Light-sensitive color photographic elements and process for developing them

Abstract

 A process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive element which comprises exposing a color photographic light-sensitive element, color developing the exposed light-sensitive element in a developing bath, and then treating the light-sensitive element in a bleach bath. The developing bath contains at least 5 grams/liter of developing agent and/or the pH value of the bleach bath is at least 6.0. The photographic element, before being imagewise exposed, contains a compound represented by the general formula (I) wherein R is NR₁R₂ or O-R₃, wherein R₁ and R₂, being the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group (preferably an alkyl group having up to 6 carbon atoms); and R₃ represents an alkyl group :

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a process for developing color photographic light-sensitive materials in the presence of a compound which prevents processing variability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is known in the art that a photographic light-sensitive color image is obtained through a process which comprises developing in a developing bath the exposed light-sensitive silver halide material, then treating the developed material in bleach and fix baths to remove the metallic salt and the remaining silver salts.

[0003] The increase in dye density of unexposed areas in color negative photographic light-sensitive materials during color development is called "color development fog". This phenomenon occurs more readily if the material is stored at a higher temperature or humidity, or if the material is stored for a long period.

[0004] Fog formation can be reduced by incorporating an antiffoging agent into the light-sensitive material or into the development solution. US patent No. 4,418,140 describes a process for developing color photographic light-sensitive materials in presence of a 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole antiffoging compound substituted on the phenyl ring with sulfonamido groups.

[0005] Research Disclosure No. 24,236, June 1984, describes a list of substituted 1-phenyl-5-mercapotetrazole fog inhibiting compounds for use in silver halide photography, having at the same time speed increasing properties. Among the various substituents on the phenyl ring, carbonamido (Compound 6) and one or more carboxy groups (Compounds 6 and 7, respectively) are described. In addition, where there is a thioether group as a substituent on the phenyl ring, an increase of speed is obtained even when development is performed with exhausted baths.

[0006] A deleterious increase in dye density in color photographic light-sensitive materials occurs not only in the unexposed areas but also in the exposed areas. This problem is called "process variability": it is particularly relevant when the color photographic light-sensitive material is developed by automatic processors having a developer solution replenishment rate which is too high. In fact, developer solutions of said automatic processors need from time to time to be supplied with a replenisher solution to reestablish standard working conditions. It is a common practice to add a larger amount of replenishment solution than necessary. This provides a more active developer solution that produces an image having higher speed and higher contrast. In this working condition, wherein the amount of developing agent in the developer solution is of more than 5 grams/liter rather than the usual 4.35-4.65 grams/liter of the standard working condition as described in Manual for Processing Kodacolor II Film, August 1983, it is preferable to reduce the formation of dye density during developing to the minimum level possible, without affecting the photographic properties, i.e. speed and color balance.

[0007] The same problem of "process variability" is also noted when the pH of the bleach bath is higher than the standard condition. Sometimes, the pH value of the bleach bath become higher than usual values due to the presence in the bleach bath of some impurities received from the developing bath. The standard pH value of the bleach bath is around 5.0-5.5 as described in Manual for Processing Kodacolor Film. When this value is more than 6.0, the "process variability" problem can occur.

[0008] US patent No. 4,328,302 describes a lithographic light-sensitive material which scarcely exhibits colored fringe and black pepper and forms halftone dots of good quality whether a fresh or an exhausted developer is used for processing the lithographic material. Said lithographic material contains a substituted 1-phenyl-5-mercapotetrazole compound, carrying on the phenyl ring a carbonamido group, an hydroxy group, a sulphonamido group and the like.

[0009] US patent 4,717,648 describes a process for processing a light-sensitive color reversal photographic material which comprises developing the material with a black-and-white developer containing a 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole. Among the various possible substituents of the phenyl group, there are halogen, alkyl, sulfonamido, alkyloxycarbonyl, carboxy groups, and the like.

[0010] It could be useful to find a process for the development of color light sensitive materials able to give good photographic properties to the material when processed in the standard working conditions and, in the meantime, able to reduce process variability without affecting photographic properties when the material is processed in condition of high pH of the bleach bath or high development solution replenishment rate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention relates to a process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive material which comprises exposing a color photographic light-sensitive material, color developing the exposed light-sensitive material in a developing bath, and then treating the light-sensitive material in a bleach bath, wherein said developing bath contains at least 5 grams/liter of developing agent and/or the pH value of said bleach bath is at least 6.0, said photographic material containing, before being imagewise exposed, a compound represented by the general formula (I):


wherein R is NR₁R₂ or O-R₃, wherein R₁ and R₂, being the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group (preferably an alkyl group having up to 6 carbon atoms); and R₃ represents an alkyl group (preferably an alkyl group having up to 4 carbon atoms).

[0012] In another aspect, the present invention refers to a light-sensitive silver halide color photographic element which comprises a support base and, coated thereon, at least one surface latent image negative type emulsion layer, at least one of said silver halide emulsion layers containing, before being imagewise exposed, a compound represented by general formula (I):


wherein R is NR₁R₂ or O-R₃, wherein R₁ and R₂, being the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group (preferably an alkyl group having up to 6 carbon atoms); and R₃ represents an alkyl group (preferably an alkyl group having up to 4 carbon atoms).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to a process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive material which comprises exposing a color photographic light-sensitive silver halide material, color developing the exposed light-sensitive material in a developing bath, and then treating the light-sensitive material in a bleach bath, wherein said developing bath contains at least 5 grams/liter of developing agent and/or the pH value of said bleach bath is at least 6.0, said photographic material containing, before being imagewise exposed, a compound represented by the general formula (I):


wherein R is NR₁R₂ or O-R₃, wherein R₁ and R₂, being the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group (preferably an alkyl group having up to 6 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, butyl, chloromethyl, trifluoromethyl, 2-hydroxy-ethyl, etc..); and R₃ represents an alkyl group (preferably an alkyl group having up to 4 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, butyl, chloromethyl, trifluoromethyl, 2-hydroxy-ethyl, etc.).

[0014] Particularly, the present invention relates to a process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive silver halide material as described above, wherein said developing bath contains at least 5 up to 7 grams/liter of developing agent and/or wherein the pH value of said bleach bath is at least 6.0 up to 7.5.

[0015] Particularly, the present invention relates to a process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive material as described above, wherein said light-sensitive material comprises a support and coated thereon at least a blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, at least a green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and at least a red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer. Particularly, said compound represented by the general formula (I) is contained in a green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer. More particularly, said compound represented by the general formula (I) is present in an amount from 10 to 300 micromoles per mole of the total silver contained in such light-sensitive material, more preferably from 50 to 200 micromoles per silver mole.

[0016] When the term "group" is used to describe a chemical compound or substituent, the described chemical material includes the basic group and that group with conventional substitution. Where the term "moiety" is used to describe a chemical compound or substituent only an unsubstituted chemical material is intended to be included. For example, "alkyl group" includes not only such alkyl moieties as methyl, ethyl, octyl, stearyl, etc., but also such moieties bearing substituent groups such as halogen, cyano, hydroxyl, nitro, amine, carboxylate, etc. On the other hand, "alkyl moiety" includes only methyl, ethyl, octyl, stearyl, cyclohexyl, etc.

[0017] Particularly, the present invention relates to a process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive material which comprises exposing a color photographic light-sensitive material, color developing the exposed light-sensitive material in a developing bath, and then treating the light-sensitive material in a bleach bath, wherein said developing bath contains at least 5 grams/liter of developing agent and/or the pH value of said bleach bath is at least 6.0, said photographic material containing a compound represented by the general formula (II):


wherein R₄ is NH₂ or O-R₅, wherein R₅ is a low alkyl group up to 3 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, butyl, chloromethyl, trifluoromethyl, etc.

[0018] Although the group CO-R or CO-R₄ of previous formulas (I) and (II) may be positioned at any location of the benzene nucleus, it is particularly preferred to be linked at the para-position relative to the carbon atom that is bound to the nitrogen atom of the tetrazole group.

[0019] Specific examples of the compounds represented by the previous formulas (I) to (II) are illustrated below, but the present invention is not limited thereby.

Synthesis of 4-(2,5-dihydro-5-thioxo-1H-tetrazol-1-yl)-benzamide

(Compound 1)

[0020] Thiophosgene (25 grams) was added to 100 ml of water and p-aminobenzene carbonamide (28 grams) was added thereto at room temperature while fully stirring. The mixture was stirred for two hours. The precipitated crystals were collected and 30 grams of crude intermediate 1 were obtained. A mixture of that amount of intermediate 1, 400 ml of water and 15 grams of sodium azide was heated to reflux for 3 hours. The resulting mixture was filtered while it was cooled and made acid by addition of diluted hydrochloric acid. The precipitated crystals were collected by filtration and recrystallised from methanol/DMF. Thus 15 grams of compound 1 was obtained.

Analysis:
%	Calculated	Found
C	43.43	43.63
N	31.65	32.32
H	3.19	3.21
S	14.49	14.38

[0021] The NMR spectrum confirmed the structure.

[0022] The photographic elements used in the present invention are preferably multilayer color elements comprising a blue sensitive or sensitized silver halide emulsion layer associated with yellow dye-forming color couplers, a green sensitized silver halide emulsion layer associated with magenta dye-forming color couplers and a red sensitized silver halide emulsion layer associated with cyan dye-forming color couplers. Each layer can be comprised of a single emulsion layer or of multiple emulsion sub-layers sensitive to a given region of visible spectrum. When multilayer materials contain multiple blue, green or red sub-layers, there can be in any case relatively faster and relatively slower sub-layers.

[0023] The silver halide emulsion used in this invention may be a fine dispersion of silver chloride, silver bromide, silver chloro-bromide, silver iodo-bromide and silver chloro-iodo-bromide in a hydrophilic binder. As hydrophilic binder, any hydrophilic polymer of those conventionally used in photography can be advantageously employed including gelatin, a gelatin derivative such as acylated gelatin, graft gelatin, etc., albumin, gum arabic, agar agar, a cellulose derivative, such as hydroxyethyl-cellulose, carboxymethyl-cellulose, etc., a synthetic resin, such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, etc. Preferred silver halides are silver iodo-bromide or silver iodo-bromo-chloride containing 1 to 20 % mole silver iodide. The silver halide grains may have any crystal form such as cubical, octahedral, tabular or a mixed crystal form. The silver halide can have a uniform grain size or a broad grain size distribution. The size of the silver halide ranges from about 0.1 to about 5 µm.

[0024] The silver halide grains of the emulsions used in the present invention are capable of forming a surface latent image, instead of those emulsions which form an internal latent image. The silver halide grains forming the surface latent image are at the most used in the photographic elements of the negative type, while the silver halide grains forming an internal latent image, although capable of forming a negative image when they are developed with an internal developer, are generally used with surface developers to form direct positive images. The difference among the silver halide grains forming an internal latent image is well-known in the art. Generally, some additional ingredients or processings are required in the preparation of silver halide grains capable of preferably forming an internal rather than a surface latent image.

[0025] The silver halide emulsion used in the present invention can be prepared using a single-jet method, a double-jet method, or a combination of these methods or can be matured using, for instance, an ammonia method, a neutralization method, an acid method, etc. The emulsions which can be used in the present invention can be chemically and optically sensitized as described in Research Disclosure 17643, III and IV, December 1978; they can contain optical brighteners, antifogging agents and stabilizers, filtering and antihalo dyes, hardeners, coating aids, plasticizers and lubricants and other auxiliary substances, as for instance described in Research Disclosure 17643, V, VI, VIII, X, XI and XII, December 1978. The layers of the photographic emulsion and the layers of the photographic element con contain various colloids, alone or in combination, such as binding materials, as for instance described in Research Disclosure 17643, IX, December 1978. The above described emulsions can be coated onto several support bases (cellulose triacetate, paper, resin-coated paper, polyester included) by adopting various methods, as described in Research Disclosure 17643, XV and XVII, December 1978.

[0026] The process of the present invention for developing a color photographic light-sensitive material comprises at least a color developing bath and, optionally, a prehardening bath, a neutralizing bath, a first (black and white) developing bath, etc. These baths are well known in the art and are described for instance in Research Disclosure 17643, 1978.

[0027] For the production of color photographic images according to the present invention, the silver halide emulsion layers exposed to light radiation to form a latent image, are developed with a compound of the aromatic amine type in the presence of the color couplers. The aromatic primary amine color developing agent used in the photographic color developing composition can be any of known compounds of the class of p-phenylendiamine derivatives, widely employed in various color photographic process. Particularly useful color developing agents are the p-phenylendiamine derivatives, especially the N,N-dialkyl-p-phenylene diamine derivatives wherein the alkyl groups or the aromatic nucleus can be substituted or not substituted.

[0028] Examples of p-phenylene diamine developers include the salts of: N,N-diethyl-p-phenylendiamine, 2-amino-5-diethylamino-toluene, 4-amino-N-ethyl-N-(β-methanesulphonamidoethyl)-m-toluidine, 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-(β-hydroxyethyl)-aniline, 4-amino-3-(β-methylsulfonamidoethyl)-N,N-diethylaniline, 4-amino-N,N-diethyl-3-(N'-methyl-β-methylsulfonamido)-aniline, N-ethyl-N-methoxyethyl-3-methyl-p-phenylenediamine and the like, as described, for instance, in US patents No. 2,552,241; 2,556,271; 3,656,950 and 3,658,525.

[0029] Examples of commonly used developing agents of the p-phenylene diamine salt type are: 2-amino-5-diethylaminotoluene hydrochloride (generally known as CD2 and used in the developing solutions for color positive photographic material), 4-amino-N-ethyl-N-(β-methanesulfonamidoethyl)-m-toluidine sesquisulfate monohydrate (generally known as CD3 and used in the developing solution for photographic papers and color reversal materials) and 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-(β-hydroxyethyl)-aniline sulfate (generally known as CD4 and used in the developing solutions for color negative photographic materials).

[0030] In the case of developing solutions for color negative photographic materials, the quantity of said color developing agents generally used is from about 4.35-4.65 grams/liter as described in Manual for Processing Kodacolor II Film, August 1983.

[0031] After color development, the imagewise developed metallic silver and the remaining silver salts generally must be removed from the photographic material. This is performed in separate bleach and fix baths or in a single bath, called blix, which bleaches and fixes the image in a single step. The standard pH value of the bleach bath is around 5.0-5.5 as described in Manual for Processing Kodacolor Film; the bleach bath is a water solution containing an oxidizing agent, normally a complex salt on an alkali metal or of ammonium and of trivalent iron with an organic acid, e. g. EDTA.Fe.NH₄, wherein EDTA is the ethylenediaminotetracetic acid. While processing, this bath is continously aired to oxidize the divalent iron which forms while bleaching the silver image and regenerated, as known in the art, to maintain the bleach effectiveness. The bad performance of these operations may cause the drawback of the loss of cyan density of the dyes.

[0032] Further to the above mentioned oxidizing agents, the bleach bath can contain known fixing agents, such as for example ammonium or alkali metal thiosulfates. Both bleach and fix baths can contain other additives, e. g. polyalkyleneoxide derivatives, as described in GB patent 933,008 in order to increase the effectiveness of the bath, or thioethers known as bleach accelerators.

[0033] The present invention will be now illustrated in greater detail by reference to the following examples.

EXAMPLE 1

[0034] Film 1 was prepared by coating a cellulose triacetate support base, subbed with gelatin, with the following layers in the following order:

(a) a layer of black colloidal silver dispersed in gelatin having a silver coverage of 0.26 g/m³ and a gelatin coverage of 2.37 g/m²;

(b) an intermediate layer containing 0.97 g/m² of gelatin;

(c) a layer of low sensitivity red-sensitive silver halide emulsion comprising a low-sensitivity silver bromo iodide emulsion (having 2.5% silver iodide moles and a mean grain size of 0.18µm) at a total silver coverage of 0.57 g/m² and a gelatin coverage of 0.76 g/m², containing the cyan-dye forming coupler A at a coverage of 0.285 g/m², the cyan-dye forming DIR coupler B at a coverage of 0.019 g/m² and the magenta colored coupler C at a coverage of 0.035 g/m², dispersed in a mixture of tricresylphosphate and butyl-acetanilide;

(d) a layer of medium-sensitivity red-sensitive silver halide emulsion comprising a silver chloro-bromo-iodide emulsion (having 7% silver iodide moles and 5% silver chloride moles a mean grain size of 0.45 µm) at a silver coverage of 0.85 g/m² and a gelatin coverage of 0.84 g/m², containing the cyan-dye forming coupler A at a coverage of 0.338 g/m², the cyan-dye forming DIR coupler B at a coverage of 0.023 g/m² and the magenta colored coupler C at a coverage of 0.053 g/m², dispersed in a mixture of tricresylphosphate and butylacetanilide;

(e) a layer of high-sensitivity red-sensitive silver halide emulsion comprising a silver bromo-iodide emulsion (having 12% silver iodide moles and a mean grain size of 0.11 µm) at a silver coverage of 1.24 g/m² and a gelatin coverage of 0.84 g/m², containing the cyan-dye forming coupler A at a coverage of 0.338 g/m², the cyan-dye forming DIR coupler B at a coverage of 0.023 g/m² and the magenta colored coupler C at a coverage of 0.053 g/m², dispersed in a mixture of tricresylphosphate and butylacetanilide;

(f) an intermediate layer containing 1.13 g/m² of gelatin, comprising a dichlorohydroxytriazine gelatin hardener;

(g) a layer of low sensitivity green sensitive silver halide emulsion comprising a blend of the low-sensitivity and medium-sensitivity silver halide emulsions of layers (c) and (d) at a silver coverage of 1.43 g/m² and a gelatin coverage of 1.52 g/m², containing the magenta-dye forming coupler D, at a coverage of 0.533 g/m², the magenta dye forming DIR coupler E at a coverage of 0.017 g/m², the yellow colored magenta dye forming coupler F at a coverage of 0.079 g/m², the yellow colored magenta dye forming coupler I at a coverage of 0.157 g/m², and dispersed in tricresylphosphate;

(h) a layer of high-sensitivity green sensitive silver halide emulsion comprising the emulsion of layer (e) at a silver coverage of 1.28 g/m² and a gelatin coverage of 0.83 g/m² containing the magenta dye forming coupler D, at a coverage of 0.400 g/m², the magenta dye forming DIR coupler E at a coverage of 0.013 g/m², the yellow colored magenta dye forming coupler F at a coverage of 0.021 g/m², the yellow colored magenta dye forming coupler I at a coverage of 0.043 g/m², dispersed in tricresylphosphate;

(i) an intermediate layer containing 1.06 g/m² of gelatin;

(j) a yellow filter layer containing 1.14 g/m² of gelatin, comprising a dichlorohydroxytriazine gelatin hardener;

(k) a layer of low-sensitivity blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion comprising a blend of the low-sensitivity and medium-sensitivity silver halide emulsions of layer (c) and (d) at a silver coverage of 0.49 g/m² and a gelatin coverage of 1.58 g/m² and the yellow dye-forming coupler G at a coverage of 0.922 g/m² and the yellow dye forming DIR coupler H at a coverage of 0.026 g/m² dispersed in a mixture of diethyllaurate and dibuthylphthalate;

(l) a layer of high-sensitivity blue sensitive silver halide emulsion comprising the emulsion of layer (e) at a silver coverage of 0.84 g/m² and a gelatin coverage of 1.14 g/m², containing the yellow dye-forming coupler G at a coverage of 0.700 g/m² and the yellow dye forming DIR coupler H at a coverage of 0.020 g/m² dispersed in a mixture of diethyllaurate and dibuthylphthalate;

(m) a protective layer of 1.29 g/m² of gelatin;

(n) a top coat layer of 0.75 g/m² of gelatin containing of polymethylmethacrylate beads.

[0035] Film 2 was prepared as film 1, adding to layer (g) 77.18 micromol/mol total silver contained in the light-sensitive material of the compound (1) of the present invention.

[0036] Film 3 was prepared as film 1, adding to layer (g) 115.70 micromol/mol total silver contained in the light-sensitive material of the compound (1) of the present invention.

[0037] Film 4 was prepared as film 1, adding to layer (g) 154.30 micromol/mol total silver contained in the light-sensitive material of the compound (1) of the present invention.

[0038] Film 5 was prepared as film 1, adding to layer (g) 76.99 micromol/mol total silver contained in the light-sensitive material of the compound (3) of the present invention.

[0039] Film 6 was prepared as film 1, adding to layer (g) 77.18 mmol/mol Ag of the compound A.

[0040] Film 7 was prepared as film 1, adding to layer (g) 77.18 micromol/mol total silver contained in the light-sensitive material of the compound B.

[0041] Film 8 was prepared as film 1, adding to layer (g) 77.18 micromol/mol total silver contained in the light-sensitive material of the compound C.

Cyan Dye Forming Coupler A:

[0042] 

Cyan Dye Forming DIR Coupler B:

[0043] 

Magenta Colored Cyan-Dye Forming Coupler C:

[0044] 

Magenta Dye Forming Coupler D:

[0045] 

Magenta Dye Forming DIR Coupler E:

[0046] 

Yellow Colored Magenta Dye Forming Coupler F:

[0047] 

Yellow Dye Forming Coupler G:

[0048] 

Yellow Dye Forming DIR Coupler H:

[0049] 

Yellow Colored Magenta Dye Forming Coupler I:

[0050] 


   Samples of each film were exposed for 1/20 of a second to a light source having a color temperature of 5,500 Kelvin through a WRATTEN™ W99 filter and an optical step wedge (selective exposure). All the exposed samples were developed in a standard type C41 process (Process A) as described in British Journal of Photography, July 12, 1974, pp. 597-598. Said standard type C41 process contained an amount of 4.5 grams for liter of developing agent CD4. The pH value of the bleach bath of said C41 process was 5.20.

[0051] Other samples of films 1-8 were exposed and developed as above, with the only difference that the amount of developing agent in the developing bath was 5.5 grams for liter (rather than 4.5), said developing bath being formed by blending 60% of integration bath and 40% of standard developing bath (Process B).

[0052] Table 1 compares the photographic results in terms of Dmin and color balance (that is the difference between Dmax-magenta and Dmax-cyan values) obtained through Process A, respectively indicated as Dmin1 and CB1, with the same data obtained through Process B, respectively indicated as Dmin2 and CB2. The differences between the Dmin2 and Dmin1 values and the CB2 and CB1 values are, respectively, indicated as ΔDmin and ΔCB.

TABLE 1

Film	Dmin1	Dmin2	ΔDmin	CB1	CB2	ΔCB
1 (ref:)	0.50	0.72	+0.22	0.41	0.48	+0.07
2 (inv.)	0.49	0.65	+0.16	0.40	0.43	+0.03
3 (inv.)	0.47	0.60	+0.13	0.39	0.39	0.00
4 (inv.)	0.47	0.59	+0.12	0.39	0.38	-0.01
5 (inv.)	0.48	0.59	+0.11	0.40	0.38	-0.02
6 (comp)	0.51	0.78	+0.27	0.44	0.53	+0.09
7 (comp)	0.52	0.79	+0.27	0.44	0.53	+0.09
8 (comp)	0.57	0.74	+0.17	0.46	0.51	+0.05

[0053] Table 1 shows that, when a developer solution contains an amount of developing agent higher than standard conditions, the films 2 to 5, containing a compound useful in the process of the present invention, present a low increase in the Dmin value compared with the reference film 1 that does not contain any compound to prevent process variability and also with the films 6 to 8 containing a compound having different substituents on the phenyl ring. The films 2 to 5 present also good photographic properties in terms of color balance compared with the reference film and with the films 6 to 8 not useful in the present invention.

EXAMPLE 2

[0054] Samples of films 1 (reference) and 3 (invention) were exposed and developed with Process A, with the only difference that the pH value of the bleach bath was 6.00, rather than 5.20.

[0055] Other samples of films 1 (reference) and 3 (invention) were exposed and developed with Process A, with the only difference that the pH value of the bleach bath was 6.50, rather than 5.20.

[0056] Other samples of films 1 (reference) and 3 (invention) were exposed and developed with Process A, with the only difference that the pH value of the bleach bath was 7.00, rather than 5.20.

[0057] Table 2 reports the differences of the Dmin values obtained by the films treated at various level of pH of the bleach bath with reference to the standard Dmin value (0.50) obtained when the films are processed in standard working conditions (pH of bleach bath 5.20).

TABLE 2

Film	ΔDmin
	pH=5.5	pH=6.0	pH=6.5	pH=7.0
1 (ref.)	+0.22	+0.24	+0.33	+0.38
3 (inv.)	+0.13	+0.14	+0.22	+0.26

[0058] Table 2 shows that film 3 of the present invention presents a low increase in the Dmin value at pH levels higher than the usual standard conditions, with respect to the reference film 1.

Claims

1. Process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive material which comprises exposing a color photographic light-sensitive material, color developing the exposed light-sensitive material in a developing bath, and then treating the light-sensitive material in a bleach bath, wherein said developing bath contains at least 5 grams for liter of developing agent and/or the pH value of said bleach bath is at least 6.0, said photographic material containing, before being imagewise exposed, a compound represented by the general formula (I):

wherein R is NR₁R₂ or O-R₃, wherein R₁ and R₂, being the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and R₃ represents an alkyl group.

2. Process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive material as in claim 1, said photographic material containing, before being imagewise exposed, a compound represented by the general formula (II):

R₄ is NH₂ or O-R₅, wherein R₅ is a low alkyl group up to 3 carbon atoms.

3. Process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive material as in claim 1, wherein said light-sensitive material comprises a support and coated thereto at least a blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, at least a green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and at least a red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer.

4. Process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive material as in claim 1, wherein said compound represented by the general formula (I) is contained in a green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer.

5. Process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive material as in claim 1, wherein said compound represented by the general formula (I) is present in an amount from 10 to 300 micromol/mol total silver contained in said light-sensitive material.

6. Process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive material as in claim 1, wherein said compound represented by the general formula (I) is present in an amount from 50 to 200 micromol/mol total silver contained in said light-sensitive material.

7. Process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive material as in claim 1, wherein said developer solution contains a 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-(β-hydroxy-ethyl)aniline sulfate developing agent.

8. Process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive material as in claim 1, wherein said developing bath contains at least 5 up to 10 grams for liter of developing agent.

9. Process for developing a color photographic light-sensitive material as in claim 1, wherein the pH value of said bleach bath is at least 6.0 upto 7.5.

10. Light-sensitive color photographic element containing a support base and coated thereon at least one surface latent image negative type silver halide emulsion layer, at least one of said silver halide emulsion layers containing, before being imagewise exposed, a compound represented by general formula (I):

wherein R is NR₁R₂ or O-R₃, where R₁ and R₂, being the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group and R₃ represents an alkyl group.