Patent ID: 6013420
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: G03C

Abstract:
A chromogenic process for the production of color images which comprises exposing imagewise a color photographic material to light and developing said color photographic material in an aqueous alkaline treatment batch (activator bath) wherein said color photographic recording material comprising at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having a thermosolvent and a color coupler and at least one non light-sensitive layer wherein the light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer or the non light-sensitive layer contains a color developer compound in the form of an inactive precursor compound corresponding to formula I (capped color developer compound): ##STR6## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 (the same or different) and are an alkyl with up to 6 carbon atoms;R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.5 (independently of one another) and are H, halogen, --OH, alkyl, alkoxy, acylamino or sulphonamido;M.sup.+ is an alkali metal ion, NH.sub.4.sup.+, a cation derived from a nitrogen-containing organic base, or a compound with a quaternary ammonium group;said process comprises a heat treatment prior to development in order to convert the capped color developer compound to an active form capable of color coupling.