Photographic processes for producing spectral image records retrievable

Abstract

A method is disclosed of extracting two or more spectral image records from an imagewise exposed multicolor photographic element containing a plurality of tabular grain emulsions for individually recording imagewise exposure in at least two different regions of the visible spectrum. In each of the tabular grain emulsions tabular grains exhibiting a mean equivalent circular diameter of greater than 0.4 micrometer and a mean thickness of less than 0.2 micrometer account for greater than 90 percent of total grain projected area. No more than one of the tabular grain emulsions exhibits a mean tabular grain thickness of less than 0.07 micrometers, and each of tile remaining tabular grain emulsions exhibit a coefficient of variation of tabular grain thickness of less than 15 percent. The mean tabular grain thickness of emulsions for recording imagewise exposure to different regions of the visible spectrum differs by at least 0.02 micrometer. The imagewise exposed element is photographically processed to develop silver halide grains as a function of exposure and to remove developed silver. The processed photographic element is scanned in a first spectral wavelength region at which the tabular grains in a first of the emulsions reflect to a greater degree than the tabular grains of any emulsion which has recorded imagewise exposure in a different region of the spectrum, and the processed photographic element is also scanned in a second spectral wavelength region within which the tabular grains in a second of the emulsions reflect.