Heat development with reducible dye releaser

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating is carried out after imagewise exposure.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the imagewise exposing and heating are carried out at the same time.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reducing agent is an electron donor or an electron transfer agent, or both of them.

Claim 6

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the immobile dye-providing substance is one of the compounds represented by the following formulae (IA), and (IB): ##STR23## wherein: ENup is an electron-receiving nucleophilic precursor for a hydroxy nucleophilic group; G 1 is an imino group, a sulfonimido group, a cyclic group formed in combination with R 4 or R 6 , or a group specified by ENup; E is an electrophilic group; Q 1 is a group forming a monoatomic bond between E and R 9 ; R 7 is an alkylene group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the bonding group, or an alkylene group in which at least one methylene contained in the bonding group is a dialkyl or diarylmethylene bonding group; n is an integer of 1 or 2; R 9 is an aromatic group containing at least 5 carbon atoms, or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group; R 8 is an alkyl group containing from 1 to 40 carbon atoms or an aryl group containing from 6 to 40 carbon atoms or has the same meaning as that in the substituent X 1 as defined above; and R 6 , R 4 and R 5 are each a one-atom subsituent, or may each be the substituent X 1 assuming that R 6 and R 5 or R 4 and R 5 can combine together and form a 5- to 7-membered ring in combination with the remaining portion of the molecule containing a bridged ring, ##STR24## wherein: ENup is the same as defined above; A is a group containing an atomic group necessary for forming a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring in combination with the remainder; W is an electron-withdrawing group having a positive Hammett's σ value; R 12 is a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group containing 6 to 30 carbon atoms; R 3 is a divalent organic group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the divalent bonding group; m and q are each a positive integer of 1 or 2; p and r are each a positive integer of 1 or more; [(R 12 ) q-1 W] is a substituent at an arbitrary point of the aromatic ring structure of A; E and Q provide an electrophilic cleavage group in which E is an electrophilic center; n' is an integer of from 1 to 3; X 2 is an image dye-providing substance; and or an image dye precursor as in the case of Q; X 1 is the same as defined above.

Claim 7

A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the image is formed by transferring the mobile dye to a dye-fixing layer.

Claim 8

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-sensitive material is heated in a substantially water-free condition to a temperature of about 80° C. to 250° C. for a sufficient time to effect heat-development.

Claim 9

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-sensitive material further comprises a dye-releasing aid.

Claim 10

A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the dye-releasing aid is incorporated in a dye-fixing material.

Claim 11

A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mobile dye released is transferred to the dye-fixing layer by the use of water or a basic aqueous solution.

Claim 12

A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein a dye mordant is incorporated in the dye-fixing layer.

Claim 13

A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the dye-fixing layer is provided on another support.

Claim 14

A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the dye-fixing layer is provided on the light-sensitive material.

Claim 15

A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the dye portion of the immobile compound is a hydrophilic azo, azomethine, anthraquinone, naphthoquinone, styryl, nitro, quinoline, carbonyl or phthlocyanine dye.

Claim 16

A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the dye-releasing aid is a base or a base-releasing agent.

Claim 17

A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the organosilver salt oxidizing agent is a silver salt of a carboxylic acid derivative or of a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound.

Claim 18

A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the organosilver salt oxidizing agent is a silver salt of a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound.

Claim 19

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the binder is gelatin or its derivative.

Claim 20

A heat developable color light-sensitive material comprising a support having provided thereon a light-sensitive silver halide, a binder, a reducing agent capable of reducing the light-sensitive silver halide, an immobile dye-providing substance releasing a mobile dye upon reduction with the reducing agent and an organosilver salt oxidizing agent.

Claim 21

A heat developable color light-sensitive material comprising a support having provided thereon a light-sensitive silver halide, a binder, a reducing agent capable of reducing the light-sensitive silver halide, an immobile dye-providing substance releasing a mobile dye upon reduction with the reducing agent and an organosilver salt oxidizing agent.

Claim 24

A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the light-sensitive material is heated in a substantially water-free condition to a temperature of about 110° C. to 160° C.