FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to improvement of a silver halide color photographic
light-sensitive material, and more particularly to a silver halide color photographic
light-sensitive material capable of forming a high-quality image and having an excellent
preservability.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Recent silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material products are so
improved as to form remarkably highquality images. The three major elements of an
image quality - graininess, sharpness and color reproducibility - are all on a considerably
high level, so that most customers appear to be contended with their prints or slide
photos reproduced. Of the three major elements, the color reproducibility has two
major factors: the spectral sensitivity distribution and interimage effect.
[0003] As for the interimage effect, it is known that the effect can be attained by adding
to a silver halide multilayer color photographic light-sensitive material a compound
called DIR compound capable of releasing a development inhibitor or a precursor thereof
upon its coupling reaction with a color developing agent, wherein the development
inhibitor inhibits the development of different color-forming layers to thereby create
an interimage effect for color reproducibility improvement.
[0004] In a color negative film, it is also possible to render an effect similar to the
interimage effect by using a colored coupler in a larger amount than is necessary
to cancel a useless absorption.
[0005] However, the use of an excessive amount of a color coupler causes the minimum density
of the film to increase, which makes it very difficult to judge the color density
correction in making prints, sometimes resulting in an inferior color quality of finished
prints. The above techniques chiefly contribute to the improvement of color quality
rather than color reproducibility.
[0006] A compound often used lately which is capable of releasing a highly mobile inhibiting
group or a precursor thereof, the so-called diffusible DIR compound, contributes largely
to the improvement of color purity. However, it is difficult for the compound to control
the directivity of the interimage effect, so that the compound has a drawback of causing
color alteration although it can raise color purity. The control of the directivity
of the interimage effect is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,725,529.
[0007] On the other hand, as for the spectral sensistivity distribution, U.S. Patent No.
3,672,898 discloses a proper spectral sensitivity distribution for reducing the color
reproducibility variation due to the different light sources used in photographing.
[0008] This, however, is not a means for correcting the aforementioned wrong color reproduction.
There is also disclosed a spectral distribution/interimage effect combination technique;
for example, JP O.P.I. No. 034541/1986 makes an attempt to improve the foregoing color
film's reproduction of certain colors hard to be reproduced, and its effect appears
to have been obtained to some extent. The attempt is to exert not only the respective
effects of the conventional blue-sensitive layer, green-sensitive layer and red-sensitive
layer but also the interimage effect from the outside of the wavelengths to which
the above color-sensitive layers are sensitive.
[0009] The above technique is considered useful to a certain extent for improving the reproducibility
of specific colors, but the technique, for interimage effect generation, needs an
interimage effect-generating layer and a light-sensitive silver halide layer in addition
to the conventional blue-sensitive, green-sensitive and red-sensitive emulsion layers,
which requires increasing the amount of silver and the number of production processes
to thus result in a high production cost. Besides, its effect is not sufficient.
[0010] The foregoing U.S. Patent No. 3,672,898 discloses a spectral sensitivity distribution
for reducing the color reproducibility variation due to different light sources used
in photographing; this intends to reduce the color variation by bringing the spectral
sensitivity distributions of the blue-sensitive and red-sensitive layers close to
that of the green-sensitive layer to thereby lessen the changes in the sensitivities
of these layers corresponding to different light sources, particularly different color
temperatures, in photographing. In this instance, the three color-sensitive layers
are so close to one another as to overlap their spectral sensitivity distributions
to cause a color purity deterioration. The color purity deterioration can be prevented
to a certain extent, as is well known, by emphasizing the interimage effect by use
of the foregoing diffusible DIR compound.
[0011] On the other hand, regarding the graininess, British Patent No. 923,045 discloses
a method in which a color-sensitive layer is separated into substantially the same
color-forming nondiffusible coupler-containing high-speed and low-speed emulsion sublayers,
and the high-speed sublayer's maximum color density is set low, whereby the sensitivity
of the layer can be raised high without coarsening the grains of the layer. This method,
however, is still not sufficient for the graininess.
[0012] U.S. Patent No. 3,843,469 discloses a high-sensitivity multilayer color light-sensitive
material in which at least one of its red-sensitive, green-sensitive and blue-sensitive
layers is comprised of three different-speed sublayers - a high-speed upper sublayer,
a medium-speed middle sublayer and a low-speed lower sublayer. This light-sensitive
material, however, is still not sufficient, either, although its graininess is improved
to some extent.
[0013] On the other hand, the two-equivalent coupler having a good color-forming characteristic
is conventionally known as one of the sharpness-improving techniques; for example,
German Patent No. 1,121,470 describes a light-sensitive material having light-sensitive
units each composed of two sublayers each containing a two-equivalent coupler. However,
this technique, although useful for improving the sharpness, has the problem of conspicuously
deteriorating the graininess and increasing the fog of the light-sensitive unit.
[0014] U.S. Patent No. 3,516,831 describes a light-sensitive material comprising emulsion
layer units of which at least one emulsion layer unit is comprised of two different-speed
sublayers - a high-speed sublayer and a low-speed sublayer each sensitive to the same
spectral region, in which the high-speed emulsion sublayer contains a four-equivalent
coupler, while the low-speed emulsion sublayer contains a two-equivalent coupler to
thereby improve both sharpness and graininess. It is, however, difficult for the above
coupler combination to provide a sufficiently high sensitivity.
[0015] It has been found that if an attempt is made to obtain a silver halide color photographic
light-sensitive material having a high sensitivity and being capable of forming a
high-quality image by utilizing the above techniques in combination, its density fluctuation
largely occurs during its storage under high-humidity conditions, which is considered
attributable to the nondiffusible DIR compound.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] It is an object of the invention to provide a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive
material having a high sensitivity, being capable of forming a high-quality image
and having an excellent preservability.
[0017] The above object is accomplished by a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive
material comprising a support having thereon a red-sensitive layer, a green-sensitive
layer and a blue-sensitive layer, in which said red-sensitive layer is comprised of
a high-speed emulsion sublayer, a medium-speed emulsion sublayer and a low-speed emulsion
sublayer, which are provided in the low-speed to high-speed order from the support,
wherein said high-speed emulsion sublayer contains a two-equivalent cyan coupler and
said medium-speed and low-speed emulsion sublayers each contain a four-equivalent
cyan coupler and a diffusible DIR compound, and the maximum cyan color transmission
density of said medium-speed emulsion sublayer is not more than 0.35.
[0018] In the invention, the high-speed sublayer is preferably adjacent to the medium-speed
sublayer, and the medium-speed sublayer adjacent to the low-speed sublayer as well.
[0019] In the invention, regarding the differences in the sensitivity between these sublayers,
it is preferable that the high-speed sublayer's sensitivity is 0.1 to 1.0 log E higher
than the medium-speed sublayer's, while the medium-speed sublayer's sensitivity is
0.1 to 1.0 log E higher than the low-speed sub-layer's.
[0020] The high-speed emulsion sublayer in the red-sensitive layer of the invention contains
a two-equivalent cyan coupler, and may also contain a four-equivalent cyan coupler.
Where the four-equivalent coupler is contained, the amount of the two-equivalent coupler
accounts for preferably 50 to 100 mol% of the whole coupler content of the high-speed
sublayer and the four-equivalent coupler accounts for the rest; more preferably 80
to 100 mol%; and most preferably 100 mol%.
[0021] The whole coupler content of the high-speed emulsion sublayer of the invention is
preferably 1x10-
4 to 1 mol, more preferably 1x10-
3 to 1 mol, and most preferably 3x10-
3 to 8x10~ mol per mol of silver.
[0022] The two-equivalent coupler used in the invention is repre sented by the following
Formula I:

wherein Cp represents a coupler residue,
* represents the coupling position of the coupler, and X is a group that splits off
upon the coupler's coupling reaction with the oxidation product of an aromatic primary
amine developing agent to form a dye.
[0023] Typical examples of the cyan coupler residue represented by Cp of the above formula
are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,367,531, 2,423,730, 2,474,293, 2,772,162, 2,895,826,
3,002,836 and 3,034,892; and Agfa Mitteilung (Band II), pp.156 to 175 (1961).
[0024] The preferred among these are phenols and naphthols.
[0025] The split-off group represented by X is a monovalent group such as a halogen atom
or an alkoxy, aryloxy, heterocyclic oxy, acyloxy, alkylthio, arylthio, heterocyclic
thio;

wherein X is a group of atoms necessary to form a 5- or 6-member ring together with
at least one atom selected from the group consisting of a carbon atom, an oxygen atom,
a nitrogen atom and a sulfur atom; a monovalent group such as acylamino or sulfonamido,
or a bivalent group such as alkylene. In the case of a bivalent group, a dimer is
formed with X.
[0026] The following are examples of X. Halogen atom:
Chlorine, bromine, fluorine
[0030] Heterocyclic oxy group:

[0031] Acyloxy group:

[0034] Heterocyclic thio group:

[0035] Pyrazolyl group, Imdazolyl group,
[0038] Sulfonamido group:

[0039] Alkylene group

[0040] The preferred as the two-equivalent cyan coupler are the compounds having the following
Formulas II, III and IV, and the most preferred are those having Formula III.

wherein R
2 and R
3 each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, R
4 represents a substituent, m is an integer of 1 to 3, n is an integer of 1 or 2, and
p is an integer of 1 to 5, provided that m, n and p each are 2 or more, the respective
R
2s may be either the same or different.
[0041] The substituent represented by R
4 is a halogen atom or an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heterocyclic group attached directly
or through a bivalent atom or a group to the nucleus.
[0042] Examples of the above bivalent atom and group include oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur
atoms and groups such as carbonylamino, aminocarbonyl, sulfonylamino, aminosulfonyl,
amino, carbonyl, carbonyloxy, oxycarbonyl, ureylene, thioureylene, thiocarbonylamino,
sulfonyl and sulfonyloxy.
[0043] The above alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and heterocyclic groups include those having a
substituent such as a halogen atom or a nitro, cyano, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl,
aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, carboxy, sulfo, sulfamoyl,
carbamoyl, acylamino, ureido, urethane, sulfonamido, heterocyclic, arylsulfonyl, alkylsulfonyl,
arylthio, alkylthio, alkylamino, anilino, hydroxy, imido or acyl group.
[0044] The alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and heterocyclic groups each represented by R
3 include those having a substituent, examples of which substituent include those previously
exemplified as the substituent to the groups of R
2. R
4 is as defined and exemplified for R
3
[0045] In the two-equivalent cyan coupler, X is as previously defined for the X or Formula
I, and is preferably a halogen atom or an alkoxy, aryloxy or sulfonamido group. The
cyan couplers having Formulas I and II include those forming polymers beyond dimers
with R
2, R
3 or X, while the couplers having Formula III include those forming polymers beyond
dimers with R
2, R
3, R
4 or X.
[0046] The following are the examples of the two-equivalent cyan couplers usable in the
invention, but are not limited thereto.
Exemplified compounds
[0048] In the invention, the four-equivalent cyan coupler used in the red-sensitive medium-speed
emulsion sublayer and low-speed emulsion sublayer, is preferably one having Formula
I in which the X is a hydrogen atom, and more preferably one having Formula III in
which the X is a hydrogen atom.
[0049] The medium and low-speed emulsion sublayers of the invention contain a four-equivalent
cyan coupler, and may also contain a two-equivalent cyan coupler in combination. In
that case, the amount of the four-equivalent cyan coupler used accounts for preferably
50 to 100 mol% of the whole coupler content of the medium and low-speed sublayers
and the two-equivalent coupler accounts for the rest, more preferably 80 to 100 mol%,
and most preferably 100 mol%, i.e., it is most preferable that the four-equivalent
cyan coupler alone be used.
[0050] All the coupler amount contained in the medium and low-speed emulsion sublayers of
the invention is preferably 1x10
-4 to 1 mol, more preferably 1x10
-3 to 1 mol and most preferably 3x10-
3 to 8x10
-1 mol per mol of silver.
[0051] In the invention, a diffusible DIR compound is added to the medium and low-speed
emulsion sublayers of the red-sensitive emulsion layer.
[0052] The diffusible DIR compound is a compound which is capable of releasing a development
inhibitor or a development inhibitor precursor upon its reaction with the oxidation
product of a color developing agent and of which the diffusibility according to the
following evaluation method is preferably not less than 0.34 and more preferably not
less than 0.40.
[0053] The diffusibility evaluation method is as follows:
Light-sensitive material Samples I and II having the following component layers on
a transparent support are prepared.
Sample I: Sample having a Green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer
[0054] A green-sensitive gelatino silver iodobromide emulsion layer (silver iodide content:
6mol%, average grain size: 0.48µm) containing 0.07 mol/mol Ag of the following coupler
is coated so as to have a silver coating weight of 1.1 g/m
2 and a gelatin coating weight of 3.0g/m
2, and on the emulsion layer is coated a protective gelatin layer containing chemically,
spectrally unsensitized silver iodobromide (silver iodide content: 2mol%, average
grain size: 0.08µm) so as to have a silver coating weight of 0.1 g/m
2 and a gelatin coating weight of 0.8g/m
2.
[0055] Coupler:

Sample II: Sample the same as Sample I except that the protective layer contains no
silver iodide.
[0056] Each of the layers of the above samples contains a gelatin hardener and a surfactant
in addition to the above components.
[0057] Each of Samples I and II is exposed through an optical wedge to a white light, and
then processed in the following manner. In the processing, two different developers
are used; one containing various development inhibitors in an amount necessary to
decrease the sensitivity of Sample II to 60%, and the other containing no development
inhibitor.

[0059] If the sensitivities of Samples I and II when processed in the developer containing
no development inhibitor are denoted by So and S
o', respectively, while when processed in the developer containing a development inhibitor
are denoted by S
l and S
ll, respectively, then
the desensitized degree of Sample I: AS = So - Sl,
the desensitized degree of Sample II: ΔS0 = So' - Sll,
Diffusibility: ΔS/ΔS0,
provided that each sensitivity is the logarithm of reciprocal of an exposure amount
(-log E) at the fog + 0.3 density point.
[0061] In the invention, there may be used any diffusible DIR compound regardless of its
chemical structure as long as the diffusibility of the group released therefrom is
in the above prescribed range.
[0062] The following is a typical structural formula representing the diffusible DIR compound.
Formula D-1 A-(Y)
m
wherein A represents a coupler residue, m is an integer of 1 or 2, and Y represents
a group attached to the coupling position of the coupler residue A and capable of
splitting off upon the compound's reaction with the oxidation product of a color developing
agent to release a development-inhibiting group or a development inhibitor having
a diffusibility of more than 0.34.
[0064] In Formulas D-2 to D-7, Rd
1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl, alkoxy, acylamino, alkoxycarbonyl,
thiazolydinilidenamino, aryloxycarbonyl, acyloxy, carbamoyl, N-alkylcarbamoyl, N,N-dialkylcarbamoyl,
nitro, amino, N-arylcarbamoyloxy, sulfamoyl, N-alkylcarbamoyloxy, hydroxy, alkoxycarbonylamino,
alkylthio, arylthio, aryl, heterocyclic, cyano, alkylsulfonyl or aryloxycarbonylamino
group; n is an integer of 0, 1 or 2, provided that when n is 2, the Rd
1 s may be either the same or different. The total number of carbon atoms contained
in the n number of Rd
1 s is from 0 to 10, and the number of carbon atoms contained in the Rd
1 of Formula D-6 is 0 to 15.
[0065] In Formula D-6, X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.
[0066] In Formula D-8, Rd
2 represents an alkyl group, aryl group or a heterocyclic group.
[0067] In Formula D-9, Rd
3 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group or
a heterocyclic group, and Rd
4 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, acylamino,
alkoxycarbonylamino, aryloxycarbonylamino, alkanesulfonamido, cyano, heterocyclic,
alkylthio or amino group.
[0068] The alkyl groups represented by Rd,, Rd
2, Rd
3 and Rd
4 include those having a substituent, which may be either straight-chain or branched-chain.
[0069] The aryl groups represented by Rd,, Rd
2, Rd
3 and Rd
4 include those having a substituent.
[0070] The heterocyclic groups represented by Rd
1, Rd
2, Rd
3 and Rd
4 include those having a substituent, and are in the form of preferably a single or
condensed 5- or 6-member ring containing at least one hetero atom selected from the
group consisting of a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom and a sulfur atom. Examples of
the heterocyclic group include pyridyl, quinolyl, furyl, benzothiazolyl, oxazolyl,
imidazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, benzotriazolyl, imido and oxazine groups.
[0071] The number of carbon atoms contained in the Rd
2 of Formulas D-6 and D-8 is 0 to 15.
[0072] In Formula D-9, the total number of carbon atoms contained in Rd
3 and Rd
4 is 0 to 15.
Formula D-10 -TIME-INHIBIT
wherein TIME is a group attached to the coupling position of A and cleavable upon
the coupler's reaction with the oxidation product of a color developing agent, and
thereafter capable of controlling and releasing the INHIBIT group. The INHIBIT group
is a group represented by the foregoing Formulas D-2 to D-9 which, after being released,
becomes a development inhibitor.
[0074] In Formulas D-11 to D-15 and D-18, Rd
5 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl,
alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, anilino, acylamino, ureido, cyano, nitro, sulfonamido, sulfamoyl,
carbamoyl, aryl, carboxy, sulfo, hydroxy or alkanesulfonyl group. In Formulas D-11
to D-13, D-15 and D-18, the Rdss may combine with each other to form a condensed ring.
In Formulas D-11, D-14, D-15 and D-19, Rd
6 is an alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic or aryl group. In Formulas
D-16 and D-17, Rd
7 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic or aryl
group. In Formula D-19, Rd
8 and Rd
s each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group preferably having 1 to 4 carbon
atoms. In Formulas D-11 and D-15 to D-18, k is an integer of 0, 1 or 2. In Formulas
D-11 to D-13, D-15 and D-18, 1 is an integer of 1 to 4. In Formula D-16, m is an integer
of 1 or 2, provided that when m is 2, the Rd
7s may be either the same or different. In Formula D-19, n is an integer of 2 to 4,
provided that the n number of Rd
8 and of Rd
9 may be either the same or different, respectively. In Formulas D-16 to D-18, B represents
an oxygen atom or

wherein Rd
6 is as defined previously, and ---- implies that it may be either a single bond or
double bond; in the case of a single bond, m is 2, while in the case of a double bond,
m is 1. These INHIBIT groups have all the same meaning except the difference in the
formula and the number of carbon atoms as defined in D-2 to D-9.
[0075] The total number of carbon atoms contained in the Rdis in one molecule of the INHIBIT
group represented by Formula D-2 to D-7 is 0 to 32, the number of carbon atoms contained
in the Rd
2 of Formula D-8 is 1 to 32, and the total number of carbon atoms contained in the
Rd
3 and Rd
4 of Formula D-9 is 0 to 32.
[0076] The alkyl, aryl and cycloalkyl groups represented by Rd
s, Rd
6 and Rd
7 include those having a substituent.
[0077] The preferred among the diffusible DIR compounds are those in which Y is represented
by Formulas D-2, D-3 and D-10, and the preferred among the Y groups of Formula D-10
are those of which the INHIBIT group is represented by Formulas D-2, D-6 in which
X is an oxygen atom, and D-8 in which Rd
2 is hydroxyaryl or alkyl having 1 to 5 carbon atoms.
[0078] Examples of the coupler component represented by A of Formula D-1 include a yellow
dye-image forming coupler residue, a magenta dye-image forming coupler residue, a
cyan dye-image forming coupler residue and a colorless coupler residue.
[0079] The following are the examples of the useful DIR compounds for the invention, but
are not limited thereto.
Exemplified compounds:
[0081] Including the above exemplified compounds, examples of the diffusible DIR compounds
usable in the invention are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,234,678, 3,227,544, 3,617,291,
3,958,993, 4,149,866, 3,933,500, 2,072,363 and 2,070,266; JP O.P.I. Nos. 56837/1982
and 13239/1976; and Research Disclosure No. 21228, Dec. 1981.
[0082] The diffusible DIR compound is used in the amount range of preferably 0.0001 to 0.1
mol, and more preferably 0.001 to 0.05 mol per mol of silver halide.
[0083] The incorporation of the foregoing two-equivalent cyan coupler, four-equivalent cyan
coupler and diffusible DIR compound into the emulsion layer may be carried out by
adding to the emulsion a solution of them dissolved in a water-miscible organic solvent;
adding to the emulsion an oil-in-water-type dispersion prepared by dissolving them
in a water-nonmiscible organic solvent, particularly a high-boiling solvent, and dispersedly
mixing the solution with a hydrophilic colloid liquid; adding to the emulsion a suspension/dispersion
of them in the milled solid state; or by the deposition-precipitation dispersion method
as disclosed in JP O.P.I. No. 120848/1990, European Patent No. 374,837 and World Patent
No. 90/08345.
[0084] In the invention, the maximum cyan color transmission density of the medium-speed
emulsion sublayer of the red-sensitive layer is obtained in the following manner:
A sample is prepared in the same manner as in the foregoing sample except that the
medium-speed emulsion sublayer of the red-sensitive layer thereof has the silver halide
and coupler removed therefrom and instead contains 0.08g/m2 of the following compound C-X thereby to be replaced by a non-color forming layer
comprised substantially of gelatin alone, provided that the gelatin amount is adjusted
so as not to change the whole layer thickness. The obtained sample is exposed for
1/100 sec. through an optical wedge with a W-26 filter, manufactured by Eastman Kodak
Company, to a white light, and then subjected to the hereinafter described Processing
A to thereby obtain a characteristic curve. Further, a standard sample (such as one
of Samples 101 to 108 in Table 1 and Samples 201 to 208 in Table 3, which will be
described hereinafter) also is exposed and processed likewise to obtain its characteristic
curve. And the difference between both the samples is found, which is regarded as
the maximum color density of the medium-speed emulsion sublayer.
[0085] In the invention, the maximum cyan color transmission density of the medium-speed
red-sensitive emulsion layer is preferably not more than 0.35, more preferably 0.05
to 0.30, and most preferably 0.10 to 0.25.
[0086] The maximum color transmission density of the high-speed emulsion sublayer of the
red-sensitive layer of the invention is preferably 0.3 to 1.0, and more preferably
0.4 to 0.9.
[0087] And, the maximum color transmission density of the low-speed emulsion sublayer of
the red-sensitive layer is preferably 0.6 to 2.0, and more preferably 0.7 to 1.8.

[0089] The silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material of the invention preferably
has an ISO speed of not less than 100. The method for determining an ISO speed is
specified in JIS K 7614-1981.
[0090] The silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material of the invention preferably
has a monodisperse silver halide emulsion. The monodisperse silver halide emulsion
is an emulsion comprising silver halide grains, in which the weight of the silver
halide grains confined within the average grain diameter d ±20% range accounts for
preferably 70% or more, more preferably 80% or more, and most preferably 90% or more
of the whole silver halide weight.
[0091] The average grain diameter d is defined by the grain diameter di in the case where
n x d
3i, the product of the frequency n of grains having a grain diameter d
; and d
3i, is the maximum (rounded to three decimal places).
[0092] The grain diameter herein is the diameter of a circular image equivalent in the areal
to the projection image of a grain.
[0093] The grain diameter can be obtained by actually measuring the diameter or the area
of the grain image formed on a photographic print or projected on a screen by magnifying
a silver halide grain 10,000 to 50,000 times through an electron microscope (the number
of grains subjected to the measurement shall be 1000 or more selected at random).
[0094] The highly monodisperse emulsion suitable for the invention has a grain diameter
distribution width of preferably not more than 20%, and more preferably not more than
15%, wherein the grain diameter distribution width is defined by

[0095] Herein, the method for measuring grain diameters complies with the aforementioned
method, and the average grain diameter is an arithmetic mean.

[0096] The silver halide emulsion of the invention comprises silver iodobromide emulsion
of which the average silver iodide content is preferably 4 to 20 mol%, and more preferably
5 to 15 mol%.
[0097] The silver halide emulsion used in the invention may contain silver chloride in an
amount not to impair the effect of the invention.
[0098] The silver halide grain used in the invention has thereinside a high silver halide-content
phase.
[0099] The silver halide content of the high silver iodide-content phase is preferably 15
to 45 mol%, more preferably 20 to 42 mol%, and most preferably 25 to 40 mol%.
[0100] The silver halide grain of the invention has the internal high silver iodide-content
phase covered with an external low silver iodide-content phase.
[0101] The average silver iodide content of the external low silver iodide-content phase
that forms the outermost phase of the grain is preferably not more than 6 mol%, and
more preferably 0 to 4 mol%. A medium silver iodide-content phase (intermediate phase)
may be present between the outermost phase and the internal high silver iodide-content
phase.
[0102] The silver iodide content of the intermediate phase is preferably 10 to 22 mol%,
and more preferably 12 to 20 mol%.
[0103] Each of the differences in the silver iodide content between the outermost phase
and the intermediate phase and between the intermediate phase and the high silver
iodide-content phase is preferably not less than 6 mol%, and more preferably not less
than 10 mol%.
[0104] In the above embodiment, there may be present another silver halide phase as the
core of the high silver iodide-content phase, still another silver halide phase between
the high silver iodide-content phase and the intermediate phase and a further silver
halide phase between the intermediate phase and the outermost phase.
[0105] The volume of the outermost phase accounts for preferably 4 to 70%, more prefeably
10 to 50%, that of the high silver iodide-content phase accounts for preferably 10
to 80%, more preferably 20 to 50% and most preferably 20 to 45%, and that of the intermediate
phase accounts for 5 to 60%, and more preferably 20 to 55% of the whole volume of
the grain.
[0106] The above phases each may be a single phase of a homogeneous composition, a complex
phase of a homogeneous composition or a group of phases having stepwise varied compositions,
and besides arbitrary one of these phases may have a continuously varied composition.
[0107] Another embodiment of the silver halide emulsion of the invention is such that the
silver iodide content continuously changes from the core toward the external of the
grain rather than the silver iodide present locally forms substantially stepwise uniform
phases. In this instant, the silver iodide content preferably decreases monotonously
from its maximum content point inside the core to the external of the grain.
[0108] The silver iodide content at its maximum content point is preferably 15 to 45 mol%,
and more preferably 25 to 40 mol%.
[0109] The silver iodide content of the surface phase of the silver iodobromide grain is
preferably not more than 6 mol%, and more preferably 0 to 4 mol%.
[0110] The silver halide emulsion used in the invention preferably satisfies at least one
of the following requirements (1) to (4):
(1) When the average silver iodide content J1 obtained by an X-ray fluorescence analysis and the average silver iodide content
J2 by an X-ray photoelectron spectral analysis are compared, the emulsion shall satisfy
the relation of J, >J2.
[0111] The grain diameter herein is the diameter of the circumcircle where the projection
image area of the grain is maximum.
[0112] The X-ray photoelectron spectral analysis is explained.
[0113] The emulsion is pretreated as follows prior to measurement by the X-ray photoelectron
spectral analysis. Firstly, the emulsion, after adding a pronase solution thereto,
is stirred for one hour at 40°C for gelatin decomposition, and then centrifuged to
deposit the emulsion grains. After removing the supernatant in the decantation manner,
the pronase solution is added to the grains to repeat gelatin decomposition under
the same conditions as the above. This sample is again centrifuged to remove its supernatant
therefrom, then distilled water is added thereto to redisperse the emulsion grains
into water, then again centrifuged to remove its supernatant therefrom...., thus repeating
this washing operation three times. After that, the emulsion grains are redispersed
into ethanol, which is then thinly coated on a mirror-like polished silicon wafer
to thereby prepare a sample for measurement.
[0114] For the measurement according to the X-ray photoelectrone spectral analysis there
may be used a measuring instrument such as an ESCA/SAM560, manufactured by PHI Co.,
provided with Mg-Ka rays as an excitation X-ray source, which is operated under conditions
of an X-ray source power of 15KV, an X-ray source current of 40mA and a pass energy
of 50eV.
[0115] In order to find the surface halide composition, Ag3d, Br3d and 13d3/2 electrons
are detected. The composition ratio is calculated according to a relative speed coefficient
method by using the respective peaks' integral intensities. The composition ratio
is rendered in atomic percentages by using 5.10, 0.81 and 4.592 as the relative speed
coefficients of Ag3d, Br3d and 13d3/2.
[0116] (2) When the average silver iodide content J
1 obtained by the foregoing X-ray fluorescent analysis and the average silver iodide
content J
3 measured on the silver halide crystal 80% or more apart in the direction of the grain
diameter from the center of the grain by using an X-ray microanalysis method are compared,
the emulsion shall satisfay the relation of J,>Ja.
[0117] The X-ray microanalysis method is explained.
[0118] Silver halide grains are dispersed in an electron-microscopic observation grid of
an electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersion-type X-ray analyzer, the
grid is cooled by liquid nitrogen, the magnification is set so as to get one grain
in the CRT field of view, and the intensities of AgLa and ILa rays are integrated
for a given period of time. From the intensity ratio of ILa/AgLa and an in advance
prepared calibration curve, a silver iodide content can be calculated.
[0119] (3) At the maximum peak height x 0.13 of a (420) X-ray diffraction signal with CuKa
rays as an X-ray source, the emulsion is characterized by having a continuous signal
over a diffraction angle of more than 1.5; preferably has a continuous signal over
a diffraction angle of more than 1.5 at the signal's maximum peak height x 0.15; more
preferably has a continuous signal over a diffraction angle of more than 1.8; and
most preferably has a continuous signal over a diffraction angle of more than 2.0.
That the emulsion has the signal means that at the maximum peak height x 0.13 or 0.15,
it has a signal intensity more than the height.
[0120] A more preferred embodiment of the silver halide emulsion of the invention is such
that it has two or three peaks, more preferably three peaks, in the above (420) X-ray
diffraction signal with CuKa rays as the X-ray source.
[0121] The X-ray diffractometry is known as a method useful for examining the structure
of silver halide crystals.
[0122] As the X-ray source for the method there may be used various characteristics-having
X rays. Particularly. CuLa rays with Cu used as a target is most widely used.
[0123] Silver iodobromide has a rock-salt structure, which shows a diffraction angle 2 of
71 to 74° in the (420) X-ray diffraction signal with CuKa rays. The X-ray diffractometry
generates a relatively high- intensity signal at a high angle and a good resolution,
so that it is suitable for examining crystal structures.
[0124] In the X-ray diffractometry of the photographic emulsion, it is necessary to remove
gelatin from and mix a reference sample such as silicon with the emulsion and to perform
the measurement of the emulsion in a powder state.
[0125] For the measurement reference can be made to the Kiso-Bunseki Kagaku Koza 24 'X-sen
Bunseki' (Basic Analytical Chemistry Course 24 'X-ray Analysis'), published by Kyoritsu
Publishing Co.
[0126] (4) When the average silver iodide content of the individual silver halide grains
of the emulsion is measured according to the aforementioned X-ray microanalysis method,
the measured values' relative standard deviation shall be preferably not more than
20%, more preferably not more than 15%, and most preferably not more than 12%.
[0127] The above relative standard deviation is

[0128] The silver halide crystal used in the invention may be a regular crystal such as
a cubic, tetradecahedral or octadecahedral crystal, or a tabular twin crystal, or
a mixture of these crystals.
[0129] In the case of the tabular twin crystal, the projected image area of ones each in
which the ratio of the diameter of a circular image equivalent in the area to that
of its projection image and its thickness is in the range of from 1 to 20 accounts
for preferably more than 60% of the whole projected image area of the twin crystal
grains in a scene. And the above ratio range is preferably less than 8.0, and more
preferably not less than 1.5 and less than 5.0.
[0130] The monodisperse regular crystal grains-containing emulsion of the invention can
be prepared by making reference to the methods described in JP O.P.I. Nos. 177535/1984,
138538/1985, 52238/1984, 143331/1985, 35726/1985, 258536/1985 and 14636/1986.
[0131] The monodisperse twin crystals emulsion may be prepared making reference to the spherical
seed grains growing method disclosed in JP O.P.I. No. 14636/1986.
[0132] In growing seed grains, it is preferable to add a silver nitrate aqueous solution
and a halide aqueous solution by a double-jet process. An iodide may be provided in
the form of silver iodide to the system. The addition should be made at a speed not
to generate new nuclei and not to cause a grain size distribution extension due to
Ostwald ripening: i.e., at a speed in the range of from 30 to 100% of the speed to
generate new nuclei.
[0133] For the growth of the seed grains there is a method in which silver halide grains
are added thereto to dissolve, recrystalize and thereby grow the seed grains as described
in p.88 of the book of the gists of papers presented to the annual convention '83
of the Society of Photographic Science and Technology of Japan.
[0134] The growth of the silver halide emulsion is preferably carried out under conditions
of a pAg of 5 to 11, a temperature of 40 to 85 ° C and a pH of 1.5 to 12.
[0135] In the invention, the silver halide emulsion is subjected to physical ripening, chemical
ripening and spectral sensitization.
[0136] The additives used in these processes are described in Research Disclosure (hereinafter
abbreviated to RD) Nos.17643, 18716 and 308119. The relevant items and pages in these
publications are listed below.

[0137] The known photographic additives usable in the invention also are described in the
above publications, in which the relevant items and pages are listed below.

[0138] Various couplers may be used in the invention, examples of which are described in
the above publications.

[0139] The additives used in the invention can be added according to the dispersing method
described in RD308119 X IV.
[0140] As the support of the light-sensitive material of the invention there may be used
one of the materials described in the foregoing RD17643 p.28, RD18716 p.647-8, and
RD308119 XVII.
[0141] The light-sensitive material of the invention may have auxiliary layers such as the
filter layer and intermediate layer described in RD308119 VII-K.
[0142] The light-sensitive material of the invention may take various layer structures such
as the normal layer structure, inverted layer structure and unit structure described
in RD 308119 VII-K.
[0143] The invention may apply to various color light-sensitive materials such as color
negative films for general or movie use, color reversal films for slide or TV use,
color photographic papers, color positive films and color reversal papers.
[0144] The light-sensitive material of the invention may be processed in the usual manner
as described in RD17643 p.28-29, RD18716 p.647, and RD308119 XVII.
EXAMPLES
[0145] In all the following examples, adding amounts to the silver halide light-sensitive
material are shown in grams per m
2 except that those of silver halide and colloidal silver are shown in silver equivalents
and those of sensitizing dyes in mols per mol of silver halide.
Example 1
[0147] Besides, to each of the above layers were added a coating aid Su-2, a dispersing
aid Su-1, hardeners H-1 and H-2, dyes AI-1 and AI-2, a stabilizer ST-1, antifoggants
AF-1 and AF-2 and an antiseptic DI-1 in addition to the above compounds.
[0150] A sample 102 was prepared in the same manner as in Sample 101 except that the DIR
compound of Layer 4 of Sample 101 was removed and the following Layer 3A was provided
between the Layer 3 and Layer 4 of Sample 101.

[0151] Samples 103 to 108 were prepared in the same manner as in Sample 102 except that
the coating weights (g/m
2) of the cyan coupler C-1 and the DIR compound D-1 contained in Layer 3A of Sample
102 were varied as shown in Table 1.

[0152] Each of Samples 101 to 108 was exposed through an optical stepwedge for sensitometric
evaluation; imagewise exposed for image-quality evaluation; and then processed in
the following procedure. In addition, a separate set of the samples, prepared for
different sensitometric evaluation, were allowed to stand for 20 days under atmospheric
conditions of 35 ° C/70%RH, and then exposed and processed in like manner.

[0154] The graininess of each sample was evaluated in terms of an RMS granularity value.
The RMS value is the standard deviation of the fluctuation of density values obtained
when measuring the red density + 0.5 area with a SAKURA microdensitometer PDM-5AR
having a head slit opening of 250u.m
2, manufactured by KONICA Corp. In Table 2, the RMS values of the samples are shown
in relative values to the value of Sample 101 set at 100.
[0155] The smaller the value, the more excellent the graininess.
[0156] The sharpness was evaluated in terms of MTF (modulation transfer function). The density
of the image formed on each sample by photographing a square wave chart was measured
with a microdensitometer having a 300x2µm slit, and the percentage of the output resolution
to the input chart image was found, from which a MTF value was obtained. In Table
2, the MTF values of the samples for a spatial frequency of 20 lines/m
2 are shown in relative values to the value of Sample 101 set at 100.
[0157] The larger the value, the more excellent the sharpness.
[0158] For evaluation of the preservability, percentage of the sensitivity (measured at
the Dmin + 0.2 density point) of each sample subjected to the foregoing high temperature/high
humidity treatment to that of the same sample untreated is shown in Table 2. The larger
the value, the more excellent the preservability.
[0159] The thus obtained results of the respective red-sensitive layers (cyan image-forming
layers) of the samples are collectively shown in Table 2.
[0160] As is apparent from Table 2, the samples having the construction of the invention
have better improved graininess, sharpness and preservability than the comparative
samples.

Example 2
[0162] In addition to the above compounds, to each of the above layers were added a coating
aid Su-2, a dispersing aid Su-1, a viscosity-control agent, hardeners H-1 and H-2,
a stabilizer ST-1, two different antifoggants AF-1 having a Mw of 10,000 and AF-2
having a Mw of 1,100,000 and an antiseptic DI-1.
[0163] Samples 202 to 208 were prepared in the same manner as in Sample 201 except that
the cyan coupler and DIR compound contained in the Layers 3, 4 and 5 of Sample 201
were changed as shown in Table 3, provided that cyan coupler C-1 was added in an amount
of 0.8g/
M3 to layer 3 and in an amount of 0.56g/m
2 to Layer 4 of each of Samples 203, 204 and 205, and added as shown in Table 3 to
Samples 206, 207 and 208; and DIR compound D-1 was added in an amount of 0.003g/m
2 to Layer 4.
[0164] Samples 201 to 208 were exposed, processed and evaluated in the same manner as in
Example 1. The results are shown in Table 4.
[0165] As is apparent from Table 4, the samples having the construction of the invention
have better improved graininess, sharpness and preservability than the comparative
samples.

1. A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material which comprises a support
having thereon a blue-sensitive emulsion layer, a green-sensitive emulsion layer and
a red sensitive emulsion layer, wherein said red-sensitive emulsion layer comprises
a high-speed emulsion sublayer, a medium-speed emulsion sublayer and a low-speed emulsion
sublayer;
said low-speed emulsion sublayer, said medium-speed emulsion sublayer and said high-speed
emulsion sublayer being provided in this order on the support;
said high-speed emulsion sublayer containing a two-equivalent cyan coupler; said medium-speed
emulsion sublayer and said low-speed emulsion sublayer each comprising a four-equivalent
coupler and a diffusible DIR compound; and the maximum transmission density of cyan
dye in said medium-speed emulsion sublayer being not more than 0.35.
2. The material of claim 1, wherein said high-speed emulsion sublayer is adjacent
to said medium-speed emulsion sublayer and said medium-speed emulsion sublayer is
adjacent to said low-speed emulsion sublayer.
3. The material of claim 1, the sensitivity of said high-speed emulsion sublayer is
higher 0.1 to 1.0 log E than said medium-speed emulsion sublayer in sensitivity, wherein
E is exposure amount.
4. The material of claim 1, wherein the sensitivity of said medium-speed emulsion
sublayer is higher 0.1 to 1.0 log E than said low-speed emulsion sublayer in sensitivity,
wherein E is exposure amount.
5. The material of claim 1, wherein said the two-equivalent coupler is represented
by Formula I:

wherein Cp represents a Coupler residual,
* represents the coupling position of the coupler, X represents a group capable of being
split off upon reaction with the oxidized product of a color developing agent.
6. The material of claim 5, wherein X in Formula I is selected from the group consisting
of a halogen atom, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, a heterocyclicoxy group, an
acyloxy group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, a heterocyclicthio group,

in which X represents a group of non-metalic atoms necessary to complete an atom-containing
5- members to 6-members heterocyclic ring which may have a substituent, wherein said
atom is selected from a carbon atom, an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom;
an acylamino group, a sulfonamido.
7. The material of claim 5, wherein X in Formula I is selected from a divalentgroup,
the two-equivalent coupler forms a dimer with X.
8. The material of claim 5, wherein the two-equivalent coupler is represented by the
following Formula II, Formula III, Formula IV;

wherein R
2 and R
3 each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, R
4 represents a substituent, m is an integer of 1 to 3, n is an integer of 1 to 2, p
is integer of 1 to 5, wherein m, n and p are 2 or more, R
2s may be the same or the different.
9. The material of claim 1, wherein said diffusible DIR compound is represented by
Formula D-1:
Formula D-1: A-(Y)m;
wherein A represents a coupler residue, m is an integer of 1 to 2, Y represents a
group capable of being split off upon reaction with oxidized product of a color developing
agent.
10. The material of claim 9, Y represents a development-inhibiting substituent that
has a diffusibility of more than 0.34.
11. The material of claim 9, Y represents a development inhibitor releasing substituent
that has a diffusibility of more than 0.34.
12. The material of claim 9, wherein Y is represented by the following Formulae D-2,
D-3, D-4, D-5, D-6, D-7, D-8 or D-9;

wherein Rd
1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl, an alkoxy, an acylamino, an alkoxycarbonyl,
a thiazolydinilidenamino, an aryloxycarbonyl, an acyloxy, a carbamoyl, a N-alkylcarbamoyl,
a N,N-dialkylcarbamoyl, a nitro, an amino, a N-arylcarbamoyloxy, a sulfamoyl, a N-alkylcarbamoyloxy,
a hydroxy, an alkoxycarbonylamino, an alkylthio, an arylthio, an aryl, a heterocyclic,
a cyano, an alkylsulfonyl, or an aryloxycarbonylamino group; n is an integer of 0
to 2, provided that when n is 2, the Rd
1 may be either the same or different and the total number of carbon atoms contained
in the n number of Rd
1 s is from 0 to 10, and the number of carbon atoms contained in the Rd
1 of Formula D-6 is 0 to 15, X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and Rd
2 represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, and Rd
3 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group or
a heterocyclic group; Rd
4 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or an alkyl, a cycloalkyl, an aryl, an
acylamino, an alkoxycarbonylamino, an aryloxycarbonylamino, an alkanesulfonamido,
a cyano, a heterocyclic, an alkylthio, or an amino group.
13. The material of claim 9, wherein Y is represented by Formula D-10:
Formula D-10 -TIME-INHIBIT
wherein TIME is a group attached to the coupling position of A, and the INHIBIT is
a group represented by Formulae D-2 to D-9.
14. The material of claim 13, wherein Formula D-10 is represented by the following
Formula D-11 to D-19:

wherein, Rd
5 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl atom, a cycloalkyl, an alkenyl,
an aralkyl, an alkoxy, an alkoxycarbonyl, an anilino, an acylamino, an ureido, a cyano,
a nitro, a sulfonamido, a sulfamoyl, a carbamoyl, an aryl, a carboxy, a sulfo, a hydroxy
or an alkanesulfonyl group; Rd
6 is an alkyl, an alkenyl, an aralkyl, a cycloalkyl, a heterocyclic or an aryl group;
and Rd
7 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, an alkenyl, an aralkyl, a cycloalkyl, a heterocyclic
or an aryl group; Rd
8 ,Rds each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and k is an integer of 0,
1 or 2, and m is an integer of 1 or 2; and n is an integer 2 to 4; B is an oxygen
atom or

and ---- is a single bond or a double bond.
15. A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material which comprises a support
having thereon a blue-sensitive emulsion layer, a green-sensitive emulsion layer and
a red sensitive emulsion layer, wherein said red-sensitive emulsion layer comprises
a high-speed emulsion sublayer, a medium-speed emulsion sublayer and a low-speed emulsion
sublayer;
said low-speed emulsion sublayer, said medium-speed emulsion sublayer and said high-speed
emulsion sublayer being provided in this order on the support;
said high-speed emulsion sublayer is adjacent to said medium-speed emulsion sublayer
and said medium-speed emulsion sublayer is adjacent to said low-speed emulsion sublayer.
said high-speed emulsion sublayer containing a two-equivalent cyan coupler represented
by Formula III; said medium-speed emulsion sublayer and said low-speed emulsion sublayer
each comprising a four-equivalent coupler and a diffusible DIR compound represented
by Formula D-1; and the maximum transmission density of cyan dye in said medium-speed
emulsion sublayer being not more than 0.35:

wherein R2 and R3 each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, R4 represents a substituent, n is an integer of 1 to 2, wherein n are 2 or more, R2s may be the same or the different, X represents a group capable of being split off
upon reaction with the oxidized product of a color developing agent;
Formula D-1: A-(Y)m, wherein A represents a coupler residue, m is an integer of 1 to 2, Y represents
a group capable of being split off upon reaction with oxidized product of a color
developing agent, and Y is represented by Formula D-2, D-3, D-10;

wherein Rd1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl, an alkoxy, an acylamino, an alkoxycarbonyl,
a thiazolydinilidenamino, an aryloxycarbonyl, an acyloxy, a carbamoyl, a N-alkylcarbamoyl,
a N,N-dialkylcarbamoyl, a nitro, an amino, a N-arylcarbamoyloxy, a sulfamoyl, a N-alkylcarbamoyloxy,
a hydroxy, an alkoxycarbonylamino, an alkylthio, an arylthio, an aryl, a heterocyclic,
a cyano, an alkylsulfonyl, or an aryloxycarbonylamino group; n is an integer of 0
to 2, provided that when n is 2, the Rd1 may be either the same or different and the total number of carbon atoms contained
in the n number of Rd1 s is from 0 to 10,
Formula D-10 -TIME-INHIBIT;
wherein TIME is a group attached to the coupling position of A, and the INHIBIT is
a group represented by Formula D-2, D-6, D-8;


wherein Rd1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl, an alkoxy, an acylamino, an alkoxycarbonyl,
a thiazolydinilidenamino, an aryloxycarbonyl, an acyloxy, a carbamoyl, a N-alkylcarbamoyl,
a N,N-dialkylcarbamoyl, a nitro, an amino, a N-arylcarbamoyloxy, a sulfamoyl, a N-alkylcarbamoyloxy,
a hydroxy, an alkoxycarbonylamino, an alkylthio, an arylthio, an aryl, a heterocyclic,
a cyano, an alkylsulfonyl, or an aryloxycarbonylamino group; n is an integer of 0
to 2, provided that when n is 2, the Rd1 may be either the same or different and the total number of carbon atoms contained
in the n number of Rd1 s is from 0 to 10, and the number of carbon atoms contained in the Rd1 of Formula D-6 is 0 to 15, X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and Rd2 represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group,