The invention is generally accomplished by providing a photographic element and a process of its formation wherein a gelatin silver halide emulsion is provided with a thickener comprising a copolymer of the structure (I), wherein A comprises about 10 to about 20 parts by weight of said copolymer, and B comprises about 80 to about 90 parts by weight of said copolymer. It is particularly preferred that the copolymer be provided in a hardener layer to minimize the amount of gelatin needed and thus reduces the reaction of hardener with gelatin. The invention finds a preferred use in curtain coating wherein there is a greater need for high viscosity materials, particularly at the bottom of a group of layers in order to minimize distortions of the layers as they are applied in the curtain coating process.
