1, wherein said lith developer comprises the components (a) an o- or p-dihydroxybenzene developing agent; (b) a sulfite ion buffer; (c) a sulfite salt; and (d) an alkaline agent.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5, wherein the amounts of said component (a), (b) and (c) per liter of said lith developer are about 1 to about 100 grams of component (a), about 13 to about 130 grams of component (b) and not more than about 5 grams of component (c) and said component (d) is present in an amount sufficient to result in the lith developer being at a pH of at least about 9.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5, wherein said developing agent (a) is selected from the group consisting of o-dihydroxybenzene, hydroquinone, chlorohydroquinone, bromohydroquinone, isopropylhydroquinone, toluhydroquinone, methylhydroquinone, 2,3-dichlorohydroquinone or 2,5-dimethylhydroquinone.

Claim 9

The method of claim 5, wherein said sulfite ion buffer (b) is an aldehyde-alkali metal bisulfite adduct selected from the group consisting of a formaldehyde-NaHSO 3 adduct, a ketone-alkali metal bisulfite adduct or a carbonyl-bisulfiteamine condensate.

Claim 10

The method of claim 5, wherein said sulfite salt (c) is an alkali metal sulfite.

Claim 11

The method of claim 5, wherein said alkaline agent (d) is sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1, wherein said compound represented by the general formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of ##STR34##

Claim 13

The method of claim 1, wherein said compound represented by the general formula (I) is incorporated into said silver halide photographic emulsion layer (i).

Claim 14

The method of claim 1, wherein said lith developer comprises hydroquinone as a developing agent, an aldehyde-alkali metal bisulfite adduct as a sulfite ion buffer and an alkali metal sulfite in an amount of not higher than about 5 g per liter of the lith developer.

Claim 15

The method of claim 1, said photosensitive element further comprising a flexible support having thereon said layers (i) and (ii).

Claim 16

The method of claim 14, wherein said compound of the general formula (I) is added to said layer (i) and/or (ii) before said layer (i) and/or (ii) is coated on said support.