Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to color photographic elements and in particular to color
photographic elements capable of providing full color images with exposure of at least
two silver halide emulsion layers to radiation outside the visible region of the electromagnetic
spectrum. In particular, the present invention relates to a a color photographic element
having at least three emulsion layers associated with color image providing materials,
each emulsion layer being sensitized to a different region of the electromagnetic
spectrum and at least two layers being sensitized to radiation within the infrared
region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
2. Background Art
[0002] Dyes which have been capable of sensitizing silver halide emulsions to infrared regions
of the electromagnetic spectrum have been known for many years. Merocyanine dyes and
cyanine dyes, particularly those with longer bridging groups between cyclic moieties
have been used for many years to sensitize silver halide to the infrared. U.S. Patent
Nos. 3,619,154, 3,682,630; 2,895,955; 3,482,978; 3,758,461 and 2,734,900; and U.K.
Patent Nos. 1,192,234 and 1,188,784 disclose well-known classes of dyes which sensitize
silver halide to portions of the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
U.S. Patent 4,362,800 discloses dyes used to sensitize inorganic photoconductors to
the infrared, and these dyes are also effective sensitizers for silver halide.
[0003] With the advent of lasers, and particularly solid state laser diodes emitting in
the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g., 780 to 1500 nm), the interest
in infrared sensitization has greatly increased. Many different processes and articles
useful with laser diodes have been proposed. U.S. Patent No. 4,416,522, for example,
proposed daylight photoplotting apparatus for the infrared exposure of film. This
patent also generally proposes a film comprising three emulsion layers sensitized
to different portions of non-visible portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, including
the infrared. The film description is quite general and the concentration of imagewise
exposure on each layer appears to be dependent upon filtering of radiation by the
apparatus prior to its striking the film surface.
Brief Description of the Invention
[0004] A photographic element is described which is capable of providing full color images
without exposure to corresponding visible radiation. The element comprises at least
three silver halide emulsion layers on a substrate. The at least three emulsion layers
are each associated with different photographic color image forming materials, such
as color couplers capable of forming dyes of different colors upon reaction with an
oxidized color photographic developer, diffusing dyes, bleachable dyes, or oxidizable
leuco dyes. The three emulsion layers are sensitized to three different portions of
the electromagnetic spectrum with at least two layers sensitized to different regions
of the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The layers must be in a construction
that prevents or reduces the exposure of layers by radiation intended to expose only
one other layer. This is done by providing differences in speed of emulsions sensitive
to different wavelengths of the infrared.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0005] Figures 1A, 1B, and 1C show the D vs logE curves for the photographic element of
Example 1 after exposure to radiation having wavelengths 780 nm, 830 nm, and 890 nm,
respectively.
[0006] Figure 2 shows the D vs logE curve for the photographic element of Example 2 after
exposure to radiation having a wavelength of 780 nm.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
[0007] Figure 1 shows the D vs logE curve for the photographic element of Example 1 when
exposed to 780 nm radiation. Curve (a) shows the density of the yellow-forming layer
which is sensitized to 780 nm. Curve (b) shows the density of the magenta-forming
layer which is sensitized to 830 nm. Curve (c) shows the density of the cyan-forming
layer which is sensitized to 880 nm.
[0008] Secondary absorption is observed in the low density regions (0.1 to 0.5) of the cyan
and magenta color D logE curves. These unwanted low density bumps are due to residual
green absorption characteristics of the yellow dye or the residual red absorption
characteristics of the magenta dye and are read with the green or red filters of the
densitometer. The same secondary absorption in the cyan curve of Figure 1B is also
observed. Subtraction of these unwanted color-related absorptions from the actual
exposure curves would yield adequate separation.
[0009] Figure 1B shows the D vs logE curve for the photographic element of Example 1 when
exposed to 830 nm radiation. Curve (b) shows the magenta-forming layer and Curve (c)
shows the cyan-forming layer.
[0010] Figure 1C shows the D vs logE curve for the photographic element of Example 1 when
exposed to 890 nm radiation. Curve (c) shows the cyan-forming layer.
[0011] Figure 2 shows the D vs logE curve for the photographic element of Example 2 when
exposed to 780 nm radiation. Curve A shows the yellow-forming layer. Curve B shows
the magenta-forming layer in the element without a filter layer. Curve B' shows the
magenta-forming layer when a filter dye is present between layers 3 and 5. Curve C
shows the cyan-forming layer. The shift in the D vs logE curve between Curves B and
B' is 0.38 Log E units.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0012] A photographic element is herein described which photographic element is capable
of providing a full color image or three color images with exposure of at least two
silver halide emulsion layers to radiation outside the visible region of the electromagnetic
spectrum comprising
a) a substrate, and
b) on one side of said substrate at least three silver halide emulsion layers, each
of said silver halide emulsion layers being associated with a means for forming a
single color image of a different color dye, said three silver halide emulsion layers
comprising in any order a first emulsion sensitized to a first portion of the infrared
region of the electromagnetic spectrum, a second silver halide emulsion sensitized
to a second portion of the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the wavelength
of maximum spectral sensitivity of which second emulsion differs by at least 15 nm
from the wavelength of maximum spectral sensitivity to which said first emulsion is
sensitized, and a third silver halide emulsion sensitized to a third portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum, the wavelength of maximum spectral sensitivity of which
portion differs by at least 15 nm from each of the wavelengths of maximum sensitivity
to which said first and second emulsions are sensitized, the sensitivities of each
of said three emulsion layers being such that between any two emulsion layers which
are sensitized to portions of the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum,
the emulsion having a wavelength of maximum spectral sensitivity which is the shorter
of said two infrared sensitive layers has a speed at the wavelength of its maximum
spectral sensitivity which is at least 0.2 logE units faster than the other of said
two infrared sensitive layers. It has been found that with a difference in the wavelengths
of at least 15 nm, the use of sensitivity differences alone at the wavelengths of
maximum spectral sensitivity for each of the layers can provide color separation in
the final image. This is particularly surprising because dyes which sensitize to the
infrared, even those dyes capable of J-banding, tend to have long ranges of absorbance
and hence sensitivity. For example, when a dye is chosen to sensitize an emulsion
at 850 nm, it will also tend to sensitize with essentially equal effectiveness across
the entire range of at least 800 to 850 nm. Thus, if two identical emulsions in the
same photographic elements were sensitized with dyes having maximum spectral wavelengths
of sensitivity at 800 nm and 850 nm, respectively, exposure to radiation of 800 nm
would tend to equally expose both emulsions, thereby producing essentially no color
separation.
[0013] Because of the small decrease in sensitivity effected by often large (e.g. 50 nm)
movements towards shorter wavelengths within the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum
in which an infrared sensitizing dye will effectively sensitize, at least the 15 nm
difference in the wavelengths of maximum spectral sensitivity desired. It is preferred
that the difference between any two layers sensitive to the infrared be at least 20
nm, more preferred that the difference be at least 35 nm, and most preferred that
the difference in wavelengths of maximum spectral sensitivity be at least 50 nm between
any two layers sensitized to the infrared. The closer the wavelengths of maximum spectral
sensitivity between layers, the greater should be the difference in sensitivities
and the higher the contrasts. The use of filter layers between emulsion layers can
help reduce the needed levels of sensitivity differences between layers. By using
a filter dye between layers which absorbs strongly at the wavelengths of maximum spectral
sensitivity of the uppermost emulsion layer (with respect to the direction from which
exposure occurs), the needed difference in sensitivity of the lower layer can be somewhat
reduced.
[0014] The preferred arrangement of layers has the wavelengths of maximum spectral sensitivity
in the respective layers getting longer as one moves away from the direction (or surface)
from which the exposure is to be made. That is, using for example, color paper or
print as a reference, the infrared sensitive layer furthest from the paper base has
a wavelength of maximum spectral sensitivity which is shorter than the wavelength
of maximum spectral sensitivity of any other emulsion layer closer to the base. This
preference is because sensitization peaks of dyes tend to fall off more quickly towards
longer wavelengths making sensitivity separation more easily effected and filter dyes
more easily chosen.
[0015] As previously described, when all three emulsion layers are within the infrared region
of the electromagnetic spectrum, any two layers must have wavelengths of maximum spectral
sensitivity differing by at least 15 nm and speed differences of at least 0.2 logE
units. When two layers are sensitive to wavelengths within the infrared and the third
is sensitized to a wavelength in the visible, such differential speed considerations
should not be necessary with a reasonable selection of the wavelength of maximum sensitization.
Spectral sensitizing dyes are available across the entire visible spectrum and even
in to the ultraviolet. One of ordinary skill in the art could thus easily sensitize
the third emulsion layer to a wavelength outside the infrared where there would be
practically no overlap in spectral sensitization effected by the various sensitizing
dyes. For example, the third emulsion layer could be sensitized more than 100 nm below
the infrared (beginning at 750-780 nm) to the blue, green or yellow portions of the
electromagnetic spectrum. If for any reason it were desired to have the third emulsion
layer sensitized to a portion of the spectrum less than 100 nm from the shortest wavelength
within the infrared to which an emulsion is sensitized, it would be desirable to give
consideration to adjusting the speed of the emulsion sensitized to the visible in
a manner similar to that done for shorter wavelengths within the infrared. If the
emulsion layer sensitized to the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is
near to the infrared (e.g. within 50 nm of the shortest wavelength within the infrared
to which an emulsion of the element has been spectrally sensitized), the speed of
the emulsion sensitized to the visible should also be at least 0.2 or at least 0.5
logE units faster than the speed of the emulsion sensitized to a wavelength within
the infrared nearest the visible portion of the spectrum. The use of spectral sensitizing
dyes within the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum which form J-bands
will effectively reduce the impact of this consideration. There should also be a difference
of at elast 15 nm between the wavelengths of maximum spectral sensitivity for layers
within and without the infrared.
[0016] The speed of the emulsion layers is to be determined, at all times, at the wavelength
of maximum spectral sensitivity for the emulsion layer. The term wavelength of maximum
sensitivity should be read as wavelength of maximum spectral sensitivity in the invention,
that is, the wavelength of maximum sensitivity effected by the addition of spectral
sensitizing dyes.
[0017] The broadest range of contrasts for use in construction of emulsions within the present
invention is 0.5 to 12. The lower limit is essentially a function of the power available
from lasers in imaging apparatus. The upper limit tends to be a function of the type
of use to which the film or paper is to be used. A range of 1 to 11 for contrast is
preferred; a contrast of 2 to 8 is more preferred.
[0018] A photographic element is further herein described, which photographic element is
capable of providing a full color image with exposure of at least two silver halide
emulsion layers to radiation outside the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum
comprising
a) a substrate, and
b) on one side of said substrate at least three silver halide emulsion layers, each
of said silver halide emulsion layers being associated with a means for forming a
single color image of a different color dye, said three silver halide emulsion layers
comprising a first emulsion sensitized to a portion of the infrared region of the
electromagnetic spectrum, a second emulsion sensitized to a portion of the infrared
region of the electromagnetic spectrum which is of a shorter wavelength than the portion
to which said first emulsion is sensitized, and a third emulsion sensitized to a portion
of the electromagnetic spectrum which is of a shorter wavelength than that portion
to which said second emulsion is sensitized, and said three silver halide emulsion
layers having a construction:
1) each of the three layers having a contrast between 2 and 8 differing from each
other in photographic speed such that, at an optical density of 1.3, the speed of
the third emulsion (when sensitized to the infrared) is at least 0.2 logE units faster
than the second emulsion layer, and the second emulsion is at least 0.2 logE units
faster than the first emulsion layer, and
2) directly between two layers comprising either said first and second emulsion layers
or said second and third emulsion layers, when said third layer is also sensitized
to the infrared region of the spectrum, a filter layer absorbing radiation in a range
overlapping the region of maximum sensitivity of the one of the two layers farther
away from the substrate without absorbing more than forty percent of the infrared
radiation to which the other of said two layers is sensitized and the other pair of
emulsion layers comprising said second and third emulsion layers and said first and
second emulsion layers, respectively, having a contrast between 2 and 8 and differing
in speed from each other so that at an optical density of 1.3, the speed of the emulsion
layer farthest from the substrate in said other pair of emulsion layers is at least
0.2 logE units faster than the speed of the emulsion layer closest to the substrate
in said other pair of emulsion layers.
[0019] The higher the contrast in the emulsion layers in the invention, the smaller need
be the differences in speed. For example, with a contrast of 8 for the emulsion layers,
a speed difference of 0.2 logE units at their wavelengths of maximum sensitivity would
be sufficient. Below 4.5 in contrast, the difference in speed must be at least 0.4
logE units, and with a contrast between 2 and 4, the speed difference must be at least
0.5 logE units.
[0020] The relative order in the relationship of the emulsion layers is important in obtaining
benefits from the technology. The first layer, as described above, must be the emulsion
layer farthest from the imaging radiation. Thus, where exposure would be through a
transparent base, the first layer would be the emulsion layer farthest from the base,
the top emulsion layer from a conventional perspective. Normally, photographic elements
are not exposed through the base, and the first layer would normally be the infrared
sensitized emulsion layer closest to the base.
[0021] As noted above, it is preferred that all of the silver halide emulsion layers are
sensitized to different infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is essential
that at least two layers be sensitized to different infrared regions of the electromagnetic
spectrum. The order of those at least two layers must still be that the emulsion layer
sensitized to the longer wavelength is closest to the side of the photographic element
first struck by the exposing radiation. There is more flexibility with respect to
the placement of other silver halide emulsion layers which are sensitized to visible
portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. For example, if a system were to be made
which is composed of three emulsion layers sensitized to 800 nm and 880 nm and 580
nm (yellow), filter layers and reduced sensitivity of the emulsion layers would not
be essential between the yellow layer and either of the infrared sensitive layers.
The differential in sensitivity would still have to exist between any two infrared
sensitive layers. If the element were constructed with the emulsion layers (as counted
from the base) sensitized to 1) 580 nm, 2) 800 nm, and 3) 880 nm, the emulsion sensitivities
must differ, as required in the invention, only as between layers 2) and 3). Layer
1) would merely be constructed as a conventional yellow forming silver halide emulsion
layer (or negative dye forming layer). If the yellow layer were placed in a construction
between the two infrared sensitized layers, such as 1) 800 nm, 2) 580 nm, and 3) 880
nm, the difference in emulsion sensitivity, if used, would be between layers 1) and
3). The sensitivity of layer 2) would be selected only on the basis of the activity
desired to produce an effective yellow color. There are no significant considerations
of guarding against exposure of layer 2 by radiation used to expose layers 1) or 3).
Filters could be used if the dyes in layer 2) had a long tail on its absorption curve,
but that would occur only with less than skillful selection of the yellow sensitizing
dye.
[0022] If the visible light sensitive emulsion layer is used as the emulsion layer farthest
from the base, similar considerations must be made. The filter layer would still have
to be between the two infrared sensitive layers, if a filter layer is used. The difference
in emulsion sensitivity must also be present between the two infrared sensitized layers
if that method is used.
[0023] The infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is given various ranges, but
is generally considered to be between 750 to 1500 nm which overlaps a small portion
of the visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g., 750-780 nm). A large
number of dyes are known to sensitize silver halide emulsions to various portions
of the infrared region of the spectrum. In particular, cyanines and merocyanines are
well documented as infrared sensitizers for various types of imaging systems including
silver halide emulsions. For example, U.S. Patent Nos. 2,104,064; 2,734,900; 2,895,955;
3,128,179; 3,619,154; 3,682,630; and 4,362,800 disclose many dyes which are sensitizers
to the infrared.
Photographic Chemistry, Vol. 2, P. Glafkides, 1960, Fountain Press, Chapter XL, pages 882-901 describes the
spectral sensitization of silver halide emulsions to the infrared as does, more generally,
The Theory of the Photographic Process, 3rd Ed., Mees and James, 1966, Chapter II, esp. pp. 199 and 205.
[0024] The following formulae represent examples of known infrared sensitizing dyes. These
dyes are described in Mees and James, supra; Glafkides, supra; and U.S. patent 2,895,955.
[0025] In order that each emulsion is sensitized to respond to specific regions of the infrared
spectrum, the sensitizing dyes chosen are extremely important to the construction
of the color multilayer material. As shown in the following formulae, these dye structures
are usually symmetrical or unsymmetrically substituted dicarbocyanines 1 and tricarbocyanines
2 with the auxochromic portions of the dyes being lepidine 3, quinoline 4, naphthothiazole
5, benzothiazole 6, and so forth. Heterocyclics may also be introduced into the methine
chain to increase rigidity and stability of the dye molecule.
[0026] Some typical IR-sensitizing dyes 7-9 are shown in the following formulae. Each of
these dyes was added to a silver chlorobromide emulsion coated and subsequently were
exposed at various times with the emission from a tungsten-lamp source on a wedge
spectrograph. The characteristic shape of their curves is a broad tail of sensitization
stretching 150 to 300 nm from the peak of maximum sensitization to the shortest wavelength
side of the spectrum, but a narrow tail of sensitization 50 to 70 nm wide on the longer
wavelength side. Other cyanine-type dyes 10-20 with various auxochromic end groups
also exhibited similar sensitization curves on the emulsion. The wavelength of the
peak of maximum sensitization (Peak) and the wavelength of the point at which minimum
sensitization at longer wavelengths occur (Minimum) are shown. Any of the known useful
anions may be associated with these compounds, but I
-, Br
-, tosylate, and para-toluene sulfonate are preferred.
[0027] These infrared sensitizing dyes, like most other sensitizing dyes do not have monochromatic
absorption curves, but absorb, and thus sensitize to, a range of radiation wavelengths.
Even J-banding dyes, which tend to have a narrower range of absorption for each dye,
absorb over a range of the electromagnetic spectrum. This range can extend from a
few nanometers up to a few hundred nanometers. Even though exposing radiation sources
from lasers can be essentially monochromatic, the spectral sensitivities of even single
layer emulsions may have maximum sensitivities at the wavelength of the exposing radiation,
but still bracket that wavelength with a range of sensitivity.
[0028] State of the art infrared laser diodes tend to emit radiation between wavelengths
of 750-950 nm. This tends to be too narrow a range to allow for multiple layer photographic
emulsions with different regions of sensitivity. Sensitizing dyes selected to sensitize
at 780, 830, and 880, for example, would have sensitizing effects that could overlap
the other wavelengths. Particularly in a photographic element intended to provide
a full color image, an overlap in sensitizing ranges Would cause poor faithfulness
in color rendition because of the spurious imaging of multiple layers by the same
wavelength of radiation. The constructions enable manufacture of high quality Color
photographic images, even where the various emulsion layers are sensitized to maximize
sensitivity at peaks within fifty nanometers of each other.
[0029] Any of the various types of photographic silver halide emulsions may be used in the
invention. Silver chloride, silver bromide, silver iodobromide, silver chlorobromide,
silver chlorobromoiodide, and mixtures thereof may be used, for example. Any configuration
of grains, cubic orthorhombic, hexagonal, epitaxial, or tabular (high aspect ratio)
grains may be used. The couplers may be present either directly bound by a hydrophilic
colloid or carried in a high temperature boiling organic solvent which is then dispersed
within a hydrophilic colloid. The colloid may be partially hardened or fully hardened
by any of the variously known photographic hardeners. Such hardeners are free aldehydes
(U.S. Pat. 3,232,764), aldehyde releasing compounds (U.S. Pat. 2,870,013 and 3,819,608),
s-triazines and diazines (U.S. Pat. 3,325,287 and 3,992,366), aziridines (U.S. Pat.
3,271,175), vinylsulfones (U.S. Pat. 3,490,911) or carbodiimides may be used.
[0030] The silver halide photographic elements can be used to form dye images therein through
the selective formation of dyes. The photographic elements described above for forming
silver images can be used to form dye images by employing developers containing dye
image formers, such as color couplers, as illustrated by U.K. Pat. No. 478,984, Yager
et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,113,864, Vittum et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,002,836, 2,271,238
and 2,362,598. Schwan et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,950,970, Carroll et al. U.S. Pat. No.
2,592,243, Porter et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,343,703, 2,376,380 and 2,369,489, Spath
U.K. Pat. No. 886,723 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,899,306, Tuite U.S. Pat. No. 3,152,896 and
Mannes et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,115,394, 2,252,718 and 2,108,602, and Pilato U.S. Pat.
No. 3,547,650. In this form the developer contains a color-developing agent (e.g.,
a primary aromatic amine which in its oxidized form is capable of reacting with the
coupler (coupling) to form the image dye. Also, instant self-developing diffusion
transfer film can be used as well as photothermographic color film or paper using
silver halide in catalytic proximity to reducable silver sources and leuco dyes.
[0031] The dye-forming couplers can be incorporated in the photographic elements, as illustrated
by Schneider et al.
Die Chemie, Vol. 57, 1944, p. 113, Mannes et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,304,940, Martinez U.S. Pat.
No. 2,269,158, Jelley et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,322,027, Frolich et al. U.S. Pat. No.
2,376,679, Fierke et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,801,171, Smith U.S. Pat. No. 3,748,141, Tong
U.S. Pat. No. 2,772,163, Thirtle et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,835,579, Sawdey et al. U.S.
Pat. No. 2,533,514, Peterson U.S. Pat. No. 2,353,754, Seidel U.S. Pat. No. 3,409,435
and Chen Research Disclosure, Vol. 159, July 1977, Item 15930. The dye-forming couplers
can be incorporated in different amounts to achieve differing photographic effects.
For example, U.K. Pat. No. 923,045 and Kumai et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,369 teach
limiting the concentration of coupler in relation to the silver coverage to less than
normally employed amounts in faster and intermediate speed emulsion layers.
[0032] The dye-forming couplers are commonly chosen to form subtractive primary (i.e., yellow,
magenta and cyan) image dyes and are nondiffusible, colorless couplers, such as two
and four equivalent couplers of the open chain ketomethylene, pyrazolone, pyrazolotriazole,
pyrazolobenzimidazole, phenol and naphthol type hydrophobically ballasted for incorporation
in high-boiling organic (coupler) solvents. Such couplers are illustrated by Salminen
et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,423,730, 2,772,162, 2,895,826, 2,710,803, 2,407,207, 3,737,316
and 2,367,531, Loria et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,772,161, 2,600,788, 3,006,759, 3,214,437
and 3,253,924, McCrossen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,875,057, Bush et al. U.S. Pat. No.
2,908,573, Gledhill et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,034,892, Weissberger et al. U.S. Pat. Nos.
2,474,293, 2,407,210, 3,062,653, 3,265,506 and 3,384,657, Porter et al. U.S. Pat.
No. 2,343,703, Greenhalgh et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,127,269, Feniak et al. U.S. Pat.
No. 2,865,748, 2,933,391 and 2,865,751, Bailey et al. U.S. Pat. No.3,725,067, Beavers
et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,308, Lau U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,763, Fernandez U.S. Pat. No.
3,785,829, U.K. Pat. No. 969,921, U.K. Pat. No. 1,241,069, U.K. Pat. No. 1,011,940,
Vanden Eynde et al. U.S. Pat. No.3,762,921, Beavers U.S. Pat. No. 2,983,608, Loria
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,311,476, 3,408,194, 3,458,315, 3,447,928, 3,476,563, Cressman et
al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,419,390, Young U.S. Pat. No. 3,419,391, Lestina U.S. Pat. No.
3,519,429, U.K. Pat. No. 975,928, U.K. Pat. No. 1,111,554, Jaeken U.S. Pat. No. 3,222,176
and Canadian Pat. No. 726,651, Schulte et al. U.K. Pat. No. 1,248,924 and Whitmore
et al. U.S. Pat. No.3,227,550. Dye-forming couplers of differing reaction rates in
single or separate layers can be employed to achieve desired effects for specific
photographic applications.
[0033] The dye-forming couplers upon coupling can release photographically useful fragments,
such as development inhibitors or accelerators, bleach accelerators, developing agents,
silver halide solvents, toners, hardeners, fogging agents, antifoggants, competing
couplers, chemical or spectral sensitizers and desensitizers. Development inhibitor-releasing
(DIR) couplers are illustrated by Whitmore et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,148,062, Barr et
al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,554, Barr U.S. Pat. No. 3,733,201, Sawdey U.S. Pat. No. 3,617,291,
Groet et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,375, Abbott et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,506, Weissberger
et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,265,506, Seymour U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,745, Marx et al. U.S.
Pat. No. 3,632,345, Mader et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,869,291, U.K. Pat. No. 1,201,110,
Oishi et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,642,485, Verbrugghe, U.K. Pat. No. 1,236,767, Fujiwhara
et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,770,436 and Matsuo et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,945. Dye-forming
couplers and nondye-forming compounds which upon coupling release a variety of photographically
useful groups are described by Lau U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,962. DIR compounds which do
not form dye upon reaction with oxidized color developing agents can be employed,
as illustrated by Fujiwhara et al. German OLS 2,529,350 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,928,041,
3,958,993 and 3,961,959, Odenwalder et al. German OLS No. 2,448,063, Tanaka et. al.
German OLS No. 2,610,546, Kikuchi et. al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,049,455 and Credner et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,213. DIR compounds which oxidatively cleave can be employed, as
illustrated by Porter et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,379,529, Green et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,043,690,
Barr U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,022, Duennebier et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,297,445 and Rees et
al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,287,129. Silver halide emulsions which are relatively light insensitive,
such as Lipmann emulsions, having been utilized as interlayers and overcoat layers
to prevent or control the migration of development inhibitor fragments as described
in Shiba et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,572.
[0034] The photographic elements can incorporate colored dye-forming couplers, such as those
employed to form integral masks for negative color images, as illustrated by Hanson
U.S. Pat. No. 2,449,966, Glass et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,521,908, Gledhill et al. U.S.
Pat. No. 3,034,892, Loria U.S. Pat. No. 3,476,563, Lestina U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,429,
Friedman U.S. Pat. No. 2,543,691, Puschel et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,028,238, Menzel et
al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,061,432 and Greenhalgh U.K. Pat. No. 1,035,959, and/or competing
couplers, as illustrated by Murin et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,428, Sakamoto et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,722, Puschel U.S. Pat. No. 2,998,314, Whitmore U.S. Pat. No. 2,808,329,
Salminen U.S. Pat. No. 2,742,832 and Weller et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,689,793.
[0035] Particularly useful color couplers include the materials shown in the list of compounds
as numbers 21―24.
[0036] As previously noted, the color provided in the image produced by exposure of each
of the differently sensitized silver halide emulsion layers does not have to be produced
by color coupler reaction with oxidized color developers. A number of other color
image forming mechanisms well known in the art can also be used. Amongst the commercially
available color image forming mechanisms are the diffusion transfer of dyes, dye-bleaching,
and leuco dye oxidation. Each of these procedures is used in commercial products,
is well understood by the ordinarily skilled photographic artisan, and is used with
silver halide emulsions. Multicolor elements using these different technologies are
also commercially available. Converting the existing commercially available systems
to the invention could be done by routine redesign of the sensitometric parameters
of the system and/or the addition of intermediate filter layers according to the teachings
of the present invention. For example, in a conventional instant color, dye transfer
diffusion element, the sensitivity of the various layers and/or the arrangement of
filters between the silver halide emulsion layers would be directed by the teachings
of the present invention, the element otherwise remaining the same. This would be
true with either negative-acting or positive-acting silver halide emulsions in the
element. The only major, and fairly apparent, consideration that must be given to
such a construction is to insure that the placement of any filter layers does not
prevent transfer of the diffusion dye to a receptor layer within the element. Using
a filter which is not a barrier layer between the receptor layer and the dye-containing
layer is the simplest way to address that consideration. Such a layer should not prevent
migration of the diffusion dye across the filter layer.
[0037] These types of imaging systems are well known in the art. Detailed discussions of
various dye transfer, diffusion processes may be found for example in "A fundamentally
New Imaging Technology for Instant Photography", W. T. Harison, Jr., Photographic
Science and Engineering, Vol. 20, No. 4, July/August 1976, and Neblette's Handbook
of Photography and Reprography, Materials, Processes and Systems, 7th Edition, John
M. Stunge, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, N.Y., 1977, pp. 324―330 and 126. Detailed
discussion of dye-bleach color imaging systems are found for example in
The Reproduction of Colour, 3rd Ed., R. W. G. Hunt, Fountain Press, London, England 1975 pp. 325―330; and
The Theory of the Photographic Process, 4th Ed., Mees and James, Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., N.Y., 1977 pp. 363―366.
Pages 366―372 of Mees and James,
supra, also discuss dye-transfer processes in great detail. Leuco dye oxidation in silver
halide systems are disclosed in such literature as U.S. Patent Nos. 4,460,681, 4,374,821,
and 4,021,240.
[0038] As previously noted, these existing color forming systems may be modified by the
ordinarily skilled artisan according to the teachings of the present invention. For
example, in the multilayer color photothermographic article of Example 1 of U.S. Patent
No. 4,460,681 the following steps would be taken to convert the element to the invention.
The sensitizing dye used to spectrally sensitize the first silver halide photothermographic
emulsion would be replaced with the sensitizing dye used to sensitize the first emulsion
layer of Example 1 of the present application. The filter layer described in Example
2 of the present application would be placed over all the coatings essential to the
formation of color in the first deposited series of layers in Example 1 of U.S. Patent
4,460,681. That filter layer could also function as the barrier layer required in
the practice of that invention. The second series of layers essential for the formation
of the next color according to U.S. Patent 4,460,681 would then be deposited, the
spectral sensitizing dye of that example being replaced by the spectral sensitizing
dye of present Example 1. The remaining layers in the photothermographic element could
then be the same as those described in the patent if light-sensitivity of the element
(due to the light-sensitivity of the layers forming the third color) could be tolerated.
If light-sensitivity is not desired, the second filter layer of present Example 2
could be placed over the second color-forming layer of the photothermographic element.
The third set of color forming layers of Example 1 of U.S. Patent 4,460,681 would
then be applied over the filter layer, and the sensitizing dye in that silver halide
emulsion layer replaced with the spectral sensitizing dye of the top emulsion layer
of present Example 1. Analogous substitution of sensitizing dyes, addition of filter
layers, and/or modification of the relative sensitivities of silver halide layers
in any of the other known color imaging processes could also be readily performed
given the teachings of the present invention. Diffusion photothermographic color image
forming systems such as those disclosed in U.K. Patent 3,100,458A are also useful
in the invention.
[0039] The photographic elements can include image dye stabilizers. Such image dye stabilizers
are illustrated by U.K. Pat. No. 1,326,889, Lestina et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,432,300
and 3,698,909, Stern et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,627, Brannock et al. U.S. Pat. No.
3,573,050, Arai et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,337 and Smith et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,394.
[0040] Filter dyes are materials well known to the photographic chemist. The dyes where
used, must be selected on the basis of their radiation filtering characteristics to
insure that they filter the appropriate wavelengths. Filter dyes and their methods
of incorporation into photographic elements are well documented in the literature
such as U.S. Patent Nos. 4,440,852; 3,671,648; 3,423,207; and 2,895,955; U.K. Patent
No. 485,624, and
Research Disclosure, Vol. 176, December 1978, Item 17643. Filter dyes can be used in the invention to
provide room-light handleability to the elements. Dyes which will not alow transmission
of radiation having wavelengths shorter than the shortest wavelength to which one
of the emulsion layers has been sensitized can be used in a layer above one or more
(preferably all) of the emulsion layers. The cut-off filter dye preferably does not
transmit light more than 50 nm less than the shortest wavelength to which any of the
emulsion layers have been sensitized. Filter dyes should also be provided with non-fugitive
(i.e., non-migratory) characteristics and should be decolorizable (by bleaching in
developer or heat, for example) or leachable (e.g., removed by solvent action of any
baths).
[0041] Other conventional photographic addenda such as coating aids, antistatic agents,
acutance dyes, antihalation dyes and layers, antifoggants, latent image stabilizers
or antikinking agents may also be present.
[0042] Although not essential, one particularly important class of additives which finds
particular advantage in the invention is high intensity reciprocity failure (HIRF)
reducers. Amongst the many types of stabilizers for this purpose are chloropalladites
and chloroplatinates (U.S. Pat. No. 2,566,263), iridium and/or rhodium salts (U.S.
Pat. No. 2,566,263; 3,901,713) and cyanorhodates (Beck et al., J. Signalaufzeichnungsmaterialen,
1976, 4, 131).
Example 1 (invention)
[0043] A multi-layered IR-sensitive photographic color material was prepared by coating
in order on resin-coated paper base the following layers:
[0044] The first layer: a gelatin chemically sulfur-sensitized silver chlorobromide emulsion
(88 mol% Br, 4.2% Ag, and 0.6 µm grain size) containing anti-foggants, speed enhancers,
and cyan color-forming couplers 23 and 24 (prepared by standard methods described
in U.S. Patent 4,363,873) was sensitized to the 880 nm region of the spectrum with
dye 9 in the quantity of 4.0 × 10
-4 mol per mol of silver and was coated so that the coating silver and cyan coupler
weights are 346 mg per m
2, and 517 mg per m
2, respectively.
[0045] The second layer: A gelatin interlayer containing gel hardener, U.V. absorber, and
antioxidant was coated so that the gelatin coating weights are 823 mg per m
2.
[0046] The third layer: as in the first layer, the same silver chlorobromide emulsion containing
a magenta color-forming coupler 22 was sensitized to the 830 nm region of the spectrum
with dye 8 in the quantity of 1.6 × 10
-4 mol per mol of silver and was coated so that the coating silver and magenta coupler
weights are 402 mg per m
2 and 915 mg per m
2, respectively.
[0047] The fourth layer: a gelatin interlayer containing hardener, U.V. absorber, and antioxidant
was coated so that the gelatin coating weight are 1.19 gram per m
2.
[0048] The fifth layer: the same gelatin silver chlorobromide emulsion as in the first layer
containing a yellow color-forming coupler 21 was dye sensitized to the 780 nm region
of the spectrum with 7 in the quantity of 5.9 × 10
-4 mol per mol of silver and was coated so that the coating silver and yellow coupler
weights are 346 mg per m
2 and 474 mg per m
2, respectively.
[0049] The sixth layer: a gelatin interlayer containing hardener, U.V. absorber, and antioxidant
was coated so that the gelatin coating weight is 873 mg per m
2.
[0050] The seventh layer: a protective gelatin topcoat containing a hardener and surfactant
was coated so that the gelatin coating weight is 1.03 g/m
2.
[0051] The construction described above was first exposed with light from a 2950 K tungsten
lamp giving 2400 cd (meterCandles, mC) illuminance at the filter plane for 0.1 s through
a 20 cm continuous type M carbon wedge (gradient: 0.20 density/cm), a Wratten red
selective interference filter, and a 780 nm near infrared glass narrow bandpass filter.
Separate samples were then similarly exposed using a 830 nm or a 890 nm infrared filter.
After exposure, these samples were processed in standard Kodak EP-2 processing color
chemistry with conditions similar to those stated in U.S. Patent 4,363,873.
[0052] After processing, status D densitometry was measured and the results are shown in
Table 1. The corresponding D logE curves with the effects of secondary exposure removed
are shown in Figure 1. At the 780 nm exposure, the color separation was excellent
and the change in speed between layers was 0.7 logE or greater. At the 830 nm exposure,
no yellow color was observed and the separation between the 830 nm layer (magenta-color)
and the 890 nm layer (cyan-color) was 0.65 logE in speed. Only the cyan color-forming
layer was observed at the 890 nm exposure.
[0053] The results from the set of exposures for this color multilayer construction suggest
that the incorporation of filter dyes within the interlayers is unnecessary.
TABLE 1
| |
|
Dmin |
Dmax |
SPD21 |
AC2 |
| 780 nm Exposed |
Yellow |
.11 |
2.32 |
3.58 |
2.46 |
| |
| Magenta |
.11 |
2.26 |
2.70 |
2.62 |
| |
| Cyan |
.14 |
1.12 |
2.01 |
* |
| |
| 830 nm Exposed |
Yellow |
* |
* |
* |
* |
| |
| Magenta |
.12 |
2.41 |
2.92 |
3.14 |
| |
| Cyan |
.13 |
1.69 |
2.26 |
2.23 |
| |
| 890 nm Exposed |
Yellow |
* |
* |
* |
* |
| |
| Magenta |
* |
* |
* |
* |
| |
| Cyan |
.13 |
2.47 |
2.77 |
3.00 |
| 1 Relative speed measured at an absolute density of 0.075. |
| 2 The slope of the line joining the density points of 0.50 and 1.30 above base + fog. |
| * Not a measurable parameter. |
Example 2
[0054] A three-color IR-sensitive material may be prepared in the following manner by coating
on a resin-coated paper substrate:
1) A first layer consisting of a silver chlorobromide emulsion (4.2% Ag) containing
antifoggants, speed enhancers, and a cyan color-forming coupler 23 sensitized to the
880 nm region of the spectrum with dye 9 at a concentration of 3.0―6.0 × 10-4 mol per mol of silver at coupler and silver coating weights of 450 to 550 mg per
m2 and 250 to 450 mg per m2, respectively.
2) A second layer containing gelatin coated at approximately 0.8 to 1.2 g per m2, U.V. absorber, antioxidant, gel hardener and filter dye of the type 25, 26, 27 or
28 which has been dispersed in oil similar to a dispersion method as described in
U.S. Patent No. 4,363,873 at concentrations such that absorbance of the coated dye
ranges from 0.1 to 0.6 at 830 nm and minimum absorbance at 880 nm.
3) A third layer containing a silver chlorobromide emulsion similar to the first layer
sensitized to the 830 nm region of the spectrum with the dye 8 at a concentration
of 0.8―2.4 × 10-4 mol per mol silver and coated at silver coating weights from 300 to 500 mg per m2, various speed enhancers, antifoggants and a magenta-forming coupler 22 coated in
amounts of 850 to 950 mg per m2.
4) A fourth layer similar to the gelatin interlayer of the second layer containing
dyes of the type 25, 26, 27 or 28 dispersed in oil and coated in the gelatin such
that the absorbance at 780 nm ranges from 0.1 to 0.6 and minimum absorbance is observed
at 830 and 880 nm.
5) A silver chlorobromide emulsion fifth layer similar to the first layer containing
a yellow color-forming coupler 21 and dye sensitized to the 780 nm region of the spectrum
with 7 in the quantity of 3.0―7.0 × 10-4 mol per mol silver and coated so that the silver and yellow coupler coating weights
vary from 250 to 450 mg per m2 and 425 to 525 mg per m2, respectively.
6) A sixth layer containing gelatin as an interlayer so that the gelatin coating weight
varies from 0.8 to 1.2 mg per m2, U.V. absorber, and an antioxidant.
7) A seventh layer as a protective gelatin topcoat containing a gel hardener and surfactant
coated so that the gelatin coating weight becomes 0.9 to 1.1 g per m2.
[0055] The filter dyes described in this example (supra) will meet the stated requirements
of decoloration during photographic development, non-diffusion through the layer to
adjoining layers and the required spectral absorption characteristics.
[0056] The above described construction when exposed with a tungsten lamp sensitometer giving
2400 cd (mc) illuminance at the filter plane for 0.1 s through a 20 cm continuous
wedge (gradient: 0.20 density/cm), a Wratten red selective filter, and a 780 nm near
infrared glass bandpass filter may have D logE curves similar to those shown in Figure
2. There is some overlap of D logE curves for layer 5 and layer 3 when no filter dye
is present in layer 4 (shown with solid line) and therefore, no pure color separation
would be observed after exposure. However, after the incorporation of a filter dye
in layer 4 with 0.4 absorbance at 780 nm, the effect on the D logE curve of layer
3 is shown by the dashed line and the full density of color would be achieved in layer
5 before exposure of layer 3.
[0057] The same effects may be observed for exposure of the material with the tungsten sensitometer
as described above but containing a 830 nm narrow bandpass filter. If no filter dye
is present in layer 2 than overlap of D logE curves are observed. However, after the
incorporation of a filter dye in layer 2 with 0.4 absorbance at 830 nm, the effect
on layer 1 is shown by the dashed line of the D logE curve and thus, the full density
of color for layer 3 would be achieved before exposure of layer 1.
Example 3 (Invention)
[0058] As an alternative to the above color multilayer construction, the need for the 830
nm absorbing filter dye in layer 2 may become unnecessary if the speed of the emulsion
layers 1 and 3 are manipulated properly as described below:
1) the first layer, as described in Example 1, containing a silver chlorobromide emulsion
sensitized to 880 nm with dye 9 in the quantity of 4.0 × 10-4 mol per mol silver and a cyan-forming coupler 23 coated on a substrate such that
the silver and coupler coating weights are 346 mg per m2 and 517 mg per m2, respectively.
2) The second layer: a gelatin interlayer containing gel hardener, U.V. absorber,
and antioxidant coated such that the gelatin coating weight becomes 823 mg per m2.
3) The third through seventh layers: all are same in construction to those described
in Example 2.
Example 4
[0060] Two diffusion transfer type constructions of two different colors was made as follows
to show their utility in the present invention.
Coating 1
[0061] A photographic element was prepared by coating sequentially the following three layers
onto a subbed polyester film support.
a) A first layer consisting of yellow dye developer of structure A dispersed in gelatin.
The coverage of dye was 5 mg/dm2 and that of gelatin was 7.2 mg/dm2.
b) A second layer consisting of a silver chlorobromide emulsion (36:64; Br:Cl) of
0.3 micron average grain size sensitized to 780 nm radiation by the addition of dye
of structure B (3 × 10-4 moles dye/mole silver). The silver coverage was 5 mg/dm2.
c) A third layer consisting of 1-phenyl-5-pyrazolidinone (2.2 mg/dm2) dispersed in gelatin (145 mg/dm2).
Coating 2
[0062] Coating 2 was identical with Coating 1 except that a magenta dye developer of structure
C replaced the yellow dye developer in the first layer and the silver halide emulsion
was sensitized not to 780 nm but to 830 nm radiation by the addition of a sensitizing
dye of structure D (5 × 10
-5 moles dye per mole silver).
Evaluation
[0063] Five samples taken from Coating 1 were separately exposed in a sensitometer to radiation
from a 500 watt tungsten filament lamp attenuated by a 0―4 continuous neutral density
wedge and filtered by 730 nm, 760 nm, 790 nm, 820 nm, 850 nm or 880 nm narrow bandpass
interference filters.
[0064] The samples were laminated to Agfa-Gevaert "Copycolor CCF" dye receptor sheets usisng
an Agfa-Gevaert "CP 380" color diffusion transfer processing machine containing 2%
aqueous potassium hydroxide as processing solution. The receptor sheets were separated
after one minute.
[0065] Coating 1 showed a maximum sensitivity at 760 nm resulting in a positive yellow image
on the receptor sheet. Coating 1 exhibited no measurable sensitivity at 820 nm or
longer wavelengths.
[0066] This test procedure was repeated with Coating 2. In this case a sensitivity maximum
at 820 nm was observed resulting in a positive magenta image. Coating 2 was 0.57 reciprocal
Log exposure units less sensitive at 760 nm than at 820 nm and 1.70 reciprocal Log
exposure units less sensitive at 880 nm than at 820 nm.
[0067] These layers if used in presently commercial diffusion transfer elements would properly
function.

Example 5
[0068] A single-color Infrared-sensitive photographic material was prepared by coating in
order on resin-coated paper base the following layers:
1) A first-layer consisting of a chemically sensitized silver chlorobromide emulsion
(6.8% Ag) containing antifoggants, speed enhancers, and the magenta color forming
coupler 22. The emulsion was sensitized to the 830 nm region of the spectrum with
dye 8 at a dye concentration of 1.1 × 10-4 mol per mol of silver at coupler and silver coating weights of 1.12 g/m2 and 503 mg/m2, respectively;
2) A second layer containing gelatin coated at 1.20 g/m2, U.V. absorber, antioxidant, gel hardener and the filter dye 29, which was dissolved
in methanol, were added to the gelation mixture and coated such that the filter dye
coating weight was 15.1 mg/m2;
3) A third layer (as a protective gelatin topcoat) contained a gel hardener and surfactant
coated such that the gelatin coating weight was 1.04 g/m2.
Example 6
[0069] A single-color Infrared-sensitive material was prepared as described in Example 5;
however, dye 8 was added as a filter dye and coated so that the filter dye coating
weight was 15.5 mg/m
2 in the second layer.
Example 7
[0070] A single-color Infrared-sensitive material was prepared as described in Example 5;
however, no filter dye was incorporated into the second layer (control). In all examples
the materials were exposed with a tungsten lamp sensitometer giving 2400 cd (mc) illuminance
at the filter plane for 0.1 seconds through a 20 cm continuous wedge (gradient: 0.20
density per cm), a Wratten red selective filter and a 830 nm near infrared, glass,
bandpass filter. After exposure, these samples were processed in standard Kodak EP-2
processing color chemistry with conditions similar to those stated in U.S. Patent
4,363,873.
[0071] After processing, status D densitometry was measured and the results are shown in
Table 1. The gel interlayers containing the filter dyes of Example 5 and 6 were also
spread by hand onto polyethylene terephthalate, allowed to dry and the absorption
characteristics measured on a Perkin-Elmer absorption spectrophotometer. These reults
showed that dye 29 of Example 5 has a peak of maximum absorption at 810 nm and a secondary
peak at 705 nm with residual absorption from 580 nm to 900 nm. The filter dye used
in Example 6 has a peak of maximum absorption at 780 nm and a seconary absorption
at 700 nm with broad residual absorption from 520 nm to 880 nm.
[0072] The results suggest that photographic speed of an emulsion layer can be manipulated
by incorporating an infrared-absorbing dye in the gel layer above the infrared-sensitized
emulsion. These filter dyes, though not fully processable as indicated by the higher
D
min for Examples 5 and 6, decreased the photographic speed of the emulsion by 0.5 log
E vs. the control (Example 7).
TABLE 2
| |
Dmin |
Dmax |
SPD21 |
AC2 |
| Example 5 |
0.33 |
1.92 |
3.45 |
1.82 |
| |
| Example 6 |
0.30 |
1.85 |
3.55 |
1.56 |
| |
| Example 7 (control) |
0.18 |
2.23 |
3.97 |
2.27 |
| 1Relative speed measured at an absolute density of 0.75. |
| 2The slope of the line joining the density points of 0.50 and 1.30 above base + fog. |
Example 8
[0073] A full-color Infrared-sensitive material was prepared by coating in order on resin-coated
paper base the following layers:
[0074] The first layer: a gelatin chemically sensitized silver chlorobromide emulsion (6.7%
Ag) containing anti-foggants, speed enhancers, and cyan color-forming coupler 23 was
sensitized to the 880 nm region of the spectrum with dye 9 in the quantity of 1.6
× 10
-4 mol per mol of silver and was coated so that the silver and cyan coupler coating
weights were 412 mg/m
2 and 634 mg/m
2, respectively.
[0075] The second layer: a gelatin interlayer containing gel hardener, U.V. absorber, and
antioxidant was coated so that the gelatin coating weight was 828 mg/dm
2.
[0076] The third layer: a gelatin chemically sensitized silver chlorobromide emulsion (6.6%
Ag) containing anti-foggants, speed enhancers, and magenta color-forming coupler 22
was sensitized to the 830 nm region of the spectrum with dye 8 in the quantity of
8.9 × 10
-5 mol per mol of silver and was coated so that the silver and magenta coupler coating
weights were 492 mg/dm
2 and 1.12 g/m
2, respectively.
[0077] The fourth layer: a gelatin interlayer containing hardener, U.V. absorber, antioxidant
and the filter dye 29, which has been dissolved in methanol and added to the gelatin
mixture, was coated such that the filter dye and gelatin coating weights were 8.3
mg/m
2 and 0.65 mg/m
2, respectively.
[0078] The fifth layer: a gelatin chemically sensitized silver chlorobromide emulsion (6.7%
Ag) containing antifoggants, speed enhancers, and yellow color-forming coupler 21
was dye sensitized to the 780 nm region of the spectrum with dye 7 in the quantity
of 3.4 × 10
-4 mol per mol of silver and was coated so that the coating silver and yellow coupler
weights were 497 mg/m
2 and 679 mg/m
2, respectively.
[0079] The sixth layer: a gelatin interlayer containing hardener, U.V. absorber, and antioxidant
was coated so that the gelatin coating weight was 876 mg/m
2.
[0080] The seventh layer: a protective gelatin top-coat containing a hardener and surfactant
was coated so that the gelatin coating weight was 1.04 g/m
2.
Example 9
[0081] A multi-color Infrared-sensitive material was prepared as described in Example 8;
however, dye 8 was added as a filter dye and coated so that the filter dye coating
weight was 8.3 mg/m
2 in the fourth layer.
Example 10
[0082] A multi-color Infrared-sensitive material was prepared as described in Example 8;
however, no filter dye was incorporated into the fourth layer (control) and the gel
coating weight was 1.20 g/m
2.
[0083] In Examples 8―10, all materials were exposed to a tungsten sensitiometer as described
in Example 5―7, except separate samples were then similarly exposed using a 780 nm
or a 890 nm infrared filter.
[0084] The sensitometric results are shown in Table 2. The filter dye gel interlayer (layer
4) from Examples 8 and 9 were hand-spread onto polyethylene terephthalate as described
above. The absorption curves suggest that absorption of 780 nm and 830 nm light would
be similar for the dye interlayer of Example 8 and that less absorption of the 830
nm light vs. 780 nm light would be observed for the dye interlayer of Example 9. The
sensitometric results for the multi-layer material of these examples also suggests
this observation. At the 780 nm exposure, the loss in speed for layer 3 (magenta color)
relative to the non-filtered layer 3 of Example 10 (control) is .25 logE and .36 logE
for Example 9 and 8, respectively. At the 830 nm exposure, the loss in speed for layer
3 vs. the control (Example 10) was minimal for Example 9 (less dye interlayer filtering)
vs. Example 8 (0.9 logE vs..27 logE).
[0085] Also, loss in photographic speed is observed for layer 5 (yellow-color, 780 nm sensitized
of Examples 8 and 9) vs. the non-filter dye interlayer of Example 10 (control) at
the 780 nm exposure even though the absorption of 780 nm light occurs in layer 4 after
the initial non-filtered 780 nm exposure of layer 5. These results suggest that for
the non-filtered material of Example 10 the 780 nm light passes through all layers,
reaches the base and then is reflected back through all layers so that each layer
of the photographic material is exposed twice. With the incorporation of the filter
dyes into layer 4, the first pass of 780 nm light through the multilayer materials
of Example 8 and 9 is non-filtered for layer 5 (780 nm sensitized) so that the first
exposure occurs, then as the residual 780 nm light passes through layer 4, some of
the light is absorbed. After this filtration, the remaining 780 nm light then continues
through the layers, reaches the base, and is reflected back through the layers until
more of this light is absorbed or filtered again (effective double filtration) while
passing through layer 4 (filter layer) to reexpose the 780 nm layer (layer 5). Thus,
the total amount of effective 780 nm exposure will be less for multilayer materials
containing the filter dye interlayers vs. non-filter dye interlayer constructions
and therefore, the observed speed of the 780 nm sensitized (layer 5) will be less
because of this total lower amount of exposure.
[0086] The results from the set of exposures for the color multilayer constructions of Example
8―10 suggest that the incorporating of filter dyes can effectively manipulate the
photographic speeds of emulsion layers.
TABLE 3
| 780 nm Exposure |
Dmin |
Dmax |
SPD21 |
AC2 |
| Example 8 |
yellow |
.20 |
2.28 |
5.68 |
2.70 |
| |
| |
magenta |
.19 |
1.85 |
4.89 |
1.93 |
| |
| Example 9 |
yellow |
.19 |
2.25 |
5.79 |
2.80 |
| |
| |
magenta |
.18 |
1.99 |
5.00 |
2.00 |
| |
| Example 10 |
yellow |
.13 |
2.25 |
6.03 |
2.78 |
| |
| |
magenta |
.14 |
2.16 |
5.25 |
2.17 |
| |
| 830 nm Exposure |
Dmin |
Dmax |
SPD21 |
AC2 |
| Example 8 |
magenta |
.20 |
2.13 |
3.22 |
2.27 |
| |
| |
cyan |
.31 |
* |
* |
* |
| |
| Example 9 |
magenta |
.18 |
2.23 |
3.40 |
2.27 |
| |
| |
cyan |
.25 |
* |
* |
* |
| |
| Example 10 |
magenta |
.13 |
2.22 |
3.49 |
2.27 |
| |
| |
cyan |
15 |
* |
* |
* |
| 890 nm Exposure |
Dmin |
Dmax |
SPD21 |
AC2 |
| Example 8 |
cyan |
0.30 |
.683 |
* |
* |
| |
| Example 9 |
cyan |
0.24 |
.713 |
2.54 |
* |
| |
| Example 10 |
cyan |
.15 |
.803 |
2.58 |
* |
| 1Relative speed measured at an absolute density of 0.75 |
| 2The slope of the line joining the density points of 0.50 and 1.30 above base + fog. |
| 3Number does not reflect absolute maximum density of layer but limit of exposure at
designated exposure conditions. |
| *Parameter not measurable. |
Example 11 (Invention)
[0087] A multi-layered IR-sensitive photographic color material was prepared by coating
in order on resin-coated paper base the following layers:
[0088] The first layer: A gelatin/chemical sensitized silver chlorobromide emulsion (88
mol%, Br, 6.7% Ag, and 1.0 µm grain size) containing antifoggants, speed enhancers,
and the cyan color-forming coupler 23 was sensitized to the 880 nm region of the spectrum
with dye 9 in the quantity of 1.65 × 10
-4 mol per mol of silver. The emulsion was coated so that the silver and coupler coating
weights were 417 mg per m
2 and 636 mg per m
2, respectively.
[0089] The second layer: A gelatin interlayer containing gelatin hardener, U.V. absorber,
and antioxidant was coated so that the gelatin coating weight was 828 mg per m
2.
[0090] The third layer: A gelatin/chemically sensitized silver chlorobromide emulsion (88
mol% Br, 6.7% Ag; and 0.5 µm grain size) containing anti-foggants, speed enhancers,
and the magenta color-forming coupler 22 was sensitized to the 830 nm region of the
spectrum with dye 8 in the quantity of 8.8 × 10
-5 mol per mol silver. This was coated so that the silver and coupler coating weights
were 492 mg per m
2 and 1.12 g per m
2, respectively.
[0091] The fourth layer: A gelatin interlayer containing hardener, U.V. absorber, and antioxidant
was coated so that the gelatin coating weight was 1.20 g per m
2.
[0092] The fifth layer: The same gelatin silver chlorobromide emulsion as in the first layer,
containing the yellow color-forming coupler 21, was dye sensitized to the 780 nm region
of the spectrum with dye 7 in the quantity of 3.4 × 10
-4 mol per mol silver. This was coated so that the silver and coupler coating weights
were 542 mg per m
2 and 748 mg per m
2, respectively.
[0093] The sixth layer: A gelatin interlayer containing hardener, U.V. absorber and antioxidant
was coated so that the gelatin coating weight was 876 mg per m
2.
[0094] The seventh layer: A protective gelatin topcoat containing a hardener and surfactant
was coated so that the gelatin coating weight was 1.04 g per m
2.
Example 12 (Invention)
[0095] A multi-layered IR-sensitive photographic material was prepared as described in Example
11, except that the 780 nm sensitized layer (fifth layer) was coated as the third
layer and the 830 nm sensitized layer (third layer) was coated as the fifth layer.
Example 13 (Invention)
[0096] A multi layered IR-sensitive photographic material was prepared as described in Example
11, except that the 780 nm sensitized layer (fifth layer) was coated as the first
layer and the 880 nm sensitized layer (first layer) was coated as the fifth layer.
[0097] The constructions described above were first exposed with the output from a 780 nm
2 mw laser diode sensitometer. The sensitometer is capable of writing laser raster
exposures onto film strips through a circular wedge, neutral-density filter (metal
vacuum-deposited, 0―4 neutral density). Separate samples were then similarly exposed
using a 820 nm or a 880 nm laser diode source in the sensitometer. After exposure,
these samples were processed in standard Kodak EP-2 processing color chemistry.
[0098] After processing, status D densitometry was measured and the corresponding D logE
curves were produced. These results show that full yellow color density can be achieved
for the 780 nm sensitized layers of Examples 11―13 before the required exposure images
the slower (in speed) 830 nm sensitized emulsion layer. Also, the results show that
regardless of placement (layer 1, for Example 13, layer 3 for Example 12, and layer
5 for Example 11) within the multi-layer construction. Unique color separation was
achieved between the 780 and 830 nm sensitized layers. With 820 nm laser exposure,
a magenta color density of 2.0 is achieved for Examples 11 and 12 before exposure
images the slower (in speed) 880 nm sensitized emulsion layer. This unique color separation
would also be attained if the 880 nm sensitized layer (layer 5) of Example 13 was
slowed down in speed further. Surprisingly, regardless of placement of the 830 and
880 nm sensitized layers within the construction, color separation was achieved. With
the 880 nm exposure, only the 880 nm sensitized layers of Examples 11-13 are exposed
regardless of placement within the construction. The results from these examples show
that if sufficient speed separation (780 nm layer faster in speed than the 830 nm
layer, the 830 nm layer faster in speed than the 880 nm layer) is maintained between
the emulsion layers, then unique color separation is achieved.
1. A photographic element capable of providing a full color image without exposure to
radiation within the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum comprising
a) a substrate, and
b) on one side of said substrate at least three silver halide emulsion layers, each
of said silver halide emulsion layers being associated with a different color photographic
coupler, each of said couplers being capable of forming a different color dye upon
reaction with an oxidized color photographic developer,
said three silver halide emulsion layers comprising, in order from the substrate
to the surface of said photographic element, a first emulsion sensitized to a portion
of the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, a second emulsion sensitized
to a portion of the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum which is of a
shorter wavelength than the portion to which said first emulsion is sensitized, and
a third emulsion sensitized to a portion of the infrared region of the electromagnetic
spectrum which is of a shorter wavelength than the portion to which said second emulsion
is sensitized, characterised in that said three silver halide emulsion layers have
a construction selected from the group consisting of:
1) each of the three layers has a contrast between 2 and 8 and differing from each
other in photographic speed such that, at an optical density of 1.3, the speed of
the third emulsion is at least 0.2 logE units faster than the second emulsion layer,
and the second emulsion is at least 0.2 logE units faster than the first emulsion
layer, and
2) directly between two layers comprising either said first and second emulsion layers
or said second and third emulsion layers a filter layer absorbing radiation in a range
overlapping the region of maximum sensitivity the one of the two layers further away
from the substrate without absorbing more than forty percent of the infrared radiation
to which the other of said two layers is sensitized and the other pair of emulsion
layers comprising said second and third emulsion layers and said first and second
emulsion layers. respectively, having a contrast between 2 and 8 and differing in
speed from each other so that at an optical density of 1.3, the speed of the emulsion
layer farthest from the substrate in said other pair of emulsion layers is at least
0.2 logE units faster than the speed of the emulsion layer closest to the substrate
in said other pair of emulsion layers.
2. A photographic element capable of providing a full color image with exposure of at
least two silver halide emulsion layers to radiation within the infrared region of
the electromagnetic spectrum comprising
a) a substrate, and
b) on one side of said substrate at least three silver halide emulsion layers, each
of said silver halide emulsion layers being associated with a means for providing
a different color dye image,
said three silver halide emulsion layers comprising, in order towards the surface
of said photographic element to be exposed, a first emulsion sensitized to a portion
of the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, a second emulsion sensitized
to a portion of the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum which is of a
shorter wavelength than the portion to which said first emulsion is sensitized, and
a third emulsion sensitized to a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum which is
of a shorter wavelength than the portion to which said second emulsion is sensitized,
and
said three silver halide emulsion layers having the following construction:
each of the three layers having a contrast between 2 and 8 and the first two layers
differing from each other in photographic speed such that, at an optical density of
1.3, the speed of the second emulsion layer, and the second emulsion is at least 0.2
logE units faster than the first emulsion layer.
3. A photographic element capable of providing a full color image with exposure of et
least two silver halide emulsion layers to radiation within the infrared region of
the electromagnetic spectrum comprising
a) a substrate, and
b) on one side of said substrate at least three silver halide emulsion layers, each
of said silver halide emulsion layers being associated with a means for providing
a different color dye image,
said three silver halide emulsion layers comprising, a first emulsion sensitized
to a portion of the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, a second emulsion
sensitized to a portion of the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum which
is of a shorter wavelength than the portion to which said first emulsion is sensitized,
and a third emulsion sensitized to a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum which
is of a shorter wavelength than the portion to which said second emulsion is sensitized,
and
said three silver halide emulsion layers having the following construction:
each of the three layers having a contrast between 2 and 8 and the first two layers
differing from each other in photographic speed such that, at an optical density of
1.3, the speed of the second emulsion layer, is at least 0.2 logE units faster than
the first emulsion layer.
4. A color photographic element comprising at least three silver halide emulsion layers
on a substrate, each of said three silver halide emulsion layers being capable of
forming a single color image of a different color dye, said three silver halide emulsion
layers comprising, in any order, a first silver halide emulsion layer sensitized to
a portion of the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, a second silver
halide emulsion layer sensitized to a different portion of the infrared region of
the electromagnetic spectrum, the wavelengths of maximum spectral sensitivity for
said first and second layer differing by at least 15 nm, and a third silver halide
emulsion layer sensitized to a third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, the
wavelength of maximum spectral sensitivity for said third layer differing by at least
15 nm from the wavelengths of maximum spectral sensitivity of said first and second
layers, the sensitivities of each of said three silver halide emulsion layers being
such that between any two layers having their maximum sensitivity in the infrared,
the emulsion layer having the shorter wavelength of maximum spectral sensitivity has
a speed which is at least 0.2 logE units faster than the other of said any two layers.
5. The photographic element of Claim 1, in which the construction has a filter layer
between a pair of adjacent emulsion layers which absorbs between ten and eighty percent
of the infrared radiation to which the layer farther from the substrate is sensitized
while absorbing less than forty percent of the infrared radiation to which the layer
closer to the substrate is sensitized.
6. The photographic element of Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which at least two adjacent emulsion
layers differ in their photographic speed and have a contrast between 2 and 5, the
speed difference between said two adjacent layers being such that at an optical density
of 1.3 the speed of the adjacent emulsion layer closest to the substrate is at least
0.5 logE units slower than the speed of the adjacent emulsion layer farthest from
the substrate.
7. The photographic element of Claim 3, in which said first and second emulsion layers
differ in their photographic speed and have a contrast between 2 and 5, the speed
difference between said two adjacent layers being such that at an optical density
of 1.3 the speed of the adjacent emulsion layer closest to the substrate is at least
0.5 logE units slower than the speed of the adjacent emulsion layer farthest from
the substrate.
8. The photographic element of any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which both pairs of adjacent
emulsion layers in a three emulsion layer system differ in their photographic speed
and have a contrast between 2 and 5, the speed difference between adjacent layers
being such that at an optical density of 1.3 the speed of the adjacent emulsion layer
of each pair closest to the substrate is at least 0.5 logE units slower than the speed
of the adjacent emulsion layer farther from the substrate.
9. The photographic element of Claim 3, wherein said third emulsion layer is spectrally
sensitized to a wavelength within the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
and said third emulsion layer is further from the substrate than said first and second
emulsion layers.
10. The photographic element of Claim 3, wherein said third emulsion layer is spectrally
sensitized to a wavelength within the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
and said third emulsion layer is located between said first and second emulsion layers.
11. The photographic element of Claim 3, wherein said third emulsion layer is spectrally
sensitized to a wavelength within the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
and said third emulsion layer is closer to said substrate than said first and second
emulsion layers.
12. The photographic element as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the contrast
of each of said at least three silver halide emulsion layers is between 2 and 8.
13. The color photographic element as claimed in Claim 4, in which the contrast of each
of said at least three silver halide emulsion layers is between 0.5 and 12.
14. The color photographic element as claimed in Claim 13, in which the wavelengths of
maximum sensitivity for each of said at least three emulsion layers differ from each
other by at least 35 nm and the contrast of each of said three emulsion layers is
from 1 to 11.
15. The color photographic element as claimed in Claim 4, in which the wavelengths of
maximum sensitivity for each of said at least three emulsion layers differ from each
other by at least 50 nm and the contrast of each of said three emulsion layers is
from 2 to 8.
16. The color photographic element as claimed in any one of Claims 4 and 13 to 15, in
which between said any two layers, the emulsion layer having the shorter wavelength
of maximum sensitivity has a speed which is at least 0.5 logE units faster than the
other of said any two layers.
17. The photographic element as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said means of
providing a different color comprises a dye-transfer process.
18. The photographic element as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said means of
providing a different color comprises a dye-bleach process.
19. The photographic element as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said means of
providing a different color comprises leuco dye oxidation process.
20. The photographic element as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said means of
providing a different color comprises the reaction between a photographic color coupler
in each emulsion layer with an oxidized color photographic developer.
1. Photographisches Element zum Erzeugen eines kompletten Farbbildes, wobei die Belichtung
nicht im sichtbaren Bereich des elektromagnetischen Spektrums erfolgt, mit
a) einem Substrat, und
b) mindestens drei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten auf einer Seite des Substrats,
wobei jede der Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten einem unterschiedlichen farbphotographischen
Koppler zugeordnet ist und jeder Koppler nach Reaktion mit einem oxidierten farbphotographischen
Entwickler einen unterschiedlichen Farbstoff ausbilden kann,
wobei die drei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten in der Reihenfolge vom Substrat
zur Oberfläche des photographischen Elements aufweisen: eine erste Emulsion, die für
einen Teil des Infrarotbereichs des elektromagnetischen Spektrums sensitiviert ist,
eine zweite Emulsion, die für einen Teil des Infrarotbereichs des elektromagnetischen
Spektrums sensitiviert ist, der kürzere Wellenlängen aufweist als der Teil, für den
die erste Emulsion sensitiviert ist, und eine dritte Emulsion, die für einen Teil
des Infrarotbereichs des elektromagnetischen Spektrums sensitiviert ist, der kürzere
Wellenlängen aufweist als der Teil, für den die zweite Emulsion sensitiviert ist,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die drei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten folgenden
Aufbau aufweisen:
1) jede der drei Schichten weist einen Kontrast zwischen 2 und 8 auf und unterscheidet
sich von jeder anderen in der Photoempfindlichkeit derart, daß bei einer optischen
Dichte von 1,3 die Empfindlichkeit der dritten Emulsion mindestens 0,2 logE-Einheiten
höher als die der zweiten Emulsionsschicht und die zweite Emulsion mindestens 0,2
logE-Einheiten empfindlicher als die erste Emulsionsschicht ist; oder
2) unmittelbar zwischen zwei Schichten, die entweder die erste und die zweite Emulsionsschicht
oder die zweite und die dritte Emulsionsschicht sind, ist eine Filterschicht vorgesehen,
die Strahlung in einem Gebiet absorbiert, das den Bereich der maximalen Sensitivität
einer der zwei Schichten, die vom Substrat entfernter angeordnet ist, überlappt, ohne
mehr als 40 % der Infrarotstrahlung, für welche die andere der beiden Schichten sensitiviert
ist, zu absorbieren, und das andere Paar der Emulsionsschichten, das entweder die
zweite und die dritte oder die erste und die zweite Emulsionsschicht sind, weist einen
Kontrast zwischen 2 und 8 auf und unterscheidet sich voneinander derart, dap bei einer
optischen Dichte von 1,3 die Empfindlichkeit der vom Substrat entfernteren Emulsionsschicht
im anderen Emulsionsschichtenpaar, mindestens 0,2 logE-Einheiten höher ist, als die
Empfindlichkeit der dem Substrat näheren Emulsionsschicht im anderen Emulsionsschichtenpaar.
2. Photographisches Element zum Erzeugen eines kompletten Farbbildes, wobei die Belichtung
von mindestens zwei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten im Infrarotbereich des elektromagnetischen
Spektrums erfolgt, mit
a) einem Substrat, und
b) mindestens drei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten auf einer Seite des Substrats,
wobei jede der Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten einer Einrichtung zum Erzeugen eines
Bildes mit unterschiedlichen Farbstoffen zugeordnet ist,
wobei die drei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten in der Reihenfolge zur zu beschichtenden
Oberfläche des photographischen Elements aufweisen: eine erste Emulsion, die für einen
Teil des Infrarotbereichs des elektromagnetischen Spektrums sensitiviert ist, eine
zweite Emulsion, die für einen Teil des Infrarotbereichs des elektromagnetischen Spektrums
sensitiviert ist, der kürzere Wellenlängen aufweist als der Teil, für den die erste
Emulsion sensitiviert ist, und eine dritte Emulsion, die für einen Teil des elektromagnetischen
Spektrums sensitiviert ist, der kürzere Wellenlängen aufweist als der Teil, für den
die zweite Emulsion sensitiviert ist, und wobei die drei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten
folgenden Aufbau aufweisen:
jede der drei Schichten weist einen Kontrast zwischen 2 und 8 auf, und die ersten
zwei Schichten unterscheiden sich voneinander in der Photoempfindlichkeit derart,
daß bei einer optischen Dichte von 1,3 die Empfindlichkeit der zweiten Emulsionsschicht
mindestens 0,2 logE-Einheiten größer als die der ersten Emulsionsschicht ist.
3. Photographisches Element zum Erzeugen eines kompletten Farbbildes, wobei die Belichtung
von mindestens zwei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten im Infrarotbereich des elektromagnetischen
Spektrums erfolgt, mit
a) einem Substrat, und
b) mindestens drei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten auf einer Seite des Substrats,
wobei jede der Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten einer Einrichtung zum Erzeugen eines
Bildes mit unterschiedlichen Farbstoffen zugeordnet ist,
wobei die drei Silberhalogenidschichten aufweisen: eine erste Emulsion, die für einen
Teil des Infrarotbereichs des elektromagnetischen Spektrums sensitiviert ist, eine
zweite Emulsion, die für einen Teil des Infrarotbereichs des elektromagnetischen Spektrums
sensitiviert ist, der kürzere Wellenlängen aufweist als der Teil, für den die erste
Emulsion sensitiviert ist, und eine dritte Emulsion, die für einen Teil des elektromagnetischen
Spektrums sensitiviert ist, der kürzere Wellenlängen aufweist als der Teil, für den
die zweite Emulsion sensitiviert ist, und
wobei die drei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten folgenden Aufbau aufweisen:
jede der drei Schichten weist einen Kontrast zwischen 2 und 8 auf, und die ersten
zwei Schichten unterscheiden sich voneinander in der Photoempfindlichkeit derart,
daß bei einer optischen Dichte von 1,3 die Empfindlichkeit der zweiten Emulsionsschicht
mindestens 0,2 logE-Einheiten höher als die erste Emulsionsschicht ist .
4. Farbphotographisches Element mit mindestens drei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten
auf einem Substrat, wobei jede der drei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten ein einzelnes
Farbbild mit einem unterschiedlichen Farbstoff ausbilden kann, und die drei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten
in einer beliebigen Reihenfolge aufweisen: eine erste Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschicht,
die für einen Teil des Infrarotbereichs des elektromagnetischen Spektrums sensitiviert
ist, eine zweite Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschicht, die für einen davon unterschiedlichen
Teil des Infrarotbereichs des elektromagnetischen Spektrums sensitiviert ist, wobei
die Wellenlängen der maximalen spektralen Sensitivität der ersten und zweiten Schicht
sich um mindestens 15 nm unterscheiden, und eine dritte Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschicht,
die für einen dritten Teil des elektromagnetischen Spektrums sensitiviert ist, wobei
die Wellenlänge der maximalen spektralen Sensitivität der dritten Schicht sich um
mindestens 15 nm von den Wellenlängen der maximalen spektralen Sensitivität der ersten
und zweiten Schicht unterscheidet, wobei die Sensitivitäten jeder der drei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten
derart sind, dap bei zwei beliebigen Schichten, deren maximale Sensitivität im Infraroten
liegt, die Emulsionsschicht mit der kürzeren Wellenlänge der maximalen spektralen
Sensitivität eine Empfindlichkeit aufweist, die mindestens 0,2 logE-Einheiten höher
als die der anderen der zwei beliebigen Schichten ist.
5. Photographisches Element nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Aufbau eine Filterschicht zwischen
einem Paar von benachbarten Emulsionsschichten aufweist, die zwischen 10 und 80 %
der Infrarotstrahlung absorbiert, für welche die vom Substrat entferntere Schicht
sensitiviert ist, aber weniger als 40 % der Infrarotstrahlen absorbiert, für welche
die dem Substrat nähere Schicht sensitiviert ist.
6. Photographisches Element nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei mindestens zwei benachbarte
Emulsionsschichten sich in ihrer Photoempfindlichkeit unterscheiden und einen Kontrast
zwischen 2 und 5 aufweisen, und die Empfindlichkeitsdifferenz zwischen den zwei benachbarten
Schichten derart ist, daß bei einer optischen Dichte von 1,3 die Empfindlichkeit der
benachbarten, dem Substrat näheren Emulsionsschicht mindestens 0,5 logE-Einheiten
niedriger ist als die Empfindlichkeit der benachbarten, vom Substrat entfernteren
Emulsionsschicht.
7. Photographisches Element nach Anspruch 3, wobei die erste und zweite Emulsionsschicht
sich in ihrer Photoempfindlichkeit unterscheiden und einen Kontrast zwischen 2 und
5 aufweisen, und die Empfindlichkeitsdifferenz zwischen den zwei benachbarten Schichten
derart ist, daß bei einer optischen Dichte von 1,3 die Empfindlichkeit der benachbarten,
dem Substrat näheren Emulsionsschicht mindestens 0,5 logE-Einheiten niedriger als
die Empfindlichkeit der benachbarten, vom Substrat entfernteren Emulsionsschicht ist.
8. Photographisches Element nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei beide Paare von benachbarten
Emulsionsschichten in einem System von drei Emulsionsschichten sich in ihrer Photoempfindlichkeit
unterscheiden, und einen Kontrast zwischen 2 und 5 aufweisen, und die Empfindlichkeitsdifferenz
zwischen den benachbarten Schichten derart ist, daß bei einer optischen Dichte von
1,3 die Empfindlichkeit der benachbarten, dem Substrat näheren Emulsionsschicht jedes
Paares mindestens 0,5 logE-Einheiten niedriger ist als die Empfindlichkeit der benachbarten,
vom Substrat entfernteren Emulsionsschicht.
9. Photographisches Element nach Anspruch 3, wobei die dritte Emulsionsschicht spektral
sensitiviert ist für eine Wellenlänge im sichtbaren Bereich des elektromagnetischen
Spektrums, und die dritte Emulsionsschicht vom Substrat entfernter ist als die erste
und zweite Emulsionsschicht.
10. Photographisches Element nach Anspruch 3, wobei die dritte Emulsionsschicht spektral
sensitiviert ist für eine Wellenlänge im sichtbaren Teil des elektromagnetischen Spektrums,
und die dritte Emulsionsschicht zwischen der ersten und der zweiten Emulsionsschicht
angeordnet ist.
11. Photographisches Element nach Anspruch 3, wobei die dritte Emulsionsschicht spektral
sensitiviert ist für eine Wellenlänge im sichtbaren Teil des elektromagnetischen Spektrums,
und die dritte Emulsionsschicht näher zum Substrat angeordnet ist als die erste und
zweite Emulsionsschicht.
12. Photographisches Element nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Kontrast
jeder der mindestens drei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten zwischen 2 und 8 ist.
13. Farbphotographisches Element nach Anspruch 4, wobei der Kontrast jeder der drei Silberhalogenid-Emulsionsschichten
zwischen 0,5 und 12 ist.
14. Farbphotographisches Element nach Anspruch 13, wobei die Wellenlängen der maximalen
Sensitivität für jede der mindestens drei Emulsionsschichten sich voneinander um mindestens
35 nm unterscheiden, und der Kontrast jeder der drei Emulsionsschichten von 1 bis
11 ist.
15. Farbphotographisches Element nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Wellenlänge der maximalen
Sensitivität für jede der mindestens drei Emulsionsschichten sich voneinander um mindestens
50 nm unterscheiden, und der Kontrast jeder der drei Emulsionsschichten von 2 bis
8 ist.
16. Farbphotographisches Element nach einem der Ansprüche 4 und 13 bis 15, wobei von beliebigen
zwei Schichten, die Emulsionsschicht mit der kürzeren Wellenlänge der maximalen Sensitivität
eine Empfindlichkeit aufweist, die mindestens 0,5 logE-Einheiten höher ist als die
der anderen der beliebigen zwei Schichten.
17. Photographisches Element nach einem der vorangegangenen Ansprüche, wobei die Einrichtung
zum Erzeugen einer unterschiedlichen Farbe einen Farbstoff-Übertragungsprozeß aufweist.
18. Photographisches Element nach einem der vorangegangenen Ansprüche, wobei die Einrichtung
zum Erzeugen einer unterschiedlichen Farbe einen Farbstoff-Bleichprozeß aufweist.
19. Photographisches Element nach einem der vorangegangenen Ansprüche, wobei die Einrichtung
zum Erzeugen einer unterschiedlichen Farbe einen Leukofarbstoff-Oxidationsprozeß aufweist.
20. Photographisches Element nach einem der vorangegangenen Ansprüche, wobei die Einrichtung
zum Erzeugen einer unterschiedlichen Farbe in jeder Emulsionsschicht die Reaktion
zwischen einem photographischen Farbkoppler mit einem oxidierten farbphotographischen
Entwickler aufweist.
1. Elément photographique pouvant donner une image en couleurs sans exposition à un rayonnement
se situant dans la région visible du spectre électromagnétique, comprenant :
(a) un substrat, et
(b) d'un côté de ce substrat, au moins trois couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent,
chacune de ces couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent étant associée à un copulant
photographique chromogène différent, chacun de ces copulants pouvant former un colorant
chromogène différent par réaction avec une révélateur oxydé pour la photographie en
couleurs,
ces trois couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent comprenant, dans l'ordre, depuis
le substrat jusqu'à la surface de cet élément photographique, une première émulsion
sensibilisée à une partie de la région infrarouge du spectre électromagnétique, une
seconde émulsion sensibilisée à une portion de la région infrarouge du spectre électromagnétique,
qui est d'une longueur d'onde plus courte que la partie à laquelle la première émulsion
est sensibilisée, et une troisième émulsion sensibilisée à une portion de la région
infrarouge du spectre électromagnétique, qui est d'une plus courte longueur d'onde
que la portion à laquelle la seconde émulsion est sensibilisée, caractérisé en ce
que ces trois couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent comportent une structure choisie
dans le groupe comprenant :
(1) chacune des trois couches a un contraste se situant entre 2 et 8 et diffère l'une
de l'autre en ce qui concerne la rapidité photographique, de telle sorte que, à une
densité optique de 1,3, la rapidité de la troisième émulsion est d'au moins 0,2 unité
log E plus rapide que la couche de la seconde émulsion, et que la seconde émulsion
est d'au moins 0,2 unité log E plus rapide que la première couche d'émulsion, et
(2) directement entre deux couches comprenant la première et la seconde couche d'émulsion
ou la seconde et la troisième d'émulsion, une couche filtrante absorbant le rayonnement
dans un intervalle chevauchant la région de sensibilité maximale de l'une des deux
couches à l'écart du substrat, sans absorption de plus de 40 % du rayonnement infrarouge
auquel l'autre de ces deux couches est sensibiliée, tandis que l'autre paire de couches
d'émulsion comprenant la seconde et la troisième couche d'émulsion et la première
et la seconde couche d'émulsion respectivement, a un contraste compris entre 2 et
8 et diffère en rapidité l'une de l'autre de sorte qu'à une densité optique de 1,3,
la rapidité de la couche d'émulsion la plus éloignée du substrat de cette autre paire
de couches d'émulsion est d'au moins 0,2 unité log E plus rapide que la rapidité de
la couche d'émulsion la plus proche du substrat dans l'autre paire susdite de couches
d'émulsion.
2. Elément photographique pouvant donner une image en couleurs avec exposition d'au moins
deux couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent à un rayonnement se situant dans la
région infrarouge du spectre électromagnétique, comprenant :
(a) un substrat, et
(b) d'un côté de ce substrat, au moins trois couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent,
chacune de ces couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent étant associée à un moyen
pour donner une image de couleur différente,
ces trois couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent comprenant, dans l'ordre, en direction
de la surface de l'élément photographique à exposer, une première émulsion sensibilisée
à une partie de la région infrarouge du spectre électromagnétique, une seconde émulsion
sensibilisée à une portion de la région infrarouge du spectre électromagnétique, qui
est d'une plus courte longueur d'onde que la portion à laquelle la première émulsion
est sensibilisée, et une troisième émulsion sensibilisée à une portion du spectre
électromagnétique qui est d'une plus courte longueur d'onde que la portion à laquelle
la seconde émulsion est sensibilisée, et
ces trois couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent présentant la structure suivante
chacune des trois couches a un contraste compris entre 2 et 3 et les deux premières
couches diffèrent l'une de l'autre en rapidité photographique de telle sorte qu'à
une densité de 1,3, la rapidité de la seconde couche d'émulsion soit d'au moins 0,2
unité log E plus rapide que la première émulsion,
3. Elément photographique pouvant donner une image en couleurs avec exposition d'au moins
deux couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent à un rayonnement se situant dans la
région infrarouge du spectre électromagnétique, comprenant :
(a) un substrat, et
(b) d'un côté de ce substrat, au moins trois couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent,
chacune de ces couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent étant associée à un moyen
donnant une image de couleur différente,
ces trois couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent comprenant une première émulsion
sensibilisée à une portion de la région infrarouge du spectre électromagnétique, une
seconde émulsion sensibilisée à une portion de la région infrarouge du spectre électromagnétique,
qui est d'une plus courte longueur d'onde que la portion à laquelle la première émulsion
est sensibilisée, et une troisième émulsion sensibilisée à une portion du spectre
électromagnétique qui est d'une longueur d'onde plus courte que la portion à laquelle
la seconde émulsion est sensibilisée, et
ces trois couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent ayant la structure suivante :
chacune des trois couches a un contraste compris entre 2 et 8, et les deux premières
couches diffèrent l'une de l'autre en rapidité photographique de telle sorte que,
à une densité optique de 1,3, la vitesse de la seconde couche d'émulsion est d'au
moins 0,2 unité log E plus rapide que la première couche d'émulsion.
4. Elément photographique en couleurs, comprenant au moins trois couches d'émulsion d'halogénure
d'argent sur un substrat, chacune de ces trois couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent
étant capable de former une image en une seule couleur d'une couleur différente, ces
trois couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent comprenant, dans un ordre quelconque,
une première couche d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent sensibilisée à une portion de
la région infrarouge du spectre électromagnétique, une seconde couche d'émulsion d'halogénure
d'argent sensibilisée à une portion différente de la région infrarouge du spectre
électromagnétique, les longueurs d'onde de la sensibilité spectrale maximale pour
cette première et cette seconde couche différant d'au moins 15 nm, et une troisième
couche d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent sensibilisée à une troisième portion du spectre
électromagnétique, la longueur d'onde de la sensibilité spectrale maximale pour cette
troisième couche différant d'au moins 15 nm par rapport aux longueurs d'onde de la
sensibilité spectrale maximale de la première et de la seconde couche, les sensibilités
de chacune de ces trois couches d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent étant telles qu'entre
deux couches quelconques ayant leur sensibilité maximale dans l'infrarouge, la couche
d'émulsion ayant la plus courte longueur d'onde de sensibilité spectrale maximale
a une rapidité qui est d'au moins 0,2 unité log E plus rapide que l'autre de ces deux
couches.
5. Elément photographique suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la structure
comporte une couche filtrante entre une paire de couches d'émulsion adjacentes, qui
absorbe entre 10 et 80 % du rayonnement infrarouge auquel la couche la plus éloignée
du substrat est sensibilisée, tout en absorbant moins de 40 % du rayonnement infrarouge
auquel la couche la plus proche du substrat est sensibilisée.
6. Elément photographique suivant la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins
deux couches d'émulsion adjacentes diffèrent en ce que concerne leur rapidité photographique
et présentent un contraste compris entre 2 et 5, la différence de rapidité entre deux
couches adjacentes étant telle qu'à une densité optique de 1,3, la rapidité de la
couche d'émulsion adjacente la plus proche du substrat est d'au moins de 0,5 unité
log E plus lente que la rapidité de la couche d'émulsion adjacente la plus éloignée
du substrat.
7. Elément photographique suivant la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que la première
et la seconde couche d'émulsion diffèrent en ce qui concerne la rapidité photographique
et ont un contraste compris entre 2 et 5, la différence de rapidité entre ces deux
couches adjacentes étant telle qu'à une densité de 1,3, la rapidité de la couche d'émulsion
adjacente la plus proche du substrat est d'au moins 0,5 unité log E plus lente que
la rapidité de la couche d'émulsion adjacente la plus éloignée du substrat.
8. Elément photographique suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé
en ce que deux paires de couches d'émulsion adjacentes dans un système à trois couches
d'émulsion diffèrent en ce qui concerne leur rapidité photographique et ont un contraste
compris entre 2 et 5, la différence de rapidité entre des couches adjacentes étant
telle qu'à une densité optique de 1,3, la rapidité de la couche d'émulsion adjacente
de chaque paire, qui est la plus proche du substrat, est d'au moins 0,5 unité log
E plus lente que la vitesse de la couche d'émulsion adjacente la plus éloignée du
substrat.
9. Elément photographique suivant la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que la troisième
couche d'émulsion est sensibilisée spectralement à une longueur d'onde dans la partie
visible du spectre électromagnétique, cette troisième couche d'émulsion étant plus
éloignée du substrat que la première et la seconde couche d'émulsion
10. Elément photographique suivant la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que la troisième
couche d'émulsion est sensibilisée spectralement à une longueur d'onde se situant
dans la portion visible du spectre électromagnétique, et cette troisième couche d'émulsion
est localisée entre la première et la seconde couche d'émulsion.
11. Elément photographique suivant la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que la troisième
couche d'émulsion est sensibilisée spectralement à une longueur d'onde se situant
dans la portion visible du spectre électromagnétique, et la troisième couche d'émulsion
est plus proche du substrat que la première et que la seconde couche d'émulsion.
12. Elément photographique suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé
en ce que le contraste de chacune des trois couches au moins d'émulsion d'halogénure
d'argent susdites est compris entre 2 et 8.
13. Elément photographique en couleurs suivant la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que
le contraste de chacune des trois couches au moins d'émulsion d'halogénure d'argent
susdites est compris entre 0,5 et 12.
14. Elément photographique en couleurs suivant la revendication 13, caractérisé en ce
que les longueurs d'onde de la sensibilité maximale pour chacune des trois couches
au moins d'émulsion susdites diffèrent l'une de l'autre d'au moins 35 nm et en ce
que le contraste de chacune de ces trois couches d'émulsion est compris entre 1 et11.
15. Elément photographique en couleurs suivant la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que
les longueurs d'onde de la sensibilité maximale pour chacune des trois couches au
moins d'émulsion susdites diffèrent l'une de l'autre d'au moins 50 nm, et en ce que
le contraste de chacune de ces trois couches d'émulsion est de 2 à 8.
16. Elément photographique en couleurs suivant l'une quelconque des revendicatins 4 et
13 à 15, caractérisé en ce que, entre deux couches quelconques susdites, la couche
d'émulsion ayant la plus courte longueur d'onde de sensibilité maximale a une rapidité
qui est d'au moins 0,5 unité log E plus rapide que l'autre de ces deux couches quelconques.
17. Elément photographique suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé
en ce que le moyen prévu pour donner une couleur différente consiste en un procédé
de transfert de colorant.
18. Elément photographique suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé
en ce que le moyen prévu pour donner une couleur différente consiste en un procédé
de blanchiment de colorant.
19. Elément photographique suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé
en ce que le moyen prévu pour donner une couleur différente comprend un procédé d'oxydation
de leuco-colorant.
20. Elément photographique suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé
en ce que le moyen prévu pour donner une couleur différente comprend la réaction entre
un copulant chromogène photographique dans chaque couche d'émulsion avec un révélateur
photographique chromogène oxydé.