Record-shifted scanning silver-halide-containing color photographic and photothermographic elements

The present invention is directed to a method of scanning silver-halide-containing color photographic and photothermographic film. In particular, the present invention comprises record shifting by means by employing at least one infrared dye in a color unit of the film, thereby forming at least one image record in the infrared. This expedient leads to the formation of high quality images, especially when scanning photothermographic elements in which the silver halide, metallic silver, and/or any organic silver salts have not been removed.

EXAMPLE A multilayer, multicolor light sensitive Element A was prepared having a support bearing a red light sensitive silver halide layer having Coupler 1, a green light sensitive silver halide layer having Coupler 2, and a blue light sensitive silver halide layer having Coupler 3. Element A contained subbing layers, overcoat layers and other components as known in the art. Element B was like element A except Coupler 2 was replaced by Coupler 4 in the green light sensitive layer unit and Coupler 3 was replaced by Coupler 2 in the blue light sensitive layer unit. Element C was like Element B except that Coupler 1 was replaced by Coupler 4 in the red light sensitive layer unit and Coupler 4 was replaced by Coupler 1 in the green light sensitive layer unit. The three elements were slit and perforated to 135 film format, loaded into cartridges and exposed to test scenes using a camera. After development using developer D-1, Element A exhibited yellow, magenta and cyan colored images, Elements B and C each exhibited magenta, cyan and infrared colored images. The elements were not desilvered by bleaching or fixing. Below are the structures of the above-mentioned compounds: 17 Table 1 below shows the percent transmission of elements in selected wavelength ranges after development. Table 2 below shows the hue of images in elements A, B and C after development. 2 TABLE 1 % T at % T at 450 nm % T at 550 nm % T at 650 nm % T at 750 nm 850 nm 12% 18% 28% 34% 38% 3 TABLE 2 Hue of red layer Hue of green layer Hue of Blue layer Element image image image A 664.3 nm 551.5 nm 449.0 nm B 664.3 nm 753.9 nm 551.5 nm C 753.9 nm 664.3 nm 551.5 nm The MTF percent responses were measured after a white light exposure. The MTF percent response to 450 nm light was 80% while to 750 nm light was 105%, thus confirming the improved specularity of light transmission through the element when it was scanned in the infrared region. As is readily apparent, matching the hues of the formed dyes to wavelengths of light where silver halides are more transmissive results in the formation of images that are more readily scanned. The images formed in elements A, B and C were scanned to blue, green, red or IR light as appropriate for the dye records formed and the images were reconstructed and formed to prints. The prints from Elements B and C were colorful and showed an improved blue record image relative to that obtained from Element A, thus confirming the advantages of the invention. In a separate experiment, an element formulated like Element A was developed using developer D-2. Shifted color records were formed having absorption maxima at 471.9 nm, 615.1 nm and 719.4 nm. In a separate experiment, an element formulated like Element C can be developed using developer D-2. Shifted color records are formed having absorption maxima at 615.1 nm, 719.4 nm and at 800 nm. Elements can be prepared using appropriately blocked versions of D-1 and D-2 along with melt formers and incorporated silver salts to prepare photothermographic elements that form shifted color records suitable for scanning after imagewise exposure and heating. Examples of photothermographic elements that can be modified according to the present invention are disclosed in commonly assigned USSN 60/211,061, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In another embodiment, blocked variants of D-1 and D-2 can be delivered to the light sensitive elements from laminates to enable formation of shifted color records suitable for scanning. The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.