Patent ID: 8119328

Claim:
An imaging element consisting essentially of a single, two-phase imaging layer comprising: a polymeric binder that is substantially transparent to incident actinic radiation and thus has an index of refraction that is unchangeable as a result of exposure to said incident actinic radiation, said polymeric binder comprising a continuous phase, a particulate material comprising a reactant, said particulate material being dispersed within said polymeric binder continuous phase and that: a) has an index of refraction that is substantially the same as that of said polymeric binder continuous phase before exposure to said incident actinic radiation, and upon exposure to said incident actinic radiation, the index of refraction of said particulate material becomes substantially different from that of said polymeric binder continuous phase, or b) has an index of refraction that is substantially different from that of said polymeric binder continuous phase before exposure to said incident actinic radiation, and upon exposure to said incident actinic radiation, the index of refraction of said particulate material becomes substantially the same as that of said polymeric binder continuous phase, that is capable of producing an optically detectable image from differential light scattering in said single, two-phase imaging layer.