[0001] The present invention relates to a high-speed photographic color photosensitive material
and, more particularly, to a photographic color photosensitive material which can
be rapidly processed and has good storage stability.
[0002] Recently, as techniques of photographic photosensitive materials have been developed,
many high-speed photosensitive materials have become available. To provide a variety
of applications in the art of photography using the high-speed photosensitive materials,
such as photography performed in a dark room without using a stroboscope, photography
performed by using a zoom lens with a high-speed shutter such as a sports photograph,
and photography requiring long-time exposure such as an astronomical photograph is
an everlasting theme of this field of art.
[0003] Many efforts have been made to increase the sensitivity of a photosensitive material.
Many studies have been made concerning the shape of a silver halide grain, a method
of preparing a composition or the like, chemical sensitization, spectral sensitization,
additives, a coupler structure, and the like, and several useful inventions have
been made. Since, however, demands for a high-speed photosensitive material overwhelm
technical developments, these inventions are not yet satisfactory. Therefore, in the
field of art, a high-speed photosensitive material is normally manufactured by using
a method of increasing the size of a silver halide emulsion grain in combination with
the other technique, in order to increase the sensitivity.
[0004] When the size of a silver halide emulsion grain is increased, the sensitivity can
be increased to some extent. As long as the content of a silver halide is maintained
constant, however, the number of silver halide emulsion grains is inevitably decreased.
Therefore, the number of development start points is decreased, and the graininess
is significantly degraded. Known measures to eliminate this drawback include: a photosensitive
material having two or more emulsion layers having the same color sensitivity and
different sensitivities, i.e., different silver halide grain sizes as described in
British Patent 923,045 and JP-B-49-15495 ("JP-B" means examined Japanese patent application);
use of a high-speed reactive coupler as described in, e.g., JP-A-55-62454 ("JP-A"
means unexamined published Japanese patent application); use of a so-called DIR coupler
or DIR compound as described in, e.g., U.S. Patents 3,227,554 and 3,632,435; use of
a coupler capable of releasing a mobile dye as described in British Patent 2,083,640;
and use of a silver halide having a high average silver iodide content as described
in JP-A-60-128443.
[0005] Although these methods are inventions having significant effects, respectively,
they are not satisfactory techniques to meet a great demand for high sensitivity and
high image quality. Therefore, in order to increase the grain size of a silver halide
emulsion grain and, at the same time, the number of development start points, a high-speed
color negative photosensitive material has been designed to have a maximum silver
halide emulsion grain content as long as various photographic properties such as a
desilverizing property during bleach-fixing can be maintained good.
[0006] In order to increase the sensitivity of a color photosensitive material or to increase
both the sensitivity and image quality of such a color photosensitive material,
an arrangement of layers in a multilayered color photosensitive material is changed
in conventional techniques. For example, U.S. Patents 4,157,917 and 4,165,236 disclose
techniques in which a part of red- or green-sensitive layers is arranged outside
(viewed from a support side) of a yellow filter layer so as to increase the image
quality. In addition, U.S. Patent 4,184,876 discloses a technique in which high-speed
green- and red-sensitive layers are combined into a single high-speed unit, low-speed
green- and red-sensitive layers are combined into a single low-sensitive unit, and
the high-speed unit is located outside the low-speed unit, thereby increasing the
sensitivity. Since, however, these techniques are unsatisfactory although they have
partially achieved the above object, many other patent applications have been applied,
in which improved techniques are disclosed. For example, West German Patent 3,410,639
discloses a technique in which a high-speed portion in a blue-sensitive layer is
incorporated in a high-speed unit; and West German Patent 3,411,966, EP 155814, EP
124861, JP-A-59-177552 and JP-A-59-180556 disclose techniques in which a high-speed
unit comprising blue-, green-, and red-sensitive layers is combined with another technique.
[0007] In addition, U.S. Patent 4,129,446 describes a positional relationship between a
high-speed unit and a yellow filter, U.S. Patent 4,186,016 describes a connection
relationship between high- and low-speed units, U.S. Patent 4,267,264 describes a
relationship between a green-sensitive layer and a high-speed red-sensitive layer,
and British Patent 1,560,965 and U.S. Patent 4,186,011 define an interlayer.
[0008] None of the above techniques concerning a layer arrangement and the techniques for
improving them, however, can provide satisfactory properties although they have partially
achieved the object. In particular, these techniques are unsatisfactory in image quality
such as a color reproduction property and tend to subject to degradation of the image
quality because a coated silver amount is larger than that in a conventional layer
arrangement and therefore a photosensitive material is adversely affected by radiation
during storage.
[0009] It is a first object of the present invention to provide a color photosensitive material
with high image quality and sensitivity.
[0010] It is a second object of the present invention to provide a color photosensitive
material with high image quality and sensitivity which can be processed at high speed.
[0011] It is a third object of the present invention to provide a high-speed color photosensitive
material in which degradation in properties such as an increase in fogging density
occurring during storage after the manufacture is minimized.
[0012] According to the present invention, these objects and other objects which will become
apparent in the following description have been achieved by a silver halide color
photosensitive material comprising:
a support; and
a layer arrangement which is supported on the support and includes at least one blue-sensitive
silver halide emulsion layer, a high-speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer,
a high-speed green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, at least one low-speed
green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, and at least one low-speed red-sensitive
silver halide emulsion layer sequentially arranged adjacent to each other, from the
farthest side from the support, in the order named, optionally with a non-photosensitive
layer being interposed between the adjacent color-sensitive emulsion layers. The
layer arrangement may include a yellow filter layer between the blue-sensitive silver
halide emulsion layer and the high speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer.
[0013] A photosensitive material of the present invention comprises a color photosensitive
material coated on a support. In this photosensitive material, five essential color-sensitive
emulsion layers, i.e., at least one blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer,
a high-speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, a high-speed green-sensitive
silver halide emulsion layer, at least one low-speed green-sensitive silver halide
emulsion layer, and at least one low-speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer
are coated in the layer arrangement as defined above. A yellow filter layer may be
provided between the blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and the high-speed
red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, or no yellow filter layer is provided.
[0014] In the present invention, the above layer arrangement includes at least one blue-sensitive
silver halide emulsion layer (to be also referred to as a "blue-sensitive emulsion
layer" hereinafter) located farthest from the support of the five essential color-sensitive
layers. Preferably, the layer arrangement includes two or three blue-sensitive emulsion
layers having substantially the same color sensitivity. In this case, layers having
"substantially the same color sensitivity" are those having maximum sensitivities
falling within the range of 400 to 500 nm and having the same or approximate spectral
sensitivity distributions. When a plurality of blue-sensitive emulsion layers are
to be formed, a layer having higher sensitivity is preferably arranged farther from
a support.
[0015] The term "high-speed" or "low-speed" used for the red-sensitive silver halide emulsion
layer (to be also referred to as a "red-sensitive emulsion layer" hereinafter) and
the green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer (to be also referred to as a "green-sensitive
emulsion layer" hereinafter) is a relative concept. A toe speed difference between
these emulsion layers having relatively high and low speeds is preferably 0.1 to 1.0,
and more preferably, 0.2 to 0.7 in common logarithm expression of an exposure amount.
In addition, a high- or low-speed red- or green-emulsion layer may consist of two
layers having different sensitivities or speeds, as will be described later. In this
case, the preferable value of a relative speed difference is the same as described
above.
[0016] Two, high- and low-speed or three, high-, medium-, and low-speed red- or green-speed
emulsion layers have substantially the same color sensitivity. In this case, red-
or green-sensitive emulsion layers having "substantially the same color sensitivity"
are those having maximum sensitivities falling within the range of 600 to 700 nm or
500 to 600 nm, respectively, and the similar spectral sensitivity distributions.
[0017] In the present invention, each of the blue-, green-, and red-sensitive emulsion layer
preferably contains at least one yellow, magenta, and cyan coupler, respectively.
[0018] The present invention is preferably formulated into a negative color photosensitive
material. In this case, preferably, a transparent flexible support is used as the
support for the layer arrangement and the material has a specified photographic sensitivity
of 320 to 6400 (to be described later). The sensitivity can be obtained by the techniques
well known in the art, including selection of grain sizes.
[0019] Examples of an arrangement order of layers in the color photosensitive material of
the present invention will be described below, in which the layers are arranged on
the support in the order mentioned from the closest side of the support. The present
invention, however, is not limited to these examples.
(1) a support, a low-speed red-sensitive emulsion layer (RL), a medium-speed red-sensitive
emulsion layer (RM), an interlayer (IL), a low-speed green-sensitive emulsion layer
(GL), a medium-speed green-sensitive emulsion layer (GM), a high-speed green-sensitive
emulsion layer (GH), an interlayer (IL), a high-speed red-sensitive emulsion layer
(RH), a yellow filter layer (YF), a low-speed blue-sensitive emulsion layer (BL),
a medium-speed blue-sensitive emulsion layer (BM), a high-speed blue-sensitive emulsion
layer (BH), and a protective layer (PL)
(2) a support, RL, RM, IL, GL, GM, IL, GH, IL, RH, YF, BL, BM, BH, and PL
(3) a support, RL, RM, IL, GL, GM, IL, GH, IL, RH, IL, BL, BM, BH, and PL
[0020] The yellow filter layer is a layer of a yellow-colored non-photosensitive material
and contains yellow colloidal silver or yellow dye. Preferably, the yellow filter
layer is decolored after development.
[0021] In each of the layer arrangement (1) to (3), each of emulsion layers having different
color sensitivities is constituted by L, M, and H layers having different speed sensitivities.
Each emulsion layer, however, may be constituted by only L and H layers. The blue-sensitive
layer may be constituted by only one layer. A layer (Ref) which reflects light may
be formed immediately below a high-speed layer to obtain a structure in which BL,
BM, Ref, and BH are arranged in this order from the support. In order to accelerate
development of a high-speed layer, a non-photosensitive fine grain emulsion layer
may be formed as a nonphotosensitive interlayer adjacent to the high-speed layers.
In each of the layer arrangements (1) to (3), a medium-speed layer is arranged adjacent
to a low-speed layer. A medium-speed layer, however, may be arranged adjacent to a
high-speed layer. An interlayer (e.g., IL in an arrangement of GL, GM, IL, and GH
of the arrangement (2)) intervening emulsion layers of the same color sensitivity
may contain a compound (so-called scavenger) for trapping an oxide of a developing
agent. In addition, an emulsion may be added to an interlayer. The protective layer
PL need not be a single layer but may consist of two or more layers. In this case,
the outermost layer preferably contains a mat agent. When the protective layer contains
oil drops in order to adjust film physical properties, it is preferably constituted
by two or more layers. In this case, the outermost layer has a smaller oil/binder
(weight) ratio than that of the adjacent inside layer. An antihalation layer and,
if necessary, an interlayer formed on the antihalation layer are normally formed between
the low-speed red-sensitive emulsion layer and the support. The protective layer
or various interlayers described above may contain couplers and DIR compounds as described
in JP-A-61-43748, JP-A-59-113438, JP-A-59-113440, JP-A-61-20037, and JP-A-61-20038.
[0022] The color photosensitive material of the present invention has blue-, green-, and
red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layers. Of these layers, at least each of the
green- and red-sensitive layers is constituted by two or more layers having different
sensitivities. In order to improve graininess of the green- or red-sensitive layer
and, if necessary, that of the blue-sensitive layer, an arrangement in which each
color-sensitive layer is constituted by three layers is most preferably. This technique
is different from a three-layered arrangement of color-sensitive emulsion layers
having the same sensitivity described in JP-B-49-15495 because a particularly good
effect is obtained by the technique in combination with the layer arrangement in a
reversed order in accordance with the present invention.
[0023] A non-photosensitive layer may be formed between the photosensitive emulsion layers.
This non-photosensitive layer may be interposed between two or more emulsion layers
having the same color sensitivity. When photosensitive emulsion layers having different
color sensitivities are formed adjacent to each other, a non-photosensitive layer
is preferably formed between such layers. Such a non-photosensitive interlayer may
contain a scavenger substance for a color developing agent oxide. It is also preferable
to form a non-photosensitive reflecting layer below a photosensitive emulsion layer
to improve the sensitivity as described in JP-A-59-160135. Although this is not always
necessary, the color photosensitive material of the present invention normally contains
a yellow filter layer. This yellow filter layer mainly serves to shield unnecessary
blue sensitivity of the red- or green-sensitive emulsion layer and is normally formed
between the high-sensitive red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and a blue-sensitive
silver halide layer closest to the support. Effective sensitivity, however, can be
improved without degrading the color reproducibility by forming the yellow filter
layer at a side adjacent to the high-speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer
and close to the support. In this case, a tabular grain in which color sensitization
sensitivity (minus blue sensitivity) is relatively higher than specific sensitivity
(blue sensitivity) is preferably used in the high-speed red-sensitive emulsion layer
RH.
[0024] The photosensitive material of the present invention preferably has a specified
photographic sensitivity of 320 or more and a total amount of silver contained in
the photosensitive material of 3.0 to 13.0 g/m². If the specified photographic sensitivity
is less than 320, the layer arrangement according to the present invention need not
be adopted. If the total silver amount is more than 13 g/m², it is difficult to reduce
a desilverizing time since bleaching requires a long time.
[0025] The specified photographic sensitivity is a photographic sensitivity obtained by
a method according to JIS K 7614-1981 for measuring an ISO sensitivity. That is, the
specified photographic sensitivity is obtained by exposing a photosensitive material
for sensitometry and developing the exposed material one hour, not five days defined
by JIS, after exposure by a negative processing prescription CN-16 available from
Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. The number of storage days defined in the JIS test method
is reduced in order to quickly obtain a result. Since it is defined that development
is performed by a method designated by each company, a storage time is specified as
one hour. Therefore, this photographic sensitivity is called herein as the specified
photographic sensitivity.
[0026] Note that a test method of measuring the specified photographic sensitivity is described
in detail in JP-A-63-226650 (Japanese Patent Application No. 62-159115 which claimed
domestic priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 61-201756), from the upper
left column on page (4) (page 440) to the upper right column on page (6) (page 442).
[0027] Several known methods can be used to analyze the silver content in the photosensitive
material. For example, elemental analysis using fluorescent X-rays can be easily performed.
[0028] If the specified photographic sensitivity of the color photosensitive material of
the present invention is lower than 320, an effect of a combination of an improvement
in an arrangement order of layers of the multilayered color negative photosensitive
material of the present invention and a silver content is not significantly achieved.
The specified photographic sensitivity is preferably 400 or more, and more preferably,
800 or more.
[0029] In the photographic emulsion layers of the silver halide photographic photosensitive
material of the present invention, any of silver bromide, silver iodobromide, silver
iodochlorobromide, silver chlorobromide, and silver chloride can be used as a silver
halide. A preferable silver halide is silver iodobromide containing 30 mol% or less
of silver iodide. A most preferable silver halide is silver iodobromide containing
2 to 20 mol% of silver iodide. In order to obtain both the high sensitivity and image
quality, an average silver iodide content of a silver halide in all the emulsion layers
is preferably set to 8 mol% or more as described in JP-A-60-128443. It is known that
when the average silver iodide content of a silver halide is increased, the graininess
is significantly improved. If, however, the silver iodide content exceeds a certain
level, a development speed is decreased, or a desilverizing or fixing speed is decreased.
In the present invention, however, these drawbacks hardly occur even if the silver
iodide content is increased, resulting in a great advantage.
[0030] A silver halide grain for use in the photographic emulsion layers of the silver halide
photographic photosensitive material of the present invention preferably has a double
structure constituted by a core which consists essentially of silver iodobromide containing
5 mol% or more of silver iodide and a shell which covers the core and consists essentially
of silver iodobromide or silver bromide having a lower silver iodide content than
that of the core. The silver iodide content of the core is more preferably 10 mol%
or more, and most preferably, 20 to 44 mol%. The silver iodide content of the shell
is preferably 5 mol% or less.
[0031] The core may uniformly contain silver iodide or may have a multi-phase structure
consisting of silver iodobromide phases having different silver iodide contents.
In the latter case, a silver iodide content of a phase having the highest silver iodide
content is 5 mol% or more, and preferably, 10 mol% or more. At the same time, a silver
iodide content of the shell is lower than that of a phase having the highest silver
iodide content. The expression "consists essentially of silver iodobromide" means
that the core or shell mainly consists of silver iodobromide but can contain up to
about 1 mol% of another component (e.g., silver chloride).
[0032] A more preferable silver halide grain for use in the photographic emulsion layers
of the silver halide photographic photosensitive material of the present invention
has a structure in which when a diffraction intensity-vs-diffraction angle curve of
a (220) face of a silver halide is obtained within a diffraction angle (2ϑ) range
of 38° to 42° by using a Kß line of Cu, two diffraction maximum peaks appear corresponding
to core and shell portions, with one diffraction minimum peak appearing therebetween,
and the diffraction intensity corresponding to the core portion becomes 1/10 to 3/1
that of the shell portion. Most preferably, the diffraction intensity ratio is 1/5
to 3/1 or 1/3 to 3/1.
[0033] With such a double structure, a silver iodobromide emulsion having a high iodide
content can be used without decreasing the development speed. Therefore, a photosensitive
material having excellent graininess can be achieved with a small coating silver amount.
[0034] Although an average grain size (which is a grain diameter if a grain is spherical
or almost spherical and is an edge length if a grain is cubic, and is represented
by an average value based on a projected surface area) of silver halide grains in
the photographic emulsion is not particularly limited, it is preferably 0.05 to 10
µm. An average size of silver halide grains in an emulsion layer having the highest
sensitivity is preferably 0.5 to 4 µm, and more preferably, 0.6 to 2.5 µm.
[0035] A grain size distribution may be narrow or wide.
[0036] The silver halide grain in the photographic emulsion may be a regular crystal such
as a cubic or octahedral crystal, may be an irregular crystal such as a spherical
or tabular crystal, or may be a combination of these crystals. Alternatively, a mixture
of grains having various crystal forms may be used.
[0037] It is preferred to use a tabular grain having an aspect ratio of 5 or more because
a color sensitization efficiency obtained by a sensitizing dye is increased.
[0038] Such a tabular grain can be easily prepared by methods described in, e.g., Gutoff,
"Photographic Science and Engineering", Vol. 14, PP. 248 to 257, (1970); and U.S.
Patents 4,434,226, 4,414,310, 4,433,048, and 4,439,520 and British Patent 2,112,157.
[0039] The photographic emulsion for use in the present invention can be prepared by using
methods described in, e.g., P. Glafkides, "Chimie et Physique Photographique", Paul
Montel, 1967; G.F. Duffin, "Photographic Emulsion Chemistry", The Focal Press, 1966;
and V.L. Zelikman et al., "Making and Coating Photographic Emulsion", The Focal Press,
1964. That is, the photographic emulsion can be prepared by, e.g., an acid method,
a neutralization method, and an ammonia method. As a system for reacting a soluble
silver salt and a soluble halide, a single mixing method, a double mixing method,
or a combination thereof can be used.
[0040] A so-called back mixing method for forming silver halide grains in the presence of
excessive silver ions can be used. As one system of the double mixing method, a so-called
controlled double jet method wherein a pAg of a liquid phase in which a silver halide
is formed is kept at a constant value can be used. According to this method, a silver
halide emulsion having a regular crystal form and almost uniform grain sizes is obtained.
[0041] Two types or more of independently prepared silver halide emulsions may be mixed
and used in a single emulsion layer.
[0042] As a silver halide for use in the present invention, a silver halide grain having
a crystal face defined by Miller indices (nnl) (n ≧ 2,
n is a natural number) on its outer surface as described in Journal of Technical Disclosure
No. 86-9598 is preferably used.
[0043] A silver halide grain having an internal hollow communication portion from its surface
as described in JP-A-61-75337 is also preferably used. Such a silver halide grain
having a large specific surface area can be effectively used in combination with the
present invention because the sensitivity is increased higher than that obtained
by a solid silver halide grain of the same volume upon color sensitization.
[0044] In addition, a composite grain of a combination of a host grain and a silver salt
having a different composition epitaxially grown on the host grain as disclosed in
JP-A-57-133540, JP-A-58-108526, or JP-A-59-162540 may be preferably used. Such a grain
is preferably used in combination with the present invention since it exhibits high-speed,
high-contrast photographic property.
[0045] A silver halide emulsion grown in the presence of tetrazaindene as described in JP-A-61-14630
and JP-A-60-122935 has a high silver iodide content and good monodispersion properties
and therefore exhibits high sensitivity and excellent graininess. Therefore, this
silver halide emulsion can be preferably used in the present invention.
[0046] A silver halide emulsion subjected to a gold-plus-sulfur sensitization or gold-plus-selenium
sensitization in the presence of a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound as disclosed
in JP-A-58-126526 has a low fogging density and high sensitivity. Therefore, this
silver halide emulsion can be preferably used in the present invention.
[0047] A slightly rounded cubic or tetradecahedral crystal described in JP-A-59-149345 or
JP-A-59-149344 is preferable as a silver halide emulsion for use in the present
invention since a high sensitivity can be obtained.
[0048] In a process of formation or physical ripening of silver halide grains, a cadmium
salt, a zinc salt, a lead salt, a thallium salt, an iridium salt or an iridium complex
salt, a rhodium salt or a rhodium complex salt, or an iron salt or an iron complex
salt may be used.
[0049] A silver halide emulsion whose grains are formed in the presence of iridium has high
sensitivity (JP-B-43-4935 or JP-B-45-32738) and therefore is most preferably used
in the present invention.
[0050] After precipitation formation or physical ripening is performed, soluble salts are
normally removed from an emulsion. In this case, a conventional Nudel washing method
in which gelatin is gelled can be used. Alternatively, a sedimentation method (flocculation)
utilizing an inorganic salt consisting of a multivalent anion such as sodium sulfate,
an anionic surfactant, an anionic polymer (e.g., polystyrenesulfonic acid) or a gelatin
derivative (e.g., an aliphatic acylated gelatin, aromatic acylated gelatin, or aromatic
carbamoylated gelatin) can be performed.
[0051] A silver halide emulsion is normally subjected to chemical sensitization. In order
to perform chemical sensitization, a method described in H. Frieser ed., "Die Grundlagen
der Photographischen Prozesse mit Silber-Halogeniden" (Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft,
1968) PP. 675 to 734 can be used.
[0052] That is, a sulfur sensitization method using active gelatin or a compound containing
sulfur which can react with silver (e.g., thiosulfates, thioureas, mercapto compounds,
and rhodanines); a reduction sensitization method using a reducing substance (e.g.,
stannous salt, amines, a hydrazine derivative, formamidinesulfinic acid, a silane
compound); and a noble metal sensitization method using a noble metal compound (e.g.,
a gold complex salt or a complex salt of Group VIII metals of the periodic table such
as Pt, Ir, and Pd) can be used singly or in a combination of two or more thereof.
[0053] In addition, a selenium sensitization method using a compound containing selenium
which can react with active gelatin or silver can be preferably used in combination
with another sensitization method because a high-speed emulsion can be obtained. This
technique is described in, e.g., U.S. Patents 1,574,944, 1,602,592, and 1,623,499,
JP-B-52-38408, JP-B-57-22090, JP-A-59-180536, U.S. Patent 4,565,778, JP-A-59-185329
and JP-A-60-150046.
[0054] The photographic emulsion for use in the present invention can be spectrally sensitized
with, e.g., methine dyes. Examples of the dye include a cyanine dye, merocyanine dye,
a composite cyanine dye, a composite merocyanine dye, a holopolar cyanine dye, a hemicyanine
dye, a styryl dye, and hemioxonol dye. Most effective dyes are those belonging to
a cyanine dye, a merocyanine dye, and a composite merocyanine dye. These dyes can
contain any nucleus normally contained as a basic heterocyclic nucleus in cyanine
dyes. Examples of the nucleus include pyrroline nucleus, an oxazoline nucleus, a thiazoline
nucleus, a pyrrole nucleus, an oxazole nucleus, a thiazole nucleus, a selenazole nucleus,
an imidazole nucleus, a tetrazole nucleus, and a pyridine nucleus; a nucleus having
an alicyclic hydrocarbon ring fused to each of the above nuclei; and a nucleus having
an aromatic hydrocarbon ring fused to each of the above nuclei, e.g., an indolenine
nucleus, a benzindolenine nucleus, an indole nucleus, a benzoxadole nucleus, a naphthooxazole
nucleus, a benzothiazole nucleus, a naphthothiazole nucleus, a benzoselenazole nucleus,
a benzimidazole nucleus, and a quinoline nucleus. These nuclei may have a substituent
group on its carbon atom.
[0055] A merocyanine dye or composite merocyanine dye can contain, as a nucleus having a
ketomethylene structure, a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic nucleus, e.g., a pyrazoline-5-one
nucleus, a thiohydantoin nucleus, a 2-thioxazolidine-2,4-dione nucleus, a thiazolidine-2,4-dione
nucleus, a rhodanine nucleus, and a thiobarbituric acid nucleus.
[0056] Examples of an effective sensitizing dye are described in, e.g., West German Patent
929,080, U.S. Patents 2,231,658, 2,493,748, 2,503,776 2,519.001. 2,912,329, 3,656,959,
3,672,897, 3,694,217, 4,025,349, and 4,046,572, British Patent 1,242,588, and JP-B-44-14030
and JP-B-52-24844.
[0057] These sensitizing dyes can be used singly or in a combination of two or more thereof.
A combination of the sensitizing dyes is often used especially in order to perform
supersensitization. Typical examples of the combination are described in U.S. Patents
2,688,545, 2,977,229, 3,397,060, 3,522,052, 3,527,641, 3,617,293, 3,628,964, 3,666,480,
3,672,898, 3,679,428, 3,703,377, 3,769,301, 3,814,609, 3,837,862, and 4,026,707, British
Patents 1,344,281 and 1,507,803, JP-B-43-4936 and JP-B-53-12375, and JP-A-52-110618
and JP-A-52-109925.
[0058] The emulsion may contain, in addition to the sensitizing dye, a dye not having a
spectral sensitizing effect or a substance substantially not absorbing visible light
and having supersensitization. For example, the emulsion may contain aminostyl compounds
substituted with a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group (described in, e.g., U.S.
Patents 2,933,390 and 3,635,721), an aromatic organic acid formaldehyde condensate
(described in, e.g., U.S. Patent 3,743,510), cadmium salt, and an azaindene compound.
Combinations described in U.S. Patents 3,615,613, 3,615,641, 3,617,295, and 3,635,721
are most effective.
[0059] Photographic additives for use in this invention are described in Research Disclosures
(RD), Nos. 17643 and 18716 and they are summarized in the following table.
| |
Additives |
RD No.17643 |
RD No.18716 |
| 1. |
Chemical sensitizers |
page 23 |
page 648, right column |
| 2. |
Sensitivity increasing agents |
|
do. |
| 3. |
Spectral sensitizers, supersensitizers |
pages 23-24 |
page 648, right column to page 649, right column |
| 4. |
Brighteners |
page 24 |
|
| 5. |
Antifoggants and stabilizers |
pages 24-25 |
page 649, right column |
| pages 24-25 |
| 6. |
Light absorbent, filter dye, ultraviolet absorbents |
pages 25-26 |
page 649, right column to page 650, left column |
| 7. |
Stain preventing agents |
page 25, right column |
page 650, left to right columns |
| 8. |
Dye image stabilizer |
page 25 |
|
| 9. |
Hardening agents |
page 26 |
page 651, left column |
| 10. |
Binder |
page 26 |
do. |
| 11. |
Plasticizers, lubricants |
page 27 |
page 650, right column |
| 12. |
Coating aids, surface active agents |
pages 26-27 |
do. |
| 13. |
Antistatic agents |
page 27 |
do. |
[0060] In order to prevent degradation in photographic properties caused by formaldehyde
gas, a compound capable of reacting with and setting formaldehyde described in U.S.
Patent 4,411,987 or 4,435,503 is preferably added to the photosensitive material.
[0061] Various color couplers can be used in the present invention. Specific examples of
these couplers are described in above-described RD, No. 17643, VII-C to VII-G as patent
references.
[0062] Preferred examples of a yellow coupler are described in, e.g., U.S. Patents 3,933,501,
4,022,620, 4,326,024, 4,401,752, and 4,248,961, JP-B-58-10739, British Patents 1,425,020
and 1,476,760, U.S. Patents 3,973,968, 4,314,023, and 4,511,649, and EP 249,473A.
[0063] Examples of a magenta coupler are preferably 5-pyrazolone and pyrazoloazole compounds,
and more preferably, compounds described in, e.g., U.S. Patents 4,310,619 and 4,351,897,
EP 73,636, U.S. Patents 3,061,432 and 3,725,067, RD No. 24220 (June 1984) JP-A-60-33552,
RD No. 24230 (June 1984), JP-A-60-43659, JP-A-61-72238, JP-A-60-35730, JP-A-55-118034,
and JP-A-60-185951, and U.S. Patents 4,500,630, 4,540,654, and 4,556,630.
[0064] Examples of a cyan coupler are phenol and naphthol couplers, and preferably, those
described in, e.g., U.S. Patents 4,052,212, 4,146,396, 4,228,233, 4,296,200, 2,369,929,
2,801,171, 2,772,162, 2,895,826, 3,772,002, 3,758,308, 4,334,011, and 4,327,173, West
German Patent Application (OLS) No. 3,329,729, EP 121,365A and 249,453A, U.S. Patents
3,446,622, 4,333,999, 4,451,559, 4,427,767, 4,690,889, 4,254,212, and 4,296,199, and
JP-A-61-42658.
[0065] Preferable examples of a colored coupler for correcting additional, undesirable absorption
of a colored dye are those described in RD No. 17643, VII-G, U.S. Patent 4,163,670,
JP-B-57-39413, U.S. Patents 4,004,929 and 4,138,258, and British Patent 1,146,368.
[0066] Preferable examples of a coupler capable of forming colored dyes having proper diffusibility
are those described in U.S. Patent 4,366,237, British Patent 2,125,570, EP 96,570,
and West German Patent Application (OLS) No. 3,234,533.
[0067] Typical examples of a polymerized dye-forming coupler are described in U.S. Patents
3,451,820, 4,080,211, 4,367,282, 4,409,320, and 4,576,910, and British Patent 2,102,173.
[0068] Couplers releasing a photographically useful residue upon coupling are preferably
used in the present invention. DIR couplers, i.e., couplers releasing a development
inhibitor are described in the patents cited in the above-described RD No. 17643,
VII-F, JP-A-57-151944, JP-A-57-154234, JP-A-60-184248, and JP-A-63-37346, and U.S.
Patent 4,248,962.
[0069] Preferable examples of a coupler imagewise releasing a nucleating agent or a development
accelerator upon development are those described in British Patent 2,097,140 and
2,131,188, and JP-A-59-157638 and JP-A-59-170840.
[0070] Examples of a coupler which can be used in the photosensitive material of the present
invention are competing couplers described in, e.g., U.S. Patent 4,130,427; poly-equivalent
couplers described in, e.g., U.S. Patents 4,283,472, 4,338,393, and 4,310,618; a DIR
redox compound releasing coupler or DIR coupler releasing coupler, or a DIR coupler
releasing redox compound or DIR redox compound releasing redox described in, e.g.,
JP-A-60-185950, JP-A-62-24252, and JP-A-62-291645; couplers releasing a dye which
turns to a colored form after being released described in EP 173,302A; bleaching accelerator
releasing couplers described in, e.g., RD. Nos. 11449 and 24241 and JP-A-61-201247;
and a legand releasing coupler described in, e.g., U.S. Patent 4,553,477.
[0071] Examples of a color coupler usable in the present invention are listed in Table A.
A usable coupler, however, is not limited to those couplers.
[0072] The couplers for use in this invention can be introduced in the photosensitive materials
by various known dispersion methods.
[0073] Examples of a high-boiling solvent used in an oil-in-water dispersion method are
described in, e.g., U.S. Patent 2,322,027.
[0074] Examples of a high-boiling organic solvent to be used in the oil-in-water dispersion
method and having a boiling point of 175°C or more at normal pressure are phthalate
esters (e.g., dibutylphthalate, dicyclohexylphthalate, di-2-ethylhexylphthalate,
decylphthalate, bis(2,4-di-t-amylphenyl)phthalate, bis(2,4-di-t-amylphenyl)isophthalate,
and bis(1,1-diethylpropyl)phthalate), phophate or phosphonate esters (e.g., triphenylphosphate,
tricresylphosphate, 2-ethylhexyldiphenylphosphate, tricyclohexylphosphate, tri-2-ethylhexylphosphate,
tridodecylphosphate, tributyoxyethylphosphate, trichloropropylphosphate, di-2-ethylhexylphenylphosphonate),
benzoate esters (e.g., 2-ethylhexylbenzoate, dodecylbenzoate, and 2-ethylhexyl-p-hydroxybenzoate),
amides (e.g., N,N-diethyldodecaneamide, N,N-diethyllaurylamide, and N-tetradecylpyrrolidone),
alcohols or phenols (e.g., isostearylalcohol and 2,4-di-tert-amylphenol), aliphatic
carboxylate esters (e.g., bis(2-ethylhexyl)sebacate, dioctylazelate, glyceroltributylate,
isostearyllactate, and trioctylcitrate), an aniline derivative (e.g., N,N-dibutyl-2-butoxy-5-tert-octylaniline),
and hydrocarbons (e.g., paraffin, dodecylbenzene, and diisopropylnaphthalene). An
organic solvent having a boiling point of about 30°C or more, and preferably, 50°C
to about 160°C can be used as a co-solvent. Typical examples of the co-solvent are
ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethyl propionate, methylethylketone, cyclohexanone,
2-ethoxyethylacetate, and dimethylformamide.
[0075] Steps and effects of a latex dispersion method and examples of an impregnating latex
are described in, e.g., U.S. Patent 4,199,363 and West German Patent Application (OLS)
Nos. 2,541,274 and 2,541,230.
[0076] The present invention can be applied to various color photosensitive materials. Representative
examples of the material are a color negative film for a general purpose or a movie,
and a color reversal film for a slide or a television.
[0077] Examples of a support suitable for use in this invention are described in the above-mentioned
RD. No. 17643, page 28 and ibid., No. 18716, page 647, right column to page 648, left
column.
[0078] The color photographic photosensitive materials of this invention can be developed
and processed by the ordinary processes as described, for example, in the above-described
Research Disclosure, No. 17643, pages 28 to 29 and ibid., No. 18716, page 651, left
to right columns.
[0079] A color developer used in developing of the photosensitive material of the present
invention is an aqueous alkaline solution mainly consisting of, preferably, an aromatic
primary amine-based color developing agent. As the color developing agent, although
an aminophenol-based compound is effective, a p-phenylenediamine-based compound is
preferably used. Typical examples of the p-phenylenediamine-based compound are 3-methyl-4-amino-N,N-diethylaniline,
3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-ß-hydroxyethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-ß-methanesulfonamidoethylaniline,
3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-ß-methoxyehtylaniline, and sulfates, hydrochlorides and
p-toluenesulfonates thereof. These compounds can be used in a combination of two or
more thereof in accordance with applications.
[0080] In general, the color developer contains a pH buffering agent such as a carbonate,
a borate or a phosphate of an alkali metal, and a development restrainer or antifoggant
such as a bromide, an iodide, a benzimidazole, a benzothiazole or a mercapto compound.
If necessary, the color developer may also contain a preservative such as hydroxylamine,
diehtylhydroxylamine, a hydrazine sulfite, a phenylsemicarbazide, triethanolamine,
a catechol sulfonic acid or a triethylenediamine(1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane); an
organic solvent such as ethyleneglycol or diethyleneglycol; a development accelerator
such as benzylalcohol, polyethyleneglycol, a quaternary ammonium salt or an amine;
a dye forming coupler; a competing coupler; a fogging agent such as sodium boron hydride;
an auxiliary developing agent such as 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone; a viscosity imparting
agent; and a chelating agent such as an aminopolycarboxylic acid, an aminopolyphosphonic
acid, an alkylphosphonic acid or a phosphonocarboxylic acid. Examples of the chelating
agent are ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic
acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic
acid, nitrilo-N,N,N-trimethylenephosphonic acid, ethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylenephosphonic
acid and ethylenediamine-di(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid), and salts thereof.
[0081] In order to perform reversal development, black-and-white development is performed
and then color development is performed. As a black-and-white developer, well-known
black-and-white developing agents, e.g., a dihydroxybenzene such as hydroquinone,
a 3-pyrazolidone such as 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone, and an aminophenol such as N-methyl-p-aminophenol
can be used singly or in a combination of two or more thereof.
[0082] The pH of the color and black-and-white developers is generally 9 to 12. Although
a replenishment amount of the developer depends on a color photographic photosensitive
material to be processed, it is generally 3 liters or less per m² of the photosensitive
material. The replenishment amount can be decreased to be 500 mℓ or less by decreasing
a bromide ion concentration in a replenishing solution. In order to decrease the replenishment
amount, a contact area of a processing tank with air is preferably decreased to prevent
evaporation and oxidation of the solution upon contact with air. The replenishment
amount can be decreased by using a means capable of suppressing an accumulation amount
of bromide ions in the developer.
Example 1
[0083] A sample 101 as a multilayered color photosensitive material consisting of layers
having the following compositions were formed, in the order mentioned below, on an
undercoated triacetylcellulose film support.
(Compositions of Photosensitive Layers)
[0084] The coating amount of a silver halide and colloid silver are represented in units
of g/m² of silver, that of additives and gelatin is represented in units of g/m²,
and that of sensitizing dye is represented by the number of mols per mol of the silver
halide in the same layer.
[0085] Symbols representing additives have the following meanings. Note that if an additive
has a plurality of effects, only one of the effects is shown.
[0087] Formulas of the used compounds are listed in Table B.
[0088] As shown in Table 1 below, a sample 102 was prepared by switching the layers 9 and
11 in the sample 101, and a sample 103 was prepared by removing the layer 12 of the
sample 102. A silver amount and a compound coating amount of each sample are represented
by an increased/decreased amount with respect to the sample 101.
[0089] That is, "silver amount + 0.1 g" of the layer 9 in the sample 102 is based on the
layer GH in the sample 101, and "silver amount - 0.5 g" of the layer 11 in the sample
102 is based on the layer RH in the sample 101. An amount of a sensitizing dye was
changed in proportional to the silver amount.
Table 1
| Sample |
101 |
102 |
103 |
| Layer 7 |
Medium-Speed Green-Sensitive Emulsion Layer (GM) |
the same as left |
the same as left |
| Layer 8 |
Interlayer |
Interlayer Cpd-6 -0.05g |
the same as left |
| Layer 9 |
Hight-Speed Red-Sensitive Emulsion Lyaer (RH) |
High-Speed Green-Sensitive Emulsion Layer (GH) |
the same as left |
| |
|
silver amount +0.1g |
|
| |
|
gelatin +0.2g |
|
| Layer 10 |
Interlayer |
the same as left |
Interlayer (the same as 101) |
| Layer 11 |
High-Speed Green-Sensitive Emulsion Layer (GH) |
High-Speed Red-Sensitive Emulsion Layer (RH) |
the same as left |
| |
|
silver amount -0.5g |
|
| |
|
gelatin -0.2g |
|
| Layer 12 |
Yellow Filter Layer |
the same as left |
|
| Layer 13 |
Interlayer |
the same as left |
the same as left |
| Total Silver Amount |
9.75 |
9.35 |
9.35 |
[0090] The samples 101 to 103 were imagewise exposed and then subjected to the following
processing.
[0091] The color development process was performed at 38°C in accordance with the following
process steps.
| Color Development |
3 min. 15 sec. |
| Bleaching |
6 min. 30 sec. |
| Washing |
2 min. 10 sec. |
| Fixing |
4 min. 20 sec. |
| Washing |
3 min. 15 sec. |
| Stabilization |
1 min. 05 sec. |
[0092] The processing solution compositions used in the respective steps were as follows.
| Color Development Solution |
|
| Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic Acid |
1.0 g |
| 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid |
2.0 g |
| Sodium Sulfite |
4.0 g |
| Potassium Carbonate |
30.0 g |
| Potassium Bromide |
1.4 g |
| Potassium Iodide |
1.3 mg |
| Hydroxylamine Sulfate |
2.4 g |
| 4-(N-ethyl-N-β-hydroxyethylamino)-2-methylanilinesulfate |
4.5 g |
| Water to make |
1.0 ℓ |
| pH |
10.0 |
| Bleaching Solution |
|
| Ferric Ammonium Ethylenediaminetetraacetate |
100.0 g |
| Disodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetate |
10.0 g |
| Ammonium Bromide |
150.0 g |
| Ammonium Nitrate |
10.0 g |
| Water to make |
1.0 ℓ |
| pH |
6.0 |
| Fixing Solution |
|
| Disodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetate |
1.0 g |
| Sodium Sulfite |
4.0 g |
| Ammonium Thiosulfate Aqueous solution (70%) |
175.0 mℓ |
| Sodium Bisulfite |
4.6 g |
| Water to make |
1.0 ℓ |
| pH |
6.6 |
| Stabilizing Solution |
|
| Formalin (40%) |
2.0 mℓ |
| |
| Polyoxyethylene-p-monononylphenylether (average polymerization degree = 10) |
0.3 g |
| Water to make |
1.0 ℓ |
[0093] Densities of obtained images were measured to obtain relative sensitivities. The
results are shown in Table 2. Each sensitivity is an exposure amount at a density
of fogging density + 0.1 and is represented as a relative value assuming that each
of the B, G, and R sensitivities of the sample 101 is 100.
Table 2
| Sample |
Relative Sensitivity |
| |
B |
G |
R |
| 101 (Comparative Example) |
100 |
100 |
100 |
| 102 (Present Invention) |
100 |
93 |
110 |
| 103 (Present Invention) |
105 |
98 |
117 |
[0094] Each sample was exposed through a step wedge for RMS graininess measurement to perform
similar color development, and an RMS value was measured by using a 48-µm diameter
aperture. As a result, measurement values of the samples 101 to 103 were 0.0293, 0.0260,
and 0.0270, respectively, at R density D
R = 0.6.
[0095] As is apparent from the above results, each of the samples 102 to 103 according to
the present invention has higher sensitivity and better graininess of the red-sensitive
layer than those of the sample 101 regardless of its small silver amount. That is,
the present invention is proved to be effective.
Example 2
[0096] A sample 201 was prepared as sample 102 except that the layer 9 in the sample 102
was removed and the coating amount of layer 11 was decreased by 15%. The sample 201
was subjected to the same processing as in Example 1. As a result, although the sensitivities
of the samples 102 and 201 are substantially the same, their RMS measurement values
at D
G = 0.6 were 0.0265 and 0.0310, respectively. That is, the graininess of the green-sensitive
layer is degraded since the layer 8 was removed.
Example 3
[0097] The samples 101 to 103 of Example 1 were stored at room temperature for nine months
and then subjected to the same processing as in Example 1, and measurement of the
graininess was performed. As a result, measurement values of the samples 101 to 103
were 0.0363, 0.030, and 0.0320, respectively, at R density D
R = 0.6. That is, the graininess of each sample of the present invention was not much
degraded after storage.
Example 4
[0098] The samples 101 and 102 of Example 1 were subjected to uniform exposure of 5 CMS
and then to the processing of Example 1. In this processing, a bleaching time was
changed such that a remaining silver amount became 6 µg/cm2 or less by a fluorescent
X-ray method. As a result, a time required for the sample 101 was four minutes and
ten second, while it was three minutes and thirty seconds for the sample 102. That
is, the processing time can be reduced by the sample of the present invention.
[0099] As has been described above, according to the layer arrangement of the present invention,
desired photographic sensitivity can be achieved by a smaller coating silver amount
than that of silver halide color photographic material according to the conventional
layer arrangement (a support, RL, RM, GL, GM, RH, GH, YF, BL, BM, BH, and PL) assumed
to be preferable to obtain high sensitivity. Therefore, since a desilverizing load
after color development can be reduced, high-speed processing is achieved. In addition,
since predetermined high sensitivity is realized with a small coating silver amount,
a decrease in sensitivity caused by natural radiation upon storage of a raw photosensitive
material or an increase in fogging density can be suppressed. As a result, a photographic
color photosensitive material with good storage stability can be obtained.
