Patent ID: 6258517
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: G03C

Abstract:
A method of making an imaged photographic element having a water-resistant protective overcoat resistant to wet abrasion, the method comprising:(a) providing a photographic element having at least one image forming layer comprising a silver-halide light-sensitive emulsion and, overlying the image forming layer, an overcoat less than 10 microns thick;(b) exposing the photographic element to actinic radiation to form a latent image in the at least one image forming layer;(c) developing the latent image in the at least image forming layer to provide an imaged layer in the photographic element;(d) hardening the imaged layer during or after development such that the Swell Ratio of the imaged photographic element is less that 0.9,wherein the Swell Ratio is defined as the Equilibrium Swell of the photographic element after the hardening of step (d) divided by the Equilibrium Swell of an identical photographic element identically processed except without the hardening in step (d);thereby obtaining a photographic element comprising a water-resistant protective overcoat that is resistant to wet abrasion.