Patent ID: 6790569
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: G03C,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of image formation comprising the following steps of(a) developing an imagewise exposed photothermographic film by heating the film to a temperature within the range of about 80 to 180Â° C., said film being a photothermographic element comprising at least three light-sensitive units which have their individual sensitivities in different wavelength regions, each of the units comprising at least one light-sensitive silver-halide emulsion, binder, dye-providing coupler, and a blocked developer which blocked developer and coupler are developed, thereby forming a developed image within each of the units, in the presence of a thermal solvent for promoting development in a dry or substantially dry process, which thermal solvent has a melting point of at least 80Â° C., comprises a phenolic ring and has the following formula: â€ƒwherein the substituent B is independently selected from a substituent where an oxygen, carbon, nitrogen phosphorus or sulfur atom is linked to the phenolic ring as part of an ester, amido, ether, aminosulfonyl, sulfamoyl, carbonyl, acyl or sulfonyl group; â€ƒm is 0 to 4; and wherein the substituent R is independently selected from a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, or forms a ring with another substituent on the ring; â€ƒn is 0 to 4; and â€ƒwherein m+n is 1 to 5; and (b) scanning said developed image in the imagewise exposed and developed film to form a first electronic image representation of said imagewise exposure.