Eastman-kodak Company

Sheridan E Vincent

Jean Marie Buongiorne

David Lynn Patton

John H Rosenburgh

David George Foster

Charles M Darmon

Michael John Haight

Edgar Preston Gates

Charles S Christ, Jr

Jerel R Carli

Barry C Kocher

Erika S McLarney

Valerie Lynn Kuykendall

Anthony Earle

John A Weldy

Janet M Huston

Paul A Schwartz

Peter VanderBrook

Michael D Purol

Jon A Kapecki

Daniel R English

Andrew J Sewell

Richard Warren Berls

Thomas M Gormel

Stable, single-part photographic bleach-fixing &ldquo;precursor&rdquo; compositions comprise one or more iron-ligand complexes, one or more thiosulfates as the sole fixing agents, and optionally, a sulfite preservative. At least 50 mol % of the iron in the composition is in the form of Fe(II). This composition can be used directly in photoprocessing, or used as a regenerator when mixed with bleach-fixing overflow to provide a replenishing solution. Because the Fe(II) compounds are precursor bleaching agents, they must be oxidized to Fe(III) for active bleaching prior to or during the photographic processing operations.

Ferrous photographic bleach-fixing precursor compositions and methods for their use

A control tool for monitoring a predetermined process condition in a photographic process and method of making the control tool. The control tool includes a support element having a plurality of rows, each row having a plurality of visual density patches and representing a different process condition. At least one of the rows is used for monitoring a process condition being monitored and at least one of the other of the rows identifies an out-of-control process condition. The plurality of rows of visual density patches are designed to be correlated with a process control strip that has been processed in the photographic process to be monitored, the support element further having textual information identifying at least one process condition and describing the process condition that may need to be corrected in response to correlation of the control strip to the control tool.

Processing control tool

Photographic bleach-fixing solutions in a processing chamber can be directly replenished using a single-part photographic bleach-fixing &ldquo;precursor&rdquo; composition that comprises one or more iron-ligand complexes, one or more thiosulfates as the sole fixing agents, and optionally, a sulfite preservative. At least 50 mol % of the iron in the composition is in the form of Fe(II). Immediately prior to or during directly supplying the precursor composition to the processing chamber from an enclosed container, sufficient ferrous ions are converted to ferric ions to provide desired bleaching in the processing chamber.

Direct photographic bleach-fixing replenishment using ferrous bleach-fixing precursor composition

A multi-part color developing kit includes at least two parts (or solutions) of photochemical compositions that can be mixed to provide a color developing composition useful for obtaining color photographic images. A first aqueous solution is formulated with a color developing agent in free base form, an antioxidant for the color developing agent, an inorganic base, a triazinylstilbene optical brightening agent, an chemical base and a water-miscible or water-soluble hydroxy-substituted, straight-chain organic solvent. A second aqueous solution is formulated with a buffering agent, the same or different chemical base and a phosphonic acid metal ion sequestering agent. Both solutions have a pH and homogeneity to provide a clear color developing composition that is safer for use and disposal.

Multi-part photographic color developing composition and methods of manufacture and use

Processing of photographic material is carried out by sensing the quantity of material passing through a processor and supplying replenishment solution in accordance therewith. The level of solution in the processing tanks is also sensed during processing, and a second solution is supplied in the event that the level falls below a predetermined value. The second solution is less concentrated than the normal replenishment solution, thereby to maintain the chemical activity of the tank closer to its required, seasoned state. Furthermore, by controlling the solution levels during processing, less replenishment solution need be added during normal replenishment, thus minimizing the amount of solutions needed.

Processing photographic material

Multi-part photographic color developing composition and methods of

A method of processing an imagewise exposed silver halide photographic element comprising developing and desilvering the photographic element in a low volume thin tank processor wherein the processor operates at 15% or less of maximum production capacity.

Method for processing silver halide color photographic elements using

A method of processing an imagewise exposed black and white silver halide photographic element comprising developing and desilvering the photographic element in a low volume thin tank processor wherein the processor operates at 15% or less of maximum production capacity.

Method of processing black and white photographic elements using

Method of processing silver halide photographic elements using a low

Hydroxylamine compounds are commonly included in photographic color developing solutions to retard aerial oxidation. When the photographic element processed in the color developing solution is one which contains an aromatic polyhydroxy compound which serves as a stabilizing addendum, there will be a build-up of the level of such compound in the developing solution as seasoning occurs. Also, as a consequence of seasoning, there is a gradual build-up of the level of trace metal impurities in the solution. Interaction of a trace metal impurity with the aromatic polyhydroxy compound can form a metal-complex which catalyzes the oxidation of the hydroxylamine compound and thereby renders it ineffective for its intended purpose. In the improved method of this invention, the color developing solution is protected against the unwanted metal-complex catalyzed oxidation by incorporation therein of an aminopolycarboxylic acid sequestering agent.

Method of photographic color development using polyhydroxy compounds,

Photographic color developing compositions which are especially useful in the processing of high chloride silver halide photographic elements are free, or at least substantially free, of bromides; optionally contain a small amount of sulfite; and comprise (1) a primary aromatic amino color developing agent, (2) an N,N-dialkylhydroxylamine, (3) at least one sequestering agent which functions to sequester iron and (4) at least one sequestering agent which functions to sequester calcium. The developing compositions exhibit excellent stability. They also provide minimal development restraint which permits the use of very short development times, as needed for rapid access processing.

Photographic color developing compositions which are especially useful

Sparingly-soluble alcohols, such as benzyl alcohol, which function to enhance photographic coupling efficiency are incorporated in photographic color developing solutions by the use of solid water-soluble alcohol-precursor compounds. The solid precursor compounds, which can be advantageously utilized as components of an all-solid photographic processing kit, comprise a solubilizing group which is cleaved by the alkaline environment of the color developing solution to form the sparingly-soluble alcohol. Examples of such solid precursor compounds which are especially advantageous in the preparation of color developing solutions are the alkali metal monobenzylcarbonates and the alkali metal monobenzylsulfites.

Method and composition for preparation of photographic color developing

Photographic color developer compositions containing a primary aromatic amino color developing agent and an hydroxylamine are stabilized by incorporating therein a combination of sequestering agents, one of which is an aminopolyphosphonic acid compound and another of which is an aromatic polyhydroxy compound. Decomposition of the hydroxylamine, in the presence of heavy metals such as iron which act to catalyze the decomposition, and resultant formation of ammonia is effectively prevented by the presence in the developer composition of this combination of sequestering agents. Undesirable precipitate formation is also effectively avoided.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

Sheridan E Vincent