Patent ID: 7445884

Claim:
A development method for a sheet-shaped photothermographic material including a light-sensitive surface and a light-insensitive surface provided opposite to the light-sensitive surface, the development method comprising: an exposure step for exposing the light-sensitive surface of the photothermographic material to form a latent image; a developing step for heating to develop the latent image formed in the exposed photothermographic material; and a cooling step performed by direct contact of a cooling member with the light-insensitive surface of the photothermographic material after the developing step for cooling the photothermographic material under a condition that a cooling rate for the light-insensitive surface of the photothermographic material is 1.5-3.0 times as fast as a cooling rate for the light-sensitive surface of the photothermographic material and a cooling time is not more than 1.5 times for a time required for the developing step.