Photographic process involving amplification with CO (III) complexes, silver-dye-bleaching and colorless dye formers which form bleachable dyes

摘要

A process is disclosed for producing a positive colored image in an imagewise exposed photographic element. The element is comprised of a support having coated thereon at least one layer of a hydrophilic colloid coating containing at least one light-sensitive silver halide and, in association with said silver halide, a substantially colorless, image dye-providing compound. The image dye-providing compound is reactive with oxidized color-forming reducing agent to yield a bleachable image dye. The process is comprised of the following steps: A silver image is developed in the imagewise exposed areas of the photographic element and a low level silver fog is formed in the remaining areas of the element. Image dye-providing compound is then converted to a bleachable image dye uniformly throughout the photographic element using the silver as a catalyst for a redox reaction of a color-forming reducing agent and a cobalt(III) complex amplifier oxidizing agent. A silver-dye-bleach step is then performed which bleaches the uniformly generated dye in proportion to the amount of silver present. This produces a positive dye image. Finally, the photographic element is fixed.