Eastman-Kodak Company

Linda J Knapp

Anthony Adin

Steven G Link

Paul B Gilman, Jr

Harry J Price

Thomas R Dobles

Silver halide photographic elements which are capable of high-contrast development and are especially useful in the field of graphic arts comprise surface latent image forming high-chloride silver halide grains and have incorporated therein a hydrazine compound which functions as a nucleator, an amino compound which functions as an incorporated booster, and a benzimidazolocarbocyanine sensitizing dye that provides enhanced photographic sensitivity yet leaves substantially no sensitizing dye stain after rapid access processing.

Nucleated high contrast photographic elements containing low-stain

A variable contrast photographic element containing a light sensitive silver halide emulsion layer is disclosed wherein the silver halide is sensitized with a benzimidazolooxacarbocyanine dye of the following formula (I) in an amount less than that required to impart maximum sensitivity to all of the silver halide in the emulsion. ##STR1## In formula (I), R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 each independently represent hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, alkylamino, alkylthio, aryl, aryloxy, arylamino, or arylthio. R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each independently represent substituted or unsubstituted alkyl. R.sup.5 represents a substituent containing an electron withdrawing group. X represents a counterion as needed to balance the charge of the molecule. Use of dyes of formula (I) having an R.sup.5 substituent which contains an electron withdrawing group has been found to beneficially reduce the sensitivity of variable contrast photographic elements at wavelengths longer than 570 nm, thereby enhancing safelight tolerance, while still maintaining good spectral sensitivity at wavelengths in the green region less than 560 nm.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Linda J Knapp