Rapid-access method of forming a stabilized silver halide color image

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of forming a color image, particularly to a method of forming a color image by use of a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which is suited for low-replenishing rapid processing and improved in color reproducibility and color image preservability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Usually, a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material for color print (hereinafter occasionally referred to as a light-sensitive material) is used to form an image comprising dyes by color development of a light-sensitive material containing yellow, magenta and cyan couplers. In recent years, couplers which form developed dyes with little irregular absorption in the long wavelength region of their spectral absorption characteristics and excellent color reproducibility have been used. As such yellow couplers, those disclosed in Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. Nos. 123027/1988, 209241/1991 and 209466/1991, for example, are employed.

In the aspect of color development of light-sensitive materials, there has been a growing demand for low-replenishing rapid processing in recent years. For example, a method for low-replenishing processing is disclosed in Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. No. 211750/1989 with the object of preventing environmental pollution, and methods for rapid processing are disclosed in Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. Nos. 154052/1991, 154053/1991, 157650/1991, 160439/1991 with the object of raising operational efficiency.

However, when a light-sensitive material using the above yellow coupler of high color reproducibility is subjected to rapid and low-replenishing continuous processing, image preservability after color development tends to be poor, though color reproducibility and low-replenishing rapid processing are successfully attained. Such a poor image preservability features blurs or discolorations of images when color prints each pasted on a mount are laid one upon another and stored for a long period.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material suitable for rapid and low-replenishing continuous processing and capable of providing satisfactory color reproducibility and color image preservability.

The object of the invention is attained by a method of forming a color image comprising steps of

imagewise exposing to light a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material which comprises a support having thereon a silver halide emulsion layer,

developing the exposed light-sensitive material with a color developer,

bleach-fixing the developed light-sensitive material with a bleach-fixer, and

washing the bleach-fixed light-sensitive material,

wherein the silver halide emulsion layer contains a yellow coupler having a molecular weight of not more than 800 and represented by Formula Y-1 and compound represented by Formula I, II, III or IV; the developing step is carried out for a time not more than 25 seconds and developer is replenished with a developer replenisher in a ratio of from 20 ml to 150 ml per square meter of light-sensitive material developed by the developer; and the total time of the developing step, bleach-fixing step and washing step is not more than 2 minutes; ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group; R.sub.2 represents an alkyl, cycloalkyl, acyl or aryl group; R.sub.3 represents a group capable of being substituted on the benzene ring; n represents 0 or 1; X.sub.1 represents a group capable of splitting off upon coupling reaction with an oxidation product of a developing agent; and Y.sub.1 represents an organic group, ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 represents a alkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; M represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom or an alkyl group; X represents a halogen atom or an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, carboxyl, amino, hydroxyl, sulfo, nitro or alkoxycarbonyl group, m represents an integer of 1 to 5; n represents 0 or 1, ##STR3## wherein R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl, aryl, alkoxy or --CONHR group (R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, alkylthio, arylthio, alkylsulfonyl or arylsulfonyl group) or a heterocyclic group; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each represent a hydrogen or halogen atom or an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocyclic, cyano, alkylthio, arylthio, alkylsulfoxido, alkylsulfonyl or alkylsulfinyl group; and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 may be linked with each other to form a benzene ring which may have a substituent, ##STR4## wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each represent a hydrogen or halogen atom, a alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a hydroxymethyl group; R.sup.7 represents a hydrogen atom or a alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, ##STR5## wherein R.sup.8 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or aryl group; R.sup.9 represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, nitro, carboxyl, sulfo, sulfamoyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy or thiazolyl group; Z represents a group of atoms which form a thiazole ring; m' represents 0 or 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In Formula Y-1, the alkyl group represented by R.sub.1 is, for example, a methyl, ethyl, i-propyl, t-butyl or dodecyl group. These alkyl groups represented by R.sub.1 include those having a substituent such as a halogen atom or an aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylsulfonyl, acylamino and hydroxyl group.

The cycloalkyl group represented by R.sub.1 is, for example, an organic hydrocarbon residue formed by condensation of two or more cycloalkyl groups, e.g., an adamantyl group, besides a cyclopropyl or cyclohexyl group. The cycloalkyl group represented by R.sub.1 includes those having such a substituent as those exemplified for the alkyl group represented by R.sub.1.

The aryl group represented by R.sub.1 is, for example, a phenyl group and includes those having a substituent. Examples of such substituents include those exemplified as substituents for the alkyl group represented by R.sub.1. Among them, a preferred example of R.sub.1 is a branched alkyl group.

The alkyl, cycloalkyl and aryl group each represented by R.sub.2 are the same groups as those represented by R.sub.1 and may have a substituent. Examples of substituents include those exemplified for R.sub.1. Examples of the acyl group so-represented include the groups of acetyl, propionyl, butylyl, hexanoyl and benzoyl, each of which may have a substituent. Favorable examples of R.sub.2 are an alkyl and aryl group; of them, an alkyl group is preferred, a lower alkyl group having 5 or less carbon atoms is particularly preferred.

The group capable of being substituted on a benzene ring which is represented by R.sub.3 includes, for example, a halogen atom, e.g., chlorine, an alkyl group, e.g., ethyl, i-propyl, t-butyl, an alkoxy group, e.g., methoxy, an aryloxy group, e.g., phenyloxy, an acyloxy group, e.g., acetyloxy, benzoyloxy, an acylamino group, e.g., acetamido, benzamido, a carbamoyl group, e.g., N-methylcarbamoyl, N-phenylcarbamoyl, an alkylsulfonamido group, e.g., ethylsulfonamido, an arylsulfonamido group, e.g., phenylsulfonamido, a sulfamoyl group, e.g., N-propylsulfamoyl, N-phenylsulfamoyl and an imido group, e.g., succinimido, glutarimido.

The organic group represented by Y.sub.1 is preferably a group represented by the following formula Y-2.

Formula Y-2

--(J).sub.p --R.sub.4

In the formula, R.sub.4 is an organic group containing one linking group having a carbonyl or sulfonyl unit, p is 0 or 1.

Examples of the group having a carbonyl unit include an ester, amido, carbamoyl, ureido and urethane group; examples of the group having a sulfonyl unit include a sulfonyl, sulfonylamino, sulfamoyl and aminosulfonylamino group.

J represents a --N(R.sub.5)CO-- or --CON(R.sub.5)-- group, where R.sub.5 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, aryl or heterocyclic group.

The alkyl group represented by R.sub.5 includes a methyl, ethyl, i-propyl, t-butyl and dodecyl group; the aryl group so-represented includes a phenyl and naphthyl group; and the heterocyclic group so-represented includes a pyridyl group.

These groups represented by R.sub.5 may have a substituent. Such substituents are not particularly limited; but, typical examples include a halogen atom, e.g., chlorine, an alkyl group, e.g., ethyl, t-butyl, an aryl group, e.g., phenyl, p-methoxyphenyl, naphthyl, an alkoxy group, e.g., ethoxy, benzyloxy, an aryloxy group, e.g., phenoxy, an alkylthio group, e.g., ethylthio, an arylthio group, phenylthio, an alkylsulfonyl group, e.g., .beta.-hydroxyethylsulfonyl, an arylsulfonyl group, e.g., phenylsulfonyl, an acylamino group, e.g., an alkylcarbonylamino group such as acetamido and an arylcarbonylamino group such as benzamido, a carbamoyl group, e.g., an alkylcarbamoyl group such as N-methylcarbamoyl and an aryl carbamoyl group such as N-phenylcarbamoyl, an acyl group, e.g., an alkylcarbonyl group such as acetyl, and an arylcarbonyl group such as benzoyl, a sulfonamido group, e.g., an alkylsulfonamido group such as methylsulfonamido and arylsulfonamido group such as phenylsulfonamido, a sulfamoyl group, e.g., an alkylsulfamoyl group such as N-methylsulfamoyl, and an arylsulfamoyl group such as N-phenylsulfamoyl, a hydroxyl group and a cyano group.

The group represented by X.sub.1 and capable of splitting off upon coupling with an oxidation product of a developing agent includes, for example, those represented by the following formula Y-3 or Y-4; of them, those represented by Formula Y-4 are particularly preferred.

Formula Y-3

--OR.sub.6

In the formula, R.sub.6 represents an aryl or heterocyclic group, they may have a substituent. ##STR6##

In the formula, Z.sub.1 represents a nonmetal atomic group necessary to form a 5- to 6-membered ring jointly with the nitrogen atom; examples of such a non-metal atomic group include a substituted or unsubstituted methylene, methine, .dbd.C.dbd.O, --NR.sub.A, where R.sub.A is the same as R.sub.5, --N.dbd., --O--, --S-- and --SO.sub.2 --group.

The yellow coupler represented by Formula Y-1 may form a bis-compound by being linked with each other at a position of R.sub.1, R.sub.3 or Y.sub.1.

Among the yellow couplers of the invention, those represented by the following formula Y-.sub.5 are particularly preferred. ##STR7##

In Formula Y-5, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, n and X.sub.1 are the same as R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, n and X.sub.1 in Formula Y-1, J, p are the same as J, p in Formula Y-2, and each exemplified equally; R.sub.7 represents an alkylene, arylene, alkylenearylene, arylenealkylene or --A--E.sub.1 --B-- group, where A and B each represent an alkylene, arylene, alkylenearylene or arylenealkylene group; E.sub.1 represents a divalent linking group; R.sub.8 represents an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heterocyclic group; D represents a linking group having a carbonyl or sulfonyl unit.

The alkylene group represented by R.sub.7, A or B includes straight-chain and branched-chain groups such as a methylene, ethylene, trimethylene, butylene, hexylene, methylmethylene, ethylethylene, 1-methylethylene, 1-methyl-2-ethylethylene, 2-decylethylene and 3-hexylpropylene group. These alkylene groups may have a substituent, e.g., an aryl group; examples thereof include a 1-benzylethylene, 2-phenylethylene and 3-naphthylpropylene group.

The arylene group so represented includes, for example, a phenylene and naphthylene group including that having a substituent.

The alkylenearylene group includes, for example, a methylenephenylene group; the arylenealkylene group include, for example, a phenylenemethylene group; and each of them may have a substituent.

Examples of the bivalent linking group represented by V.sub.1 include a --O-- and --S-- group.

Among the alkylene, arylene, alkylenearylene, arylenealkylene and --A--E.sub.1 --B-- group represented by R.sub.7, the alkylene group is particularly preferred.

The alkyl group represented by R.sub.8 includes straight-chain and branched ones such as an ethyl, butyl, hexyl, octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, dodecyl, hexadecyl, 2-hexadecyl and octadecyl group. The cycloalkyl group so represented includes, for example, a cyclohexyl group. The aryl group represents, for example, a phenyl and naphthyl group. The heterocyclic group include, for example, a pyridyl group.

Those alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and heterocyclic groups which are represented by R.sub.8 may further have a substituent. The substituent is not particularly limited; examples thereof are those exemplified as substituents of the above R.sub.5.

D represents a linking group having a carbonyl or sulfonyl unit. Preferred examples of such a linking group are those represented by the following family Y-6; among them, linking groups denoted by (6) to (9) are particularly preferred.

Family Y- 6

(1) --COO--, (2) --N(R)CO--, (3) --CON(R)--, (4) --N(R)CON(R')--, (5) --N(R)COO--, (6) --SO.sub.2 --, (7) --N(R)SO.sub.2 --, (8) --SO.sub.2 N(R)-- (9) --N(R)SO.sub.2 N(R')--

In these formulas, R and R' each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, aryl or heterocyclic group; examples of them are the same as those defined for the above R.sub.5. Each of these groups may have a substituent such as those exemplified for R.sub.5. The preferred one for R or R' is a hydrogen atom.

The yellow coupler represented by Formula Y-1 of the invention is used in an amount of preferably 1.times.10.sup.-3 to 1 mole, especially 1.times.10.sup.-2 to 8.times.10.sup.-1 mole per mole of silver halide.

The yellow coupler represented by Formula Y-1 has a molecular weight preferably not more than 750, especially not more than 700.

Typical examples of the yellow coupler represented by Formula Y-1 (hereinafter referred to as the yellow coupler of the invention) are shown below.

__________________________________________________________________________ ##STR8## No. R.sub.1 R.sub.2 X.sub.1 3-position to 6-position __________________________________________________________________________ Y-1 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 ##STR9## ##STR10## Y-2 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 ##STR11## 5-NHCOC.sub.15 H.sub.31 Y-3 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 ##STR12## ##STR13## Y-4 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 ##STR14## 5-NHCOC.sub.12 H.sub.25 Y-5 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 ##STR15## 5-NHCOC.sub.17 H.sub.35 Y-6 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 ##STR16## ##STR17## Y-7 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 ##STR18## 5-SO.sub.2 NHC.sub.15 H.sub.31 Y-8 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (i) ##STR19## 5-NHSO.sub.2 C.sub.16 H.sub.33 Y-9 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 ##STR20## ##STR21## Y-10 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 C.sub.8 H.sub.17 ##STR22## ##STR23## Y-11 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 ##STR24## 5-COOC.sub.14 H.sub.29 Y-12 ##STR25## C.sub.12 H.sub.25 ##STR26## 5-NHCOC.sub.4 H.sub.9 Y-13 (t)C.sub.5 H.sub.11 CH.sub.3 ##STR27## 5-NHCOC.sub.14 H.sub.29 Y-14 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 ##STR28## 5-COOC.sub.18 H.sub.35 Y-15 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 ##STR29## ##STR30## Y-16 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 ##STR31## 5-NHCOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 COOC.sub.8 H.sub.17 Y-17 ##STR32## CH.sub.3 ##STR33## ##STR34## Y-18 ##STR35## CH.sub.3 ##STR36## ##STR37## Y-19 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 C.sub.16 H.sub.33 ##STR38## 5-SO.sub.2 NHCOC.sub.2 H.sub.5 Y-20 (t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 ##STR39## ##STR40## __________________________________________________________________________

In Formula I, the alkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms represented by R.sup.1 includes a methylene, ethylene, propylene, butylene and pentylene group. The alkali metal represented by M includes sodium and potassium. The halogen atom represented by X includes chlorine, bromine and iodine. The alkyl group represented by M or X includes a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms. The cycloalkyl group represented by X is preferably a cycloalkyl group having 4 to 8 carbon atoms; the aryl group includes a phenyl and naphthyl group. The number of carbon atoms contained in the alkoxycarbonyl group is preferably 1 to 5.

Further, each of the above groups may have a substituent such as an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halogen atom or a hydroxyl, sulfo, nitro, cyano, carboxyl or phenyl group.

In Formula II, the alkyl or alkenyl group represented by R.sup.2 has preferably 1 to 36 and especially 1 to 18 carbon atoms. The number of carbon atoms in the cycloalkyl group is preferably 3 to 12, especially 3 to 6. These alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl and heterocyclic groups may have a substituent; such a substituent may be selected from halogen atoms and nitro, cyano, thiocyano, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, carboxyl, sulfoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, sulfo, acyloxy, sulfamoyl, carbamoyl, acylamino, diacylamino, ureido, thioureido, urethane, thiourethane, sulfonamido, arylsulfonyloxy, alkylsulfonyloxy, arylsulfonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylthio, aralkylthio, alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, alkylamino, dialkylamino, anilino, hydroxyl, mercapto and heterocyclic groups.

The number of carbon atoms contained in the alkyl group represented by R.sup.3 or R.sup.4 is preferably 1 to 18, especially 1 to 9; the number of carbon atoms in the cycloalkyl group is preferably 3 to 12, especially 3 to 6. These alkyl, cycloalkyl and aryl groups may have a substituent such as a halogen atom or a nitro, sulfo, aryl or hydroxyl group. When R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 form a benzene ring in conjunction, examples of the substituent on this benzene ring include a halogen atom and an alkyl, alkoxy, cyano and nitro group.

In Formula III, the alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms represented by R.sup.5, R.sup.6 or R.sup.7 may have a substituent.

In Formula IV, R.sup.8 is preferably a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R.sup.9 is preferably a nitro, sulfo or hydroxyl group or a halogen atom; m' is preferably 1.

Some of the compounds represented by Formula I, II, III or IV are known as an antiseptic for a hydrophilic colloid used in a light-sensitive material. For example, some of the compounds of Formula I are disclosed in Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. Nos. 22857/1984, 257747/1988, some of the compounds of Formula II in Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. Nos. 27424/1979, 181929/1984, 142548/1984, 166343/1983, 226343/1984, some of the compounds of Formula III in Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. Nos. 119547/1985, 231936/1987, and some of the compounds of Formula IV in Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. Nos. 274944/1988, 263938/1985. However, none of the above literature describes the color image preservability of a light-sensitive material subjected to rapid and low-replenishing continuous processing.

Typical examples of the compound represented by the above Formula I, II, III or IV (hereinafter referred to as the compound of the invention) are shown below. ##STR41##

In embodying the invention, one or more of these compounds can be selected from those exemplified above. They are well known in the art and placed on the market by the companies; I.C.I. Japan, Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Rohm & Haas Japan and San-ai Sekiyu.

The addition amount of these compounds is not limitative, but preferably within the range of 1.times.10.sup.-4 to 1.times.10.sup.-2 g/m.sup.2. In the present invention, these compounds are contained in the silver halide emulsion layer. The compound may be further contain in a non-emulsion layer. The addition method is not particularly limited. Among the above compounds represented by Formulas I to IV, ones represented by Formula II are preferable.

The silver halide grains used in the invention may have any crystal form. One preferred form is a cube having (100) faces as crystal face.

The silver halide grains used in the invention may comprise grains of the same form or a mixture of grains different in crystal forms.

The size of grains used in the invention is not limitative; but, in view of photographic properties such as rapid processability and sensitivity, it is preferably 0.1 to 1.2 .mu.m, especially 0.2 to 1.0 .mu.m.

The distribution of sizes of silver halide grains used in the invention may be either polydispersed or monodispersed. Preferred are monodispersed silver halide grains having a coefficient of variation not more than 0.22, especially not more than 0.15. The coefficient of variation used here is a coefficient indicating the extent of a grain size distribution and defined by the following equation:

Coefficient of Variation =S/R, where S is a standard deviation of a grain size distribution and R is an average grain size.

Here, grain size means a diameter for a spherical silver halide grain, and a diameter of a circular image converted equally in area from a projected image of a grain for a grain having a shape other than a cube or a sphere.

In the preparation of a silver halide emulsion, various apparatus and processes known in the art can be used.

Silver halide emulsions used in the invention may be prepared by any of the acid method, the neutral method and the ammoniacal method. The grains may be those which are grown in one step or those which are grown from seed grains. The process for preparing seed grains and that for growing seed grains may be the same or different.

The reaction between a soluble silver salt and a soluble halide may be carried out by any of the single-jet method, the reverse mixing method, the double-Jet method and combinations thereof, but the double-jet method is preferred. The pAg controlled double-jet method disclosed in Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. No. 48521 can be used as a modification of the double-jet method.

Further, there may be employed the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. Nos. 92523/1982, 92524/1982, with which an aqueous solution of a water-soluble silver salt and that of a water-soluble halide are fed through a feeding unit arranged in a reaction liquor; the apparatus disclosed in German Offenlegunshrift 2921164, with which an aqueous solution of a water-soluble silver salt and that of a water-soluble halide are fed at continuously varied concentrations; and the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Pat. Exam. Pub. No. 501775/1981, with which silver halide grains are grown while distances among neighboring grains are kept constant by taking the reaction liquor out of the reaction vessel and concentrating it by ultrafiltration.

In addition, a silver halide solvent such as thioether may be used if necessary. Moreover, there may also be added a mercapto-group-containing compound, a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound or a compound such as a sensitizing dye during silver halide grain formation or after the formation of grains.

There may be employed a conventional antifoggant and a stabilizer in the silver halide emulsion used in the invention, for the purposes of preventing fog in the manufacturing process of a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, minimizing the fluctuation of performance during storage and preventing fog in the developing process. Examples of the compound used for these purposes include the compound represented by Formula II shown in the lower column of page 7 of the specification of Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. No. 146036/1990; typical examples of the compound include those denoted by (IIa-1) to (IIa-8) and (IIb-1) to (IIb-7) on page 8 of the above specification and 1-(3-methoxyphenyl)-5-mercaptotetrazole as well. These compounds are added, according to the purpose of the addition, in the preparation process of silver halide grains, in or after the chemical sensitizing process or in the preparation process of a coating solution. When chemical sensitization is carried out in the presence of these compounds, the addition amount thereof is preferably 1.times.10.sup.-5 to 5.times.10.sup.-4 per mole of silver halide. When these are added after completion of chemical sensitization, the addition amount is preferably 1.times.10.sup.-6 to 1.times.10.sup.-2, especially 1.times.10.sup.-5 to 5.times.10.sup.-3 per mole of silver halide. When the addition is made to a silver halide emulsion layer in the preparation process of a coating solution, the amount is preferably 1.times.10.sup.-6 to 1.times.10.sup.-1 , especially 1.times.10.sup.-5 to 1.times.10.sup.-2 per mole of silver halide. When the addition is made to a layer other than the silver halide emulsion layer, the amount is preferably 1.times.10.sup.-9 to 1.times.10.sup.-3 mole per square meter of coated layer.

When used as a color light-sensitive material, the light-sensitive material of the invention has a silver halide emulsion layer which is chemically sensitized to a specific wavelength region of 400 to 900 nm by combination of a yellow coupler, a magenta coupler and a cyan coupler. Such a silver halide emulsion layer contains one or a plurality of spectral sensitizing dyes in combination.

As spectral sensitizing dyes, any of the conventional ones can be used. But, as blue-sensitive sensitizing dyes, it is preferable to use, singly or in combination, those denoted by BS-1 to BS-8 described in Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. No. 251840/1991. As green-sensitive sensitizing dyes, those denoted by GS-1 to GS-5 in same publication are preferably used. As red-sensitive sensitizing dyes, those denoted by RS-1 to RS-8 on pages 111-112 of the same publication are preferred.

For the light-sensitive material of the invention, a dye having an absorption in various wavelength regions can be used for preventing irradiation and halation. Any of the conventional compounds for this purpose can be used; but, the dyes denoted by AI-1 to AI-11 described in Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. No. 251840/1991 are preferred as dyes having an absorption in the visible region; as infrared absorbing dyes, the compounds represented by Formula I, II or III described in the lower left column of page 2 of Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. No. 280750/1989 have favorable spectral characteristics and, moreover, produce no adverse effects on the photographic properties of a silver halide photographic emulsion nor stains attributable to residual colors. Preferred examples of the compound include exemplified compounds (1) to (45) shown from the lower left column of page 3 to the lower left column of page 5 of the same publication.

As couplers used in the light-sensitive material of the invention, there may be used any compound which forms a coupling product having a spectral absorption maximum wavelength in a wavelength region longer than 340 nm, upon coupling with an oxidation product of a color developing agent. Besides the yellow couplers of the invention, examples of usable couplers include magenta couplers having a spectral absorption maximum wavelength in a wavelength region of 500 to 600 nm and cyan couplers having a spectral absorption maximum wavelength in a wavelength region of 600 to 750 nm.

Magenta couplers preferred in the invention include those represented by Formula M-I or M-II described in Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. No. 114154/1992. Typical examples thereof are those denoted by MC-1 to MC-11 in the same publication; among them, those denoted by MC-8 to MC-11 are particularly preferred for their excellent reproducability in colors from blue, purple to red and high capability of describing details of an image.

Cyan couplers preferred in the invention include those represented by Formula C-I or C-II described in Japanese Pat. O.P.I. Pub. No. 114154/1992; typical examples thereof are those denoted by CC-1 to CC-11 in the same publication.

When a coupler is added to a silver halide emulsion by the oil-in-water type emulsifying method, the coupler is usually dissolved in a water-insoluble high boiling solvent having a boiling point higher than 150.degree. C., or jointly using a low boiling and/or water-soluble organic solvent if necessary, and the solution is then dispersed in a hydrophilic binder, such as an aqueous solution of gelatin, with the aid of a surfactant. As emulsifying and dispersing means, there can be used a stirrer, a homogenizer, a colloid mill, a flow-jet mixer and a supersonic disperser. A process to remove the low boiling solvent may be provided after or concurrently with the dispersing. As high boiling solvents used to dissolve and disperse a coupler, phthalates such as dioctyl phthalate and phosphates such as tricresyl phosphate are favorably employed.

As an alternative to the use of a high boiling organic solvent, a coupler dispersion may be prepared by dissolving, if necessary, a mixture of a coupler and a polymeric compound insoluble in water and soluble in organic solvents, in a low boiling and/or water-soluble organic solvent, and dispersing the mixture or the resulting solution in a hydrophilic binder, such as an aqueous solution of gelatin, with the aid of a surfactant by use of various emulsifying and dispersing means. In this case, poly(N-t-butylacrylamide) and its analogues can be used as a polymeric compound insoluble in water and soluble in organic solvents.

In the invention, compounds such as that denoted by d-11 on page 33 of Japanese Pat. Appl. No. 234208/1990 and that denoted by A'-1 on page 35 of the same specification can be used for the purpose of shifting the absorption wavelength of a developed dye. Besides these compounds, a fluorescent-dye-releasing compound disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,187 can also be used.

The coating weight of a coupler is not particularly limited as long as it provides an adequate color density, but it is preferably 1.times.10.sup.-3 to 5 moles, especially 1.times.10.sup.-2 to 1 mole per mole of silver halide.

As a binder in the light-sensitive material of the invention, though gelatin is advantageously used, there may also be used, if necessary, other hydrophilic colloids such as gelatin derivatives, graft polymers obtained by grafting other polymers on gelatin, proteins other than gelatin, sugar derivatives, cellulose derivatives and synthetic hydrophilic homo- or co-polymers.

The material of a reflective support relating to the invention is not particularly limited, typical examples include paper coated with polyethylene containing a white pigment, baryta paper, polyvinylchloride sheets and polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate supports containing a white pigment. Particularly preferred are those having a surface layer made of polyolefin resin containing a white pigment.

Inorganic and/or organic white pigments can be used as the above white pigment. And inorganic white pigments are preferably used; examples thereof include sulfates of an alkaline earth metal such as barium sulfate, carbonates of an alkaline earth