JP2001154283A - Image reading method and color image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading method and a color image forming method by which a high-sensitivity color image is obtained by forming a silver image suitable for reading, and reading the silver image in the case of reading the silver image obtained by developing color photographic sensitive material after exposure and forming the color image from silver image information. SOLUTION: The color photographic sensitive material having at least three kinds of photographic sensitive layers incorporating blue sensitive, green sensitive and red sensitive silver halide emulsion on a light transmissive supporting body is exposed and the color photographic sensitive material after exposure is processed to generate the silver image at processing temperature being >=50 deg.C, then the silver image is substantially read.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading method and a color image forming method. The present invention relates to a color image forming method for forming.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Photosensitive materials utilizing silver halide have been increasingly developed in recent years, and it is now possible to easily obtain high-quality color images. For example, in a method generally called a color photograph, a photograph is taken using a color negative film, and image information recorded on the developed color negative film is optically printed on color photographic paper to obtain a color print. In recent years, this process has been highly developed, and anyone can use the color lab, which is a large-scale centralized base that produces large amounts of color prints with high efficiency, or the so-called minilab, which is a small and simple printer processor installed in stores. But you can easily enjoy color photos.

[0003] The principle of color photography that is currently widespread employs color reproduction by a subtractive color method. In a general color negative, a light-sensitive layer using a silver halide emulsion, which is a light-sensitive element provided with photosensitivity in the blue, green, and red regions, is provided on a transmission support. So-called color couplers for forming complementary colors of yellow, magenta and cyan dyes are contained in combination.
The color negative film that has been imagewise exposed by photography is developed in a color developer containing an aromatic primary amine developing agent. At this time, the exposed silver halide grains are developed or reduced by a developing agent to generate metallic silver, and at the same time, each dye is formed by a coupling reaction between an oxidized form of the developing agent and the above-described color coupler. Metallic silver (developed silver) generated by development and unreacted silver halide are removed by bleaching and fixing, respectively, to obtain a dye image. A color photographic paper, which is a color photographic material in which a photosensitive layer having a similar combination of a photosensitive wavelength region and a color hue is coated on a reflective support, is subjected to optical exposure through a color negative film after development processing, and By performing the color development, bleaching, and fixing processes described above, it is possible to obtain a color print composed of a dye image reproducing the original scene.

[0004] Although these systems are now widespread, demands for their simplicity are increasing. For example, JP-A-6-266066 and JP-A-6-266066
No. 2,295,035 discloses an image forming method for extracting image information representing imagewise exposure to blue, red and green color portions from a silver halide color photographic element, that is, a silver image, without forming a dye image. A method is described. According to this method, a photosensitive material can be designed without using a color developing material.

[0005]

However, even if this method is applied to a commercially available color photographic light-sensitive material to form a color image, only an image with low sensitivity and a lot of noise can be obtained. It is considered that such a problem occurred due to the image quality of a silver image obtained by development. That is,
It is considered that a silver image suitable for reading cannot be formed by performing development in the same manner as in the related art, and a color image formed based on this silver image is likely to have much noise and low sensitivity.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to read a silver image obtained by developing a color photographic light-sensitive material after exposure and to form a color image based on silver image information, which is suitable for reading. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading method and a color image forming method capable of forming a silver image, reading the silver image, and obtaining a high-sensitivity color image.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an image reading method according to claim 1, wherein a blue-sensitive, green-sensitive and red-sensitive photosensitive material is provided on a transparent support. A color photographic light-sensitive material having at least three types of photographic light-sensitive layers containing a neutral silver halide emulsion, and processing the exposed color photographic light-sensitive material at a processing temperature of 50 ° C. or higher so that a silver image is formed. , Substantially reading a silver image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, at least 60% of the image density is derived from the developed silver.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading method according to the first or second aspect, the color photographic material contains a developing agent.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image reading method according to the third aspect, wherein the color photographic light-sensitive material containing the developing agent and a processing layer containing at least one of a base and a base precursor on a support. After exposing the color photographic light-sensitive material to the color photographic light-sensitive material, water equivalent to 1/10 to 1 times the water required for the maximum swelling of the entire coating film of the color photographic light-sensitive material and the processing material is exposed to the color photographic light-sensitive material. It is characterized in that development is carried out by bonding and heating in a state where it is present between the material and the processing material.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein The present invention is characterized in that processing is performed so as to generate a silver image by using a main agent.

[0012]

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[0013]

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[0014]

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[0015]

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In the formula, R 1 to R 4 are a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkylcarbonamide group, an arylcarbonamide group, an alkylsulfonamide group, an arylsulfonamide group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an alkylthio group. Group, arylthio, alkylcarbamoyl, arylcarbamoyl, carbamoyl, alkylsulfamoyl, arylsulfamoyl, sulfamoyl, cyano, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl , An alkylcarbonyl group, an arylcarbonyl group or an acyloxy group, and R5 represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group. Z represents a group of atoms forming a (hetero) aromatic ring;
Is a benzene ring, the total value of Hammett constant (σ) of the substituent is 1 or more. R6 represents an alkyl group. X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a selenium atom or an alkyl-substituted or aryl-substituted tertiary nitrogen atom. R
7 and R8 represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and R7 and R8 may combine with each other to form a double bond or a ring. Further, each of the general formulas I to IV contains at least one ballast group having 8 or more carbon atoms in order to impart oil solubility to the molecule.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color image forming method.
A color image is formed based on silver image information read by the image reading method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Preferably, the processing temperature is 60 ° C. or higher, and the image is read by transmitting light reflected from the emulsion side and the support side of the color photographic light-sensitive material and transmitted through the color photographic light-sensitive material. It is preferable to carry out by reading a silver image of each photographic light-sensitive layer with the applied light. Preferably, the same silver image is read a plurality of times according to the degree of occurrence of the silver image.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the image reading method and the color image forming method of the present invention will be described below in detail.

According to the image reading method of the present invention, a silver image is formed by developing a color photographic light-sensitive material after exposure, and the silver image during or after development is read by a scanner. The method digitizes the read silver image information, performs image processing on the image data, and outputs a file or prints.

The photosensitive material used in the method of the present invention comprises, on a support, a blue photosensitive layer (B layer) sensitive to blue light, a green photosensitive layer (G layer) sensitive to green light, and red light. And at least three types of red light-sensitive layers (R layers) that are sensitive to light.
The green photosensitive layer and the blue photosensitive layer are arranged in this order. However, other arrangements may be used depending on the purpose. For example, an arrangement as described in column 162 of JP-A-7-152129 may be used. Further, each photosensitive layer may be divided into a plurality of silver halide emulsion layers having substantially the same color sensitivity but different sensitivities.

In the present invention, since a silver image after development is read, it is sufficient that each photosensitive layer of the photosensitive material contains at least photosensitive silver halide particles and a binder. It can be used in the method of the present invention. Further, the developing agent is preferably incorporated, but can be added from the outside. Hereinafter, each component will be described.

The silver halide grains contained in the light-sensitive material are added to the light-sensitive layer in the form of a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion. Silver halide is silver iodobromide, silver chloroiodobromide, silver bromide,
Any of silver chlorobromide, silver iodochloride and silver chloride may be used. These compositions are selected according to the properties to be imparted to the photosensitive silver halide. That is, silver iodobromide and silver chloroiodobromide having a high silver bromide content can be preferably used as commonly used for high-sensitivity photographic materials. The content of silver iodide is preferably at most 20%. Further, for the purpose of utilizing fast developing characteristics or utilizing low haze in a state of being dispersed in gelatin in a light-sensitive material, a so-called high silver chloride emulsion having a high silver chloride content is preferably used. it can. When a high silver chloride emulsion is used, the halogen composition is as follows:
Preferably, 60% or more is made of silver chloride, more preferably 80% or more, and most preferably 90% or more is silver chloride.

Although silver halide grains of various shapes can be used, the grain size distribution of these grains is preferably monodispersed. In order to evaluate the monodispersity of the particle size, it can be determined using a so-called variation coefficient obtained by dividing the standard deviation of the statistically obtained particle size by the average particle size. The silver halide emulsion has a coefficient of variation of 4
It is preferably 0% or less. Further, it is preferably at most 30%, most preferably at most 20%.

The silver halide emulsion has a grain thickness of 0.2 μm.
In the following, it is preferable that tabular grains having a so-called aspect ratio of 2 to 80, which is obtained by dividing the projected diameter of the grains by the grain thickness, consist of grains that occupy 50% of the total projected area. The aspect ratio is preferably 5 or more, more preferably 8 or more, and most preferably 12 or more. Particle size expressed by the diameter of a sphere of the same volume as the particle is about 0.5μ
When the following particles having a relatively small particle size are used, the tabularity is calculated by dividing the aspect ratio by the particle thickness.
Five or more particles are preferred. The technology and properties of using these high aspect ratio plates are described in US Pat.
No. 048, No. 4434226, No. 4439520
And the like. Furthermore, the particle thickness is 0.07μ.
The technology of ultra high aspect ratio tabular grains thinner than m is disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 5,494,789, 5,503,970,
No. 503971, No. 5,536,632, European Patent No. 0
No. 699945, No. 0699950, No. 0699
No. 948, No. 0699944, No. 0701165
And No. 0699946. The technique of tabular high silver chloride emulsion grains is described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,399,215, 4,400,463 and 5,217,858, which are tabular high silver chloride grains having a (111) plane as a main plane. A photographic emulsion comprising: On the other hand, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,292,632 and 5,310,635 describe in US Pat.
A photographic emulsion comprising tabular high silver chloride grains having a 0) plane as a main plane is disclosed. These various tabular emulsion grains can be preferably used.

To prepare tabular grains having a small grain thickness and a high aspect ratio, the binder concentration, temperature, p
It is important to control H, excess halogen ion species, the same ion concentration, and the supply rate of the reaction solution. In order to selectively grow the formed plate nuclei not in the thickness direction but in the peripheral direction of the plate, the addition rate of the reaction solution for the particle growth is controlled, and at the same time, the binder in the growth process from the time of particle formation is controlled. It is also important to select the best one. For this purpose, gelatin having a low methionine content or gelatin whose amino group is modified with phthalic acid, trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, or the like is advantageous.

When the silver halide grains to be used have a tabular shape, the grain thickness distribution preferably has a small coefficient of variation. At this time, the coefficient of variation is preferably 40% or less. Further, it is preferably at most 30%, most preferably at most 20%. The silver halide grains are prepared so as to have various structures in the grains in addition to devising the shape as described above. A commonly used method is to form grains into a plurality of layers having different halogen compositions. In silver iodobromide grains commonly used for photographic materials, it is preferable to provide layers having different iodine contents. So-called internal high iodine-type core-shell particles covered with a shell having a low iodine content with a layer having a high iodine content as a nucleus for the purpose of controlling the developability, or a shell having a high iodine content, on the contrary. External high iodine type core-shell particles covered with the above can be used. There is also known a technique in which a nucleus having a low iodine content is covered with a first shell having a high iodine content, and a second shell having a low iodine content is deposited thereon to thereby provide high sensitivity. In silver halide grains of this type, dislocation lines based on crystal irregularities are formed in shells (corresponding to fringe portions at the outer edges of grains in the case of tabular grains) deposited on a high iodine phase, and high sensitivity is obtained. Contribute to
For the deposition of the high iodide phase, a method of adding a water-soluble iodide solution such as potassium iodide alone or simultaneously with a water-soluble silver salt solution such as silver nitrate, a method of introducing fine silver iodide particles into the system,
A method of adding a compound that releases iodide ions by reaction with an alkali or a nucleophile, such as iodide acetamides, can be preferably used. Also in the case of high silver chloride grains, it is preferable to form phases having different halogen compositions in the grains. By changing the halogen composition during the formation of the tabular grains, a plurality of layers can be laminated concentrically. For example, a core (core) having a high silver bromide content can be arranged at the center of the grain, and a shell (shell) having a low silver bromide content can be formed around the core. Conversely, a shell having a high silver bromide content can be formed around a core having a high silver chloride content. Further, a plurality of shells surrounding the core may be provided. Thereby, a region having a high or low silver bromide content can be formed in a donut shape. Since the physical properties of silver halide crystals can be greatly changed by adding a small amount of iodine to high silver chloride grains, it is preferable to include an arbitrary concentration of iodine in the core or shell. It is preferable to arrange a high silver bromide-containing layer or silver iodide-containing layer on the outer periphery of the tabular grains, or to arrange a high silver bromide-containing layer or silver iodide-containing layer in the intermediate shell. Dislocation lines based on crystal irregularities are formed in the shell (corresponding to the fringe portion at the outer edge of the grain in the case of tabular grains) deposited on the high silver bromide-containing layer or the high iodine layer, which contributes to obtaining high sensitivity. . In addition, an epitaxial projection can be used by depositing it on the surface of various host particles as described above. The silver halide grains are preferably doped with a polyvalent metal ion. Polyvalent metal ions can be introduced in the form of halides or nitrates during grain formation, but metal complexes having polyvalent metal ions as the central metal (halogeno complexes, ammine complexes, cyano complexes, nitrosyl complexes, etc.) Preferably, it is introduced in the form of Among these metal complexes, it is preferable to include a metal complex that provides a transient shallow electron trap in the photosensitive process. A metal complex that acts as a transient electron trap during the photosensitive process is a ligand that can significantly split the d-orbit on a spectrochemical series such as cyanide ions into metal ions belonging to the first, second, or third transition series. Is a coordinated complex. The coordination form of these complexes is a six-coordinate complex in which six ligands are coordinated in an octahedral form, and among them, the number of cyan ligands is preferably four or more. When all of the six ligands of these metal ions are not cyan ligands, the remaining ligands are halide ions such as fluoride, chloride or bromide ions, and inorganic ligands such as SCN, NCS and H2O. And organic ligands such as pyridine, bipyridine, phenanthroline, imidazole and pyrazole. Further, a complex in which an organic ligand such as pyridine, bipyridine, phenanthroline, imidazole, and pyrazole occupies at least half of the coordination sites can also be preferably used. Preferred central transition metals are iron, cobalt,
Ruthenium, rhenium, osmium and iridium can be mentioned. In the emulsion, it is preferable to use a metal complex that provides a deep electron trap in the photosensitive process in addition to the metal complex that provides a transient shallow electron trap in the photosensitive process. Examples of metal complexes that provide a deep electron trap in these photosensitive processes include ruthenium, rhodium, palladium or iridium having a halide ion or thiocyanate ion as a ligand, ruthenium having at least one nitrosyl ligand, and cyanide. And chromium having a halide ion ligand.

The silver halide grains are preferably doped with a so-called divalent anion of a so-called chalcogen element such as sulfur, selenium or tellurium, in addition to the above-mentioned metal complexes. These dopants are also effective for obtaining high sensitivity and improving the dependence on exposure conditions.

The method for preparing silver halide grains is a known method, that is, "Physics and Chemistry of Photography" by Grafkid, published by Paul Montes (P. Glafkids, C.
himie et Physique Photogr
aphique, Paul Montel, 196
7), "Photographic Emulsion Chemistry" by Duffin, published by Focal Press (GF Duffin, Photographi).
c Emulsion Chemistry, Foca
1 Press, 1966), "Production and Coating of Photographic Emulsion", by Zerikman et al., Published by Focal Press (VLZ).
elikman et al. , Making and
Coating of Photographic E
Mulsion, Focal Press, 1964)
And the like. That is,
It can be prepared in various pH ranges such as an acidic method, a neutral method, and an ammonia method. Further, as a method for supplying a water-soluble silver salt and a water-soluble halide solution as a reaction solution, a one-side mixing method, a simultaneous mixing method, or the like can be used alone or in combination. Further, it is also preferable to use a controlled double jet method for controlling the addition of a reaction solution so as to keep pAg during the reaction at a target value. Further, a method of maintaining a constant pH value during the reaction is also used. In forming the grains, a method of controlling the solubility of silver halide by changing the temperature, pH or pAg value of the system can be used, but thioethers, thioureas, rhodan salts and the like can also be used as the solvent. Examples of these are described in JP-B-47-11386,
It is described in JP-A-53-144319.

Usually, silver halide grains are prepared by controlling a water-soluble silver salt solution such as silver nitrate and a water-soluble halogen salt solution such as an alkali halide in a solution in which a water-soluble binder such as gelatin is dissolved. It is performed by supplying under the conditions described above. After the silver halide grains are formed, it is preferable to remove excess water-soluble salts. This step is called a desalting or washing step, and various means are used. For example, a gelatin solution containing silver halide grains is gelled, cut into strings, and washed with cold water to remove water-soluble salts, such as the Nudel water washing method, inorganic salts composed of polyvalent anions (eg, sodium sulfate), anionic surfactant Agent, anionic polymer (eg, sodium polystyrene sulfonate),
Alternatively, a precipitation method may be used in which a gelatin derivative (for example, an aliphatic acylated gelatin, an aromatic acylated gelatin, an aromatic carbamoylated gelatin, etc.) is added to agglomerate the gelatin to remove excess salts. When the sedimentation method is used, excess salts are quickly removed, which is preferable. It is also preferable to remove the water-soluble salts by passing the reaction solution through an ultrafiltration membrane during or after grain formation of the silver halide emulsion.

Usually, a chemically sensitized silver halide emulsion is preferably used. Chemical sensitization imparts high sensitivity to the prepared silver halide grains and contributes to imparting exposure condition stability and storage stability. For chemical sensitization, generally known sensitization methods can be used alone or in various combinations. As a chemical sensitization method, a chalcogen sensitization method using a sulfur, selenium or tellurium compound is preferably used. As these sensitizers, compounds that release the above-described chalcogen elements to form silver chalcogenides when added to a silver halide emulsion are used. Further, it is also preferable to use these in combination in order to obtain high sensitivity and to suppress fog to a low level.

Also, a noble metal sensitization method using gold, platinum, iridium or the like is preferable. In particular, a gold sensitization method using chloroauric acid alone or in combination with a thiocyanate ion serving as a ligand of gold can provide high sensitivity. When gold sensitization and chalcogen sensitization are used in combination, higher sensitivity can be obtained. Further, a so-called reduction sensitization method in which a compound having an appropriate reducing property is used during grain formation to obtain a high sensitivity by introducing a reducing silver nucleus, is also preferably used. A reduction sensitization method in which an alkynylamine compound having an aromatic ring is added during chemical sensitization is also preferable.

When performing chemical sensitization, it is also preferable to control the reactivity of the compound by using various compounds having an adsorptivity to silver halide grains. In particular, a method in which a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound, a mercapto compound, or a sensitizing dye such as cyanine or merocyanine is added prior to chalcogen sensitization or gold sensitization is particularly preferable. The reaction conditions for performing the chemical sensitization differ depending on the purpose, but the temperature is 30 ° C to 95 ° C, preferably 40 ° C to 75 ° C, and the pH is 5.0 to 11.0, preferably 5.5 to 8. 0.5 and pAg are 6.0-10.5, preferably 6.5-9.8. Regarding the chemical sensitization technology, JP-A-3-110555 and Japanese Patent Application No. 4-75798.
JP-A-62-253159, JP-A-5-4583
No. 3, JP-A-62-40446, and the like.

The photosensitive silver halide emulsion is preferably subjected to so-called spectral sensitization for imparting sensitivity to a desired light wavelength range. In particular, a color photographic light-sensitive material incorporates a light-sensitive layer having photosensitivity to blue, green, and red in order to reproduce colors faithfully to the original. Such photosensitivity is provided by spectrally sensitizing silver halide. For spectral sensitization, a so-called spectral sensitizing dye is used, which is adsorbed on silver halide grains and has sensitivity in its own absorption wavelength range.

Examples of these dyes include cyanine dyes, merocyanine dyes, complex cyanine dyes, complex merocyanine dyes, holopolar dyes, hemicyanine dyes, styryl dyes, and hemioxonol dyes. Examples of these are described in US Pat. No. 4,617,257.
No. JP-A-59-180550, JP-A-64-13546
And Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 5-45828 and 5-45834.

The spectral sensitizing dye is used alone,
A plurality of dyes are used in combination. This is performed for the purpose of adjusting the wavelength distribution of spectral sensitivity and for supersensitization. With a combination of dyes that exhibit supersensitization, a sensitivity that greatly exceeds the sum of the sensitivities that can be achieved alone can be obtained. It is also preferable to use a dye which does not have a spectral sensitizing effect by itself or a compound which does not substantially absorb visible light and exhibits a supersensitizing effect. Diaminostilbene compounds and the like can be mentioned as examples of the supersensitizer. Examples of these include US Pat.
No. 6,156,641 and JP-A-63-23145.

These spectral sensitizing dyes and supersensitizers can be added to the silver halide emulsion at any time during the preparation of the emulsion. To be added to the emulsion after chemical sensitization, at the time of coating solution preparation, to be added at the end of chemical sensitization, to be added during chemical sensitization, to be added prior to chemical sensitization, and to be added after the completion of grain formation and before desalting. Various methods such as addition during the formation of particles or addition prior to the formation of particles can be used alone or in combination. It is preferable to add in a step before chemical sensitization in order to obtain high sensitivity. The amount of the spectral sensitizing dye or supersensitizer to be added varies widely depending on the shape and size of the grains or the photographic characteristics to be imparted.
Mol, preferably in the range of 10-5 to 10-2 mol. These compounds can be added in a state of being dissolved in an organic solvent such as methanol or fluorine alcohol, or in a state of being dispersed in water together with a surfactant or gelatin.

It is preferable to add various stabilizers to the silver halide emulsion for the purpose of preventing fog and improving the stability during storage. Preferred stabilizers include azaindenes, triazoles, tetrazoles, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds such as purines, mercaptotetrazole, mercaptotriazoles, mercaptoimidazoles, and mercapto compounds such as mercaptothiadiazole. Can be. Details of these compounds can be found in James, "Theory of Photographic Processes", published by Macmillan (TH James, The Theory of).
the Photographic Process,
Macmillan, 1977) pp. 396-399 and references cited therein.

These antifoggants or stabilizers can be added to the silver halide emulsion at any time during the preparation of the emulsion. To be added to the emulsion after chemical sensitization, at the time of coating solution preparation, to be added at the end of chemical sensitization, to be added during chemical sensitization, to be added prior to chemical sensitization, and to be added after the completion of grain formation and before desalting. Various methods such as addition during the formation of particles or addition prior to the formation of particles can be used alone or in combination. The addition amount of these antifoggants or stabilizers varies widely depending on the halogen composition and purpose of the silver halide emulsion, but is generally 10-6 to 10-1 mol, preferably 10-5 to 1 mol per mol of silver halide. It is in the range of 10-2 mol.

The photographic additives used in the light-sensitive material of the present invention as described above are described in Research Disclosure Magazine (hereinafter abbreviated as RD) No. 17643 (December 1978) and No. 18716 (November 1979). And No. 307105 (November 1989), and the relevant portions are summarized below. Type of additive RD17643 RD18716 RD307105 Chemical sensitizer page 23 648 right column 866 Sensitivity enhancer 648 right column Spectral sensitizer 23-24 page 648 right column 866-868 Super sensitizer page 649 Right column Brightener 24 page 648 page 868 right column Antifoggant 24 to 26 page 649 right column 868 to 870 Stabilizer light absorber 25 to 26 page 649 right column 873 filter dye 650 page left column UV absorber Dye image stabilizer page 25 650 page left column 872 Hardener page 26 651 page left column 874-875 Binder page 26 651 page left column 873-874 plasticizer, lubricant page 27 650 page right column Page 876 Coating aid page 26-27 page 650 right column 875-876 Surfactant Antistatic agent page 27 page 650 right column 876-877 It may be used in combination organometallic salt with a photosensitive silver halide as a matting agent 878-879 pp oxidizing agent. Among such organic metal salts, an organic silver salt is particularly preferably used. Organic compounds that can be used to form the above-mentioned organic silver salt oxidizing agent include benzotriazoles, fatty acids and other compounds described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,626, columns 52-53.
The acetylene silver described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,613 is also useful. Two or more organic silver salts may be used in combination. The above organic silver salts can be used in an amount of 0.01 to 10 mol, preferably 0.01 to 1 mol, per 1 mol of the photosensitive silver halide. Total coating amount of the photosensitive silver halide and organic silver salts 0.05 to 10 g / m ² in terms of silver, and preferably from 0.1-4 g / m ^2.

As the binder for the constituent layers of the photosensitive material, hydrophilic binders are preferably used. Examples thereof include the above-mentioned Research Disclosure and JP-A-64-13 / 1988.
No. 546, pages (71) to (75). Specifically, transparent or translucent hydrophilic binders are preferred, for example, gelatin, proteins or cellulose derivatives such as gelatin derivatives, starch, gum arabic, dextran, natural compounds such as polysaccharides such as pullulan and polyvinyl alcohol, Synthetic polymer compounds such as polyvinylpyrrolidone and acrylamide polymer are exemplified. Also,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,681, JP-A-62-24
No. 5,260, etc., the superabsorbent polymer,
COOM or -SO ₃ M (M is a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal) copolymer of homopolymer or a vinyl monomer together or with other vinyl monomers of the vinyl monomer having a (e.g. sodium methacrylate, ammonium methacrylate, Sumitomo Chemical Sumikagel L-5 manufactured by Co., Ltd.
H) is also used. These binders can be used in combination of two or more kinds. Particularly, it is preferable to use a combination of gelatin and the above-mentioned other binders. Further, the gelatin may be selected from lime-processed gelatin, acid-processed gelatin, and so-called demineralized gelatin having a reduced content of calcium and the like according to various purposes, and it is also preferable to use a combination of a plurality of types of gelatin. The coating amount of the binder is preferably 20 g or less per 1 m ² ,
It is appropriate to use 0 g or less.

The developing agent may be any as long as it can reduce the photosensitive silver halide particles to generate a silver image. A black-and-white developing agent is sufficient, but an oxidized product formed by silver development reacts with a coupler or the like. A color developing agent that generates a dye by using a color developing agent can also be used. As the developing agent, it is preferable to use a compound represented by the general formula I, II, III or IV from the viewpoint of excellent heat stability. Among them, compounds of the general formula I or II are particularly preferably used. Hereinafter, these developing agents will be described in detail.

The compound represented by the general formula I is a compound generically referred to as sulfonamidophenol, and is a compound known in the art. At least one of the substituents R1 to R5
One having a ballast group having at least 8 carbon atoms is preferred.

In the formula, R 1 to R 4 are a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom (for example, chloro or bromo), an alkyl group (for example, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-butyl,
t-butyl group), aryl group (for example, phenyl group, tolyl group, xylyl group), alkylcarbonamide group (for example, acetylamino group, propionylamino group, butyroylamino group), arylcarbonamide group (for example, benzoylamino group) Alkylsulfonamide group (for example, methanesulfonylamino group, ethanesulfonylamino group), arylsulfonamide group (for example, benzenesulfonylamino group, toluenesulfonylamino group), alkoxy group (for example, methoxy group, ethoxy group, butoxy group), aryl Oxy group (for example, phenoxy group), alkylthio group (for example, methylthio group, ethylthio group, butylthio group), arylthio group (for example, phenylthio group,
Tolthio group), alkylcarbamoyl group (eg, methylcarbamoyl group, dimethylcarbamoyl group, ethylcarbamoyl group, diethylcarbamoyl group, dibutylcarbamoyl group, piperidylcarbamoyl group, morpholylcarbamoyl group), arylcarbamoyl group (eg, phenylcarbamoyl group, methylphenyl) Carbamoyl group,
Ethylphenylcarbamoyl group, benzylphenylcarbamoyl group), carbamoyl group, alkylsulfamoyl group (for example, methylsulfamoyl group, dimethylsulfamoyl group, ethylsulfamoyl group, diethylsulfamoyl group, dibutylsulfamoyl group) , Piperidylsulfamoyl group, morpholylsulfamoyl group), arylsulfamoyl group (for example, phenylsulfamoyl group, methylphenylsulfamoyl group, ethylphenylsulfamoyl group, benzylphenylsulfamoyl group), Sulfamoyl group, cyano group, alkylsulfonyl group (eg, methanesulfonyl group, ethanesulfonyl group), arylsulfonyl group (eg, phenylsulfonyl group, 4-chlorophenylsulfonyl group, p-toluenesulfonyl group), Xycarbonyl group (for example, methoxycarbonyl group, ethoxycarbonyl group, butoxycarbonyl group), aryloxycarbonyl group (for example, phenoxycarbonyl group), alkylcarbonyl group (for example, acetyl group, propionyl group, butyroyl group), arylcarbonyl group (for example, benzoyl group) Group, alkylbenzoyl group) or acyloxy group (eg, acetyloxy group, propionyloxy group, butyroyloxy group)
Represents Among R1 to R4, R2 and R4 are preferably hydrogen atoms. Also, Hammett's constant σp of R1 to R4
The sum of the values is preferably 0 or more. R5 is an alkyl group (eg, methyl, ethyl, butyl, octyl, lauryl, cetyl, stearyl), an aryl group (eg, phenyl, tolyl, xylyl,
-Methoxyphenyl group, dodecylphenyl group, chlorophenyl group, trichlorophenyl group, nitrochlorophenyl group, triisopropylphenyl group, 4-dodecyloxyphenyl group, 3,5-di- (methoxycarbonyl)
A heterocyclic group (eg, a pyridyl group).

The compound represented by the general formula II is a compound generically called carbamoylhydrazine. Both are compounds known in the art. Those having a ballast group having 8 or more carbon atoms as the substituent of R5 or the ring are preferred.

In the formula, Z represents an atom group forming an aromatic ring. The aromatic ring formed by Z needs to be sufficiently electron-attracting in order to impart silver developing activity to the present compound. For this reason, an aromatic ring which forms a nitrogen-containing aromatic ring or has an electron-withdrawing group introduced into a benzene ring is preferably used. As such an aromatic ring, a pyridine ring, a pyrazine ring, a pyrimidine ring, a quinoline ring, a quinoxaline ring and the like are preferable. In the case of a benzene ring, examples of the substituent include an alkylsulfonyl group (eg, methanesulfonyl group, ethanesulfonyl group), a halogen atom (eg, chloro group, bromo group), and an alkylcarbamoyl group (eg, methylcarbamoyl group, dimethylcarbamoyl group,
Ethylcarbamoyl group, diethylcarbamoyl group, dibutylcarbamoyl group, piperidinecarbamoyl group, morpholinocarbamoyl group), arylcarbamoyl group (for example, phenylcarbamoyl group, methylphenylcarbamoyl group, ethylphenylcarbamoyl group, benzylphenylcarbamoyl group), carbamoyl group, alkyl Sulfamoyl group (for example, methylsulfamoyl group, dimethylsulfamoyl group, ethylsulfamoyl group, diethylsulfamoyl group, dibutylsulfamoyl group, piperidylsulfamoyl group, morpholinylsulfamoyl group), Arylsulfamoyl group (for example, phenylsulfamoyl group, methylphenylsulfamoyl group, ethylphenylsulfamoyl group, benzylphenylsulfamoyl group), Amoyl group, cyano group, alkylsulfonyl group (eg, methanesulfonyl group, ethanesulfonyl group), arylsulfonyl group (eg, phenylsulfonyl group, 4-chlorophenylsulfonyl group, p-toluenesulfonyl group), alkoxycarbonyl group (eg, methoxycarbonyl group) , Ethoxycarbonyl group, butoxycarbonyl group), aryloxycarbonyl group (for example, phenoxycarbonyl group), alkylcarbonyl group (for example, acetyl group, propionyl group, butyroyl group), or arylcarbonyl group (for example, benzoyl group, alkylbenzoyl group) However, the sum of the Hammett constant σ values of the above substituents is preferably 1 or more.

The compound represented by the general formula III is a compound generally called carbamoylhydrazine. The compound represented by the general formula IV is a compound generically called sulfonylhydrazine. Both are compounds known in the art. Preferably, at least one of R5 to R8 has a ballast group having 8 or more carbon atoms.

In the formula, R6 represents an alkyl group (for example, a methyl group or an ethyl group). X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a selenium atom, or an alkyl- or aryl-substituted 3
Represents a tertiary nitrogen atom, preferably an alkyl-substituted tertiary nitrogen atom. R7 and R8 represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent (Z
R7 and R8 may be bonded to each other to form a double bond or a ring. Incidentally, among the compounds of the general formulas I to IV, the compounds of I and II are preferred in the present invention, particularly from the viewpoint of raw preservability.

In the above, each group of R1 to R8 includes those having a possible substituent, and examples of the substituent include those mentioned above as the substituent of the benzene ring of Z.
Hereinafter, specific examples of the compounds represented by the general formulas I to IV are shown, but are not limited thereto.

[0050]

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[0051]

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[0052]

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[0053]

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[0054]

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[0055]

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[0056]

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[0057]

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[0058]

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[0059]

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[0060]

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The above compounds can be synthesized by generally known methods. The simple synthesis routes are listed below.

[0062]

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[0063]

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[0064]

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When a diffusion-resistant developing agent is used,
If necessary, an electron transfer agent and / or an electron transfer agent precursor can be used in combination to promote electron transfer between the diffusion-resistant developing agent and the developable silver halide. Particularly preferably, said US Pat.
No. 9,919 and EP-A-418,743 are used. Also, JP-A-2-230143,
As described in JP-A-2-235,044, a method of stably introducing the compound into the layer is preferably used. The electron transfer agent or its precursor can be selected from the above-mentioned developing agents or its precursors. It is desirable that the mobility of the electron transfer agent or its precursor is higher than that of the diffusion-resistant developing agent (electron donor). Particularly useful electron transfer agents are 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidones or aminophenols. Also, an electron donor precursor described in JP-A-3-160,443 is preferably used. Further, various reducing agents can be used in the intermediate layer and the protective layer for various purposes such as preventing color mixing and improving color reproduction. Specifically, European Patent Publication Nos. 524,649 and 357,
040, JP-A-4-249,245, JP-A-2-46,
No. 450 and JP-A-63-186,240 are preferably used. In addition, Japanese Patent Publication 3-63,733
No., JP-A-1-150,135, JP-A-2-46,450
Nos. 2,64,634, 3-43,735 and EP-A-451,833 are also used.

It is also possible to use a developing agent precursor which does not itself have a reducing property but develops a reducing property by the action of a nucleophilic reagent or heat during the development process. For example, US3,3
No. 42,597, indoaniline compounds, US
No. 3,342,599, Research Disclosure
Schiff base compounds described in Nos. 14,850 and 15,159, aldol compounds described in 13, 924, metal salt complexes described in US Pat. No. 3,719,492, and JP-A-53-135628. Urethane compounds can be mentioned.

In addition, the following reducing agents may be incorporated in the light-sensitive material. Examples of reducing agents include U.S. Pat.
No. 0,626, columns 49-50, 4,839,272
Nos. 4,330,617 and 4,590,152
No. 5,017,454 and 5,139,919
Nos., Pages (17) to (18) of JP-A-60-140,335,
No. 57-40, 245, No. 56-138, 736,
59-178,458, 59-53,831,
59-182,449, 59-182,450
No. 60-119,555, No. 60-128,43
No. 6, No. 60-128, 439, No. 60-198, 5
No. 40, No. 60-181, No. 742, No. 61-259,
No. 253, No. 62-244, 044, No. 62-13
No. 1,253, No. 62-131, No. 256, No. 64-1
No. 3,546, pages (40) to (57);
No. 53, Nos. 78-9 of EP 220,746 A2.
There are reducing agents and reducing agent precursors described on page 6 and the like. Also, combinations of various reducing agents such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,039,869 can be used.

The developing agent or reducing agent may be added to the light-sensitive material by being contained in a developing solution, but is preferably incorporated in the light-sensitive material to prevent development unevenness. When incorporated in a light-sensitive material, the total amount of the developing agent and the reducing agent is from 0.01 to 20 mol, particularly preferably from 0.1 to 10 mol, per mol of silver. A specific supply method of the developing agent, that is, a developing method will be described later.

Conventional photosensitive materials for color image formation include:
Generally, together with a color developing agent, a coupler that reacts with an oxidized form of the color developing agent to generate a dye is included.However, the method of the present invention employs, for example, reading a silver image using infrared light to form a silver image. The present invention can be applied to a light-sensitive material containing a coupler as long as reading is possible. The coupler may be a 4-equivalent coupler or a 2-equivalent coupler. Further, the diffusion-resistant group may form a polymer chain. An example of a coupler is THJames "The Theory of the Photograph
ic Process ", 4th edition, pages 291-334, and 354-
361, JP-A-58-123533 and 58-14
No. 9046, No. 58-149047, No. 59-111
No. 148, No. 59-124399, No. 59-1748
No. 35, No. 59-231439, No. 59-23154
No. 0, No. 60-2950, No. 60-2951, No. 6
Nos. 0-14242, 60-23474 and 60-6
No. 6249, JP-A-8-110608 and 8-146
No. 552, 8-146578 and the like.

For example, US Pat. No. 3,531,256 discloses a p-phenylenediamine-based developing agent and a phenol or active methylene coupler;
No. 0, a combination of a p-aminophenol-based developing agent and an active methylene coupler can be used. U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,240, JP-A-60-128438
The combination of a sulfonamide phenol and a 4-equivalent coupler as described in JP-A No. 5-2350 is excellent in raw preservation when incorporated in a light-sensitive material, and is a preferable combination. Further, sulfonamide phenol-based active compounds described in Japanese Patent Application Nos. 7-180,568 and 7-49287, 7-180,568.
The combination of a hydrazine-based drug described in JP-A-63572 and a coupler is also preferable.

The hydrophobic additives such as a coupler, a developing agent and a diffusion-resistant reducing agent can be introduced into a layer of a light-sensitive material by a known method such as the method described in US Pat. No. 2,322,027. . In this case, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,470, No. 4,536,466, No. 4,53
6,467, 4,587,206, 4,55
5,476, 4,599,296, 3-6
A high-boiling organic solvent as described in JP-A-2,256 or the like can be used in combination with a low-boiling organic solvent having a boiling point of 50 ° C to 160 ° C, if necessary. Two or more of these dye-donating compounds, nondiffusible reducing agents, high-boiling organic solvents and the like can be used in combination. The amount of the high boiling organic solvent is 10 g or less, preferably 5 g, per 1 g of the hydrophobic additive used.
g or less, more preferably 1 g to 0.1 g. Also,
1 cc or less, more preferably 0.5 cc or less, especially 0.3 cc or less, is suitable for 1 g of the binder. Tokiko Sho 51-3
9,853, JP-A-51-59,943, and a dispersion method using a polymer described in JP-A-62-30,242.
And the method of adding as a fine particle dispersion described in No. For compounds that are substantially insoluble in water,
In addition to the above-mentioned method, fine particles can be dispersed and contained in a binder. When dispersing the hydrophobic compound in the hydrophilic colloid, various surfactants can be used. For example, JP-A-59-157,636, Nos. (37) to (3)
On page 8), those mentioned as the surfactants described in Research Disclosure described above can be used. Further, phosphate ester type surfactants described in Japanese Patent Application Nos. 5-204325 and 6-19247 and West German Patent Application No. 1,932,299A can also be used.

A compound for stabilizing an image simultaneously with activation of development can be used in the light-sensitive material. Specific compounds are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,626, columns 51-52.

The above-mentioned silver halide, coupler and developing agent may be contained in the same layer, but may be added in separate layers if they can react. For example, when the layer containing the developing agent and the layer containing silver halide are formed as separate layers, the raw storability of the photosensitive material is improved. In addition, between the silver halide emulsion layer and the uppermost layer, the lowermost layer, a protective layer,
Various non-photosensitive layers such as an undercoat layer, an intermediate layer, a yellow filter layer and an antihalation layer may be provided, and various auxiliary layers such as a back layer can be provided on the side opposite to the support. Specifically, the layer structure as described above, an undercoat layer as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,335, as described in JP-A-1-167,838 and JP-A-61-20,943. Intermediate layer having solid pigment, JP-A-1-12
0,553, 5-34,884, 2-64,6
No. 34, an intermediate layer having a reducing agent or a DIR compound, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,017,454 and 5,139,
919, an intermediate layer having an electron transfer agent as described in JP-A-2-235,044, a protective layer having a reducing agent as described in JP-A-4-249,245, or a layer obtained by combining these. be able to. In the method of the present invention, since a silver image is read from both sides of the photosensitive material by reflected light as described later, providing a colored layer such that absorption remains in the wavelength range of light used at the time of reading is not necessary. It is not preferable because it lowers the S / N ratio. For example, a black antihalation layer using a silver colloid is not preferable because it has absorption in a wide wavelength range without bleaching. A colored layer using an organic dye can be designed so as not to absorb infrared light, and thus has little effect on reading, and is thus preferable.

As the dye which can be used in the yellow filter layer and the antihalation layer, those which are decolored or removed at the time of development and do not contribute to the density after processing are preferable. The fact that the dye in the yellow filter layer and the antihalation layer is erased or removed at the time of development means that the amount of the dye remaining after the processing is 1/3 or less, preferably 1 /
The dye component may be 10 or less, and the components of the dye may be transferred from the photosensitive material to the processing material at the time of development, or may be converted to a colorless compound by reacting at the time of development.

Specifically, European Patent Application EP549,4
No. 89A and the dye described in JP-A-7-152129.
xF2 to 6 dyes. Japanese Patent Application No. 6-25980
As described in No. 5, solid-dispersed dyes can also be used. In addition, a mordant and a binder can be dyed with a dye. In this case, as the mordant and the dye, those known in the field of photography can be used.
No. 0,626, columns 58 to 59 and JP-A-61-8825.
No. 6, pages 32 to 41, JP-A-62-244043, JP-A-62-244036, and the like. In addition, a compound capable of reacting with a reducing agent to release a diffusible dye and a reducing agent may be used to release a movable dye with an alkali at the time of development and to transfer and remove the dye to a processing material. Specifically, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,559,290 and 4,783,396, and EP 220,746A2
And Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 87-6119, and paragraph Nos. 0080 to 0081 of Japanese Patent Application No. 6-259805.
It is described in.

Decolorizable leuco dyes and the like can also be used. Specifically, JP-A-1-150132 discloses a silver halide containing a leuco dye which has been colored in advance with a developer of a metal salt of an organic acid. A light-sensitive material is disclosed. The leuco dye and the developer complex are decolorized by reacting with heat or an alkali agent. Known leuco dyes can be used, and Moriga and Yoshida, "Dyes and Chemicals", page 9, page 84 (Chemical Products Association), "New Edition Dye Handbook", page 242 (Maruzen, 1970),
R. Garner "Reports on the Progress of Appl. Chem"
56, p. 199 (1971), "Dyes and chemicals" 19, 2
30 (Chemical Products Association, 1974), "Coloring Materials" 62,
288 (1989), "Dyeing Industry", 32, 208 and the like. As the developer, a metal salt of an organic acid is preferably used in addition to the acid clay-based developer and phenol formaldehyde resin. As metal salts of organic acids, metal salts of salicylic acids, metal salts of phenol-salicylic acid-formaldehyde resin, rhodan salts, metal salts of xanthogenates, and the like are useful, and zinc is particularly preferable as the metal. Among the above developers, oil-soluble zinc salicylate is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
46, 941 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-1327 can be used.

The coating layer of the light-sensitive material is preferably hardened with a hardener. U.S. Pat.
678,739, column 41, 4,791,042,
JP-A-59-116,655 and JP-A-62-245,26.
No. 1, No. 61-18,942, JP-A-4-218,0
No. 44 and the like. More specifically, aldehyde hardeners (such as formaldehyde), aziridine hardeners, epoxy hardeners, vinyl sulfone hardeners (N, N'-ethylene-bis (vinylsulfonylacetamide)) Ethane, etc.), N-methylol-based hardeners (such as dimethylol urea), boric acid, metaboric acid, and polymer hardeners (compounds described in JP-A-62-234157). These hardeners are used in an amount of 0.001 to 1 g, preferably 0.005 to 0.5 g, per 1 g of the hydrophilic binder.

In the light-sensitive material, various antifoggants or photographic stabilizers and precursors thereof can be used. Specific examples thereof include the aforementioned Research Disclosure, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,089,378, 4,500,627 and 4,614,702, and JP-A-64-13564 (7). Pages (9), (57)-(71) and (81)-(97), U.S. Patent No. 4,775,610,
Nos. 4,626,500 and 4,983,494, JP-A-62-174,747 and JP-A-62-239,148.
No., JP-A-1-150,135 and 2-110,55
No. 7, 178, 650, RD 17, 643 (1978), pages (24) to (25) and the like. These compounds are used in an amount of 5 × 10 ^-6 to 1 / mol silver.
× 10 ^-1 mol is preferable, and 1 × 10 ^-5 to 1 × 10
^-2 mol is preferably used.

In the light-sensitive material, various surfactants can be used for the purpose of coating aid, improvement of peeling property, improvement of sliding property, prevention of electrification, acceleration of development and the like. Specific examples of the surfactant are known in the art No. 5 (March 22, 1991, Aztec Co., Ltd.), pages 136 to 138, JP-A-62-17.
3,463 and 62-183,457. The photosensitive material may contain an organic fluoro compound for the purpose of preventing slippage, preventing static charge, improving peelability, and the like. Representative examples of organic fluoro compounds include JP-B-57
No. 9053, columns 8 to 17, JP-A-61-20944.
And fluorine-containing surfactants described in JP-A-62-135826, or hydrophobic fluorine compounds such as oily fluorine compounds such as fluorine oil or solid fluorine compound resins such as tetrafluoroethylene resin. Can be

It is preferable that the light-sensitive material has a slip property.
The slip agent-containing layer is preferably provided on both the photosensitive layer surface and the back surface. A preferable slip property is a dynamic friction coefficient of 0.25 or less and 0.01 or more. The measurement at this time represents the value when the stainless steel ball having a diameter of 5 mm was conveyed at 60 cm / min (25 ° C, 60% RH). In this evaluation, even when the surface of the photosensitive layer is replaced as the partner material, the values are almost the same level. Usable slip agents include polyorganosiloxanes, higher fatty acid amides, higher fatty acid metal salts, esters of higher fatty acids and higher alcohols, and polyorganosiloxanes include polydimethylsiloxane, polydiethylsiloxane, polystyrylmethylsiloxane. And polymethylphenylsiloxane.
The additional layer is preferably the outermost layer of the emulsion layer or the back layer.
Particularly, polydimethylsiloxane or an ester having a long-chain alkyl group is preferable.

Further, an antistatic agent is preferably used in the photosensitive material. Examples of the antistatic agent include a polymer containing a carboxylic acid, a carboxylate and a sulfonate, a cationic polymer, and an ionic surfactant compound.
Most preferred as the antistatic agent, ZnO, TiO _2, Sn
The volume resistivity of at least one selected from O ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ , In ₂ O ₃ , SiO ₂ , MgO, BaO, MoO ₃ and V ₂ O ₅ is 10 ⁷ Ω ·
cm, more preferably 10 ⁵ Ω · cm or less, a crystalline metal oxide having a particle size of 0.001 to 1.0 μm or a composite oxide thereof (Sb, P, B, In, S, Si, C, etc.) )
And further, sol-shaped metal oxides or fine particles of these composite oxides. Preferably 5 to 500 mg / m ² as a content of the photosensitive material, and particularly preferably 10 to
350 mg / m ² . The ratio of the amount of the conductive crystalline oxide or its composite oxide to the binder is from 1/300 to 100 /.
1 is preferable, and 1/100 to 100/5 is more preferable.
It is.

The constitution (including the back layer) of the light-sensitive material or the processing material described below is used for the purpose of improving film properties such as dimensional stabilization, curl prevention, adhesion prevention, crack prevention of the film and pressure sensitivity. Various polymer latexes can be included. Specifically, JP-A-62-245258
And the polymer latexes described in JP-A Nos. 62-136648 and 62-110066 can be used.
In particular, when a polymer latex having a low glass transition point (40 ° C. or lower) is used for the mordant layer, cracking of the mordant layer can be prevented, and when a polymer latex having a high glass transition point is used for the back layer, the curl prevention effect is reduced. can get.

The photosensitive material preferably contains a matting agent. The layer to which the matting agent is added may be on either the emulsion side or the back side, but is particularly preferably added to the outermost layer on the emulsion side. The matting agent may be soluble in the processing solution or insoluble in the processing solution, and preferably both are used in combination. For example, polymethyl methacrylate, poly (methyl methacrylate / methacrylic acid = 9/1 or 5/5
(Molar ratio)) and polystyrene particles. The particle size is preferably 0.8 to 10 μm, and the particle size distribution is preferably narrow, and 90% or more of the total number of particles is contained between 0.9 and 1.1 times the average particle size. preferable.
It is also preferable to simultaneously add fine particles having a size of 0.8 μm or less in order to enhance the matting property. 3μ
m)), polystyrene particles (0.25 μm), and colloidal silica (0.03 μm). In particular,
It is described on page 29 of JP-A-61-88256.
Others such as benzoguanamine resin beads, polycarbonate resin beads, AS resin beads, etc.
Nos. 4944 and 63-274952. Other compounds described in Research Disclosure can be used.

As the support for the photosensitive material, a support which is transparent and can withstand the processing temperature is used. In general, papers and synthetic polymers (films) described on pages 223 to 240 of the Photographic Society of Japan, "Basics of Photographic Engineering-Silver salt photography-", published by Corona Co., Ltd. (1979) And photographic supports. Specifically, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyimide, celluloses (for example, triacetyl cellulose)
And the like. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-253,15
No. 9, pages 29-31, JP-A-1-161,236 (14)-
(17), JP-A-63-316,848, JP-A-2-2
No. 2,651, No. 3-56,955, U.S. Pat.
The support described in 001,033 or the like can be used.

Particularly when the requirements for heat resistance and curl characteristics are strict, JP-A-6-41281 discloses a support for a photosensitive material.
6-43581, 6-51426, 6-51
No. 437, No. 6-51442, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-25184
No. 5, 4-231825, 4-253545,
4-258828, 4-240122, 4-
No. 221538, No. 5-21625, No. 5-1592
6, No. 4-331919, No. 5-199704,
The supports described in JP-A-6-13455 and JP-A-6-14666 can be preferably used. Further, a support which is mainly a styrene polymer having a syndiotactic structure can also be preferably used.

Further, it is preferable to carry out a surface treatment for bonding the support and the light-sensitive material constituting layer. The surface treatment includes chemical treatment, mechanical treatment, corona discharge treatment, flame treatment, ultraviolet treatment, high frequency treatment, glow discharge treatment, active plasma treatment, laser treatment, mixed acid treatment, ozone oxidation treatment, etc. No. Among the surface treatments, ultraviolet irradiation treatment, flame treatment, corona treatment, and glow treatment are preferable. The undercoat layer may be a single layer or two or more layers. As the binder for the undercoat layer, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, butadiene, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, itaconic acid, including copolymers starting from monomers selected from maleic anhydride, as a starting material, Examples include polyethyleneimine, epoxy resin, grafted gelatin, nitrocellulose, and gelatin. Compounds that swell the support include resorcinol and p-chlorophenol. Chromium salt (chrome alum, etc.),
Aldehydes (formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, etc.), isocyanates, active halogen compounds (2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-s-triazine, etc.), epichlorohydrin resin, active vinyl sulfone compounds, etc. are contained as gelatin hardeners. Can be. In the undercoat layer, SiO ₂ , TiO ₂ , inorganic fine particles or polymethyl methacrylate copolymer fine particles (0.01
To 10 μm) as a matting agent.

As a support, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
No. 124645, No. 5-40321, No. 6-3509
No. 2, Japanese Patent Application Nos. 5-58221 and 5-106979, it is preferable to record photographic information and the like using a support having a magnetic recording layer.

The polyester support preferably used for the light-sensitive material having the above-mentioned magnetic recording layer will be further described. (Invention Association; 1994. 3.15).

Next, a film cartridge in which a photosensitive material can be loaded will be described. The main material of the patrone used in the present invention may be metal or synthetic plastic. Preferred plastic materials are polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyphenyl ether and the like. Further, patrone may contain various antistatic agents, such as carbon black, metal oxide particles, nonions,
Anions, cations, and betaine-based surfactants or polymers can be preferably used. These antistatic patrones are described in JP-A Nos. 1-312537 and 1-312538. The above photosensitive material can also be preferably used for a film unit with a lens described in JP-B-2-32615 and JP-B-3-39784.

The above-mentioned photosensitive material can be processed into the form of a photographic film by cutting and perforating it in the same manner as in the case of a conventional photographic film. Alternatively, photographic exposure can be performed using a film unit with a lens described in JP-B-2-32615 and JP-B-3-39784. At this time, the photographic film may be housed in a film patrone (or cartridge) and loaded into a camera or a film unit with a lens, or in the case of a film unit with a lens, directly as described in Dutch Patent No. 6708489. It may be stored. The above-mentioned photosensitive material can be exposed by, for example, a scanning exposure method using a laser beam or the like, in addition to a method using photographing.

After the photosensitive material has been exposed imagewise, 50
Processed to produce a silver image at temperatures above ℃. If the processing temperature is lower than 50 ° C., a silver image suitable for reading cannot be obtained. The processing temperature is more preferably 60 ° C. or higher, and the upper limit of the processing temperature is preferably 100 ° C. or lower, and 95 ° C.
The following is more preferred.

In the processing method, a photosensitive material and a processing material containing a base and / or a base precursor are combined with one another of water required for maximum swelling of the entire coating film (excluding the back layer) constituting the photosensitive material and the processing material. Heat development in which water is applied between the photosensitive material and the processing material in a state where water equivalent to / 10 to 1 times is present, and development is performed by heating; activator processing in which the photosensitive material is processed using an alkaline processing solution; And liquid development in which development is performed with a processing solution containing a developing agent / base. In the method of the present invention, from the viewpoint that the processing can be performed stably, the processing is preferably performed by thermal development.

Heat treatment of photosensitive materials is well known in the art.
For example, the basics of photo engineering (Corona, 1970)
553-555, April 1978, video information 4
Page 0, Nabletts Handbook of Photography and Reprogra
phy 7th Ed. (Vna Nostrand and Reinhold Company)
Nos. 3,152,904, 3,301,678, 3,392,020, 3,457,075, British Patent 1,131,10
8, No. 1,167,777, and Research Disclosure Magazine, June 1978, pp. 9-15 (RD-
17029).

Activator processing refers to a processing method in which a color developing agent is incorporated in a photosensitive material, and development is performed using a processing solution containing no color developing agent. The processing solution in this case is characterized in that it does not contain a color developing agent contained in a normal developing solution component, and may contain other components (for example, an alkali, an auxiliary developing agent, etc.). Regarding the activator treatment, EP 545,
No. 491A1, No. 565, 165A1, and the like. Further, a method of developing with a processing solution containing a developing agent / base is described in RD. No. 17643, 28-2
9, No. 18716, 651 left column to right column, and
No. 307105, pages 880 to 881.

Next, the processing by thermal development will be described in detail.

In processing by thermal development, a processing material is used to supply a base. The treatment material has a treatment layer containing a base or a base precursor. As the base, an inorganic or organic base can be used. Examples of the inorganic base include hydroxides of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals described in JP-A-62-209448 (eg, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, etc.),
Phosphates (eg, secondary or tertiary phosphates such as dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, ammonium sodium phosphate, calcium hydrogen phosphate, etc.);
Carbonates (eg, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, etc.), borates (eg, potassium borate, sodium borate, sodium metaborate, etc.), and organic acid salts (eg, potassium acetate, sodium acetate, oxalate) Potassium citrate, sodium oxalate, potassium tartrate, sodium tartrate, sodium malate,
Sodium palmitate, sodium stearate, etc.) and acetylides of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals described in JP-A-63-25208.

Examples of the organic base include ammonia, aliphatic or aromatic amines (for example, primary amines (for example, methylamine, ethylamine, butylamine, n-hexylamine, cyclohexylamine, 2-ethylhexylamine, allylamine, ethylenediamine, 1,4
-Diaminobutane, hexamethylenediamine, aniline, anisidine, p-toluidine, α-naphthylamine, m-phenylenediamine, 1,8-diaminonaphthalene, benzylamine, phenethylamine, ethanolamine, thallium, etc., and secondary amine (for example, dimethyl) Amine, diethylamine, dibutylamine, diallylamine, N-methylaniline, N-methylbenzylamine,
N-methylethanolamine, diethanolamine, etc., tertiary amines (for example, N-methylmorpholine, N-hydroxyethylmorpholine, N-methylpiperidine, N-hydroxyethylpiperidine, N, N described in JP-A-62-170954) '-Dimethylpiperazine, N,
N'-dihydroxyethylpiperazine, diazabicyclo [2,2,2] octane, N, N-dimethylethanolamine, N, N-dimethylpropanolamine, N-methyldiethanolamine, N-methyldipropanolamine, triethanolamine, N , N, N ', N'-tetramethylethylenediamine, N, N, N', N'-tetrahydroxyethylethylenediamine, N, N,
N ', N'-tetramethyltrimethylenediamine, N-
Methylpyrrolidine, etc.), polyamines (diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, polyethyleneimine,
Polyallylamine, polyvinylbenzylamine, poly-
(N, N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate), poly- (N, N-dimethylvinylbenzylamine, etc.), hydroxylamines (for example, hydroxylamine, N-
Hydroxy-N-methylaniline, etc., heterocyclic amines (for example, pyridine, lutidine, imidazole, aminopyridine, N, N-dimethylaminopyridine, indole, quinoline, isoquinoline, poly-4-vinylpyridine, poly-2-vinyl) Pyridine, etc.), amidines (eg, monoamidine, (eg, acetamidine, imidazotan, 2-methylimidazole, 1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine, 2-methyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine, 2- Phenyl-1,4,5,6-
Tetrahydropyrimidine, iminopiperidine, diazabicyclononene, diazabicycloundecene (DBU)
Etc.), bis or tris or tetraamidine, guanidines (for example, water-soluble monoguanidine (for example, guanidine, dimethylguanidine, tetramethylguanidine, 2-aminoimidazoline, 2-amino-1,4,5)
-Tetrahydropyrimidine, etc.), JP-A-63-70,8
No. 45 water-insoluble mono- or bisguanidine,
Bis, tris, tetraguanidine, quaternary ammonium hydroxides (eg, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, tetraethylammonium hydroxide, tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, trimethylbenzylammonium hydroxide, trioctylmethylammonium hydroxide, methylpyridinium hydroxide, etc. )
And the like.

As the base precursor, decarboxylation type, decomposition type, reaction type and complex salt forming type can be used. European Patent Publication No. 210,660, US Patent No. 4,7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 40,445, a basic metal compound which is hardly soluble in water as a base precursor and a compound capable of forming a complex with metal ions constituting the basic metal compound using water as a medium (complex forming compound) ) Is effective.
In this case, the basic metal compound that is hardly soluble in water is added to the photosensitive material,
Preferably, the complex forming compound is added to the processing material, but vice versa.

As the binder of the processing layer, the same hydrophilic polymer as that of the photosensitive material can be used. The processing material is preferably hardened with a hardener similarly to the light-sensitive material.
The same hardening agent as that used in the photosensitive material can be used.
The processing material may contain a mordant for the purpose of transferring and removing the dye used in the yellow filter layer and antihalation layer of the light-sensitive material. As the mordant, a polymer mordant is preferable. Examples thereof include polymers having secondary and tertiary amino groups, polymers having a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic moiety, and polymers having these quaternary cation groups and having a molecular weight of 5,000 to 20,000, particularly 10,000 to 500.
00. For example, US Pat. No. 2,548,564,
No. 2484430, No. 3148061, No. 6756
No. 814 and the like, vinylpyridine polymers and vinylpyridinium cationic polymers; US Pat. Nos. 3,625,694, 3,585,096, and 412.
No. 8538, British Patent No. 1277453, and the like, polymer mordants crosslinkable with gelatin and the like; US Pat. Nos. 3,598,995, 2,721,852, and 27.
98063, JP-A-54-115228 and JP-A-54-115228
Aqueous sol-type mordants disclosed in 145529, 54-126027 and the like; US Patent 389808
No. 8; water-insoluble mordant disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,976 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-137333); , Id.
No. 55, No. 3644282, No. 3488706, No. 355706, No. 3271147, No. 32711
No. 48, JP-A-50-71332 and JP-A-53-3032.
No. 8, No. 52-155528, No. 53-125, and No. 53-1024. Other US Patent Nos. 2,675,316 and 2,
Mordants described in JP-A-882156 can also be mentioned.

The processing material may contain a development stopper, and the development stopper may act simultaneously with the development. The term "development terminator" as used herein means that after appropriate development, the base is quickly neutralized or reacts with the base to reduce the base concentration in the film, and interact with a compound that stops development or silver and silver salts to suppress development. Compound. Specific examples include an acid precursor that releases an acid when heated, an electrophilic compound that causes a substitution reaction with a coexisting base when heated, or a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound, a mercapto compound, and a precursor thereof. Further details are described in JP-A-62-253159, pages (31) to (32). Further, a combination in which a zinc salt of mercaptocarboxylic acid described in Japanese Patent Application No. 6-190529 or the like is contained in a photosensitive material and the above-mentioned complex forming compound is contained in a processing material is advantageous. Similarly, a silver halide printout inhibitor may be included in the processing material, and the function may be developed simultaneously with the development. Examples of the printout inhibitor include a monohalogen compound described in JP-B-54-164, a trihalogen compound described in JP-A-53-46020, and a halogen described in JP-A-48-45228 bonded to an aliphatic carbon atom. Compound, Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-845
Polyhalogen compounds represented by tetrabromoxylene described in No. 4 are exemplified. Also, UK Patent No. 1,00
Development inhibitors such as 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole described in US Pat. No. 5,144 are also effective.
Also, a viologen compound described in Japanese Patent Application No. 6-337531 is effective. The use amount of the printout inhibitor is preferably 10 ^-4 to 1 mol / Ag1 mol, particularly preferably 10 ^-3 to 10 ^-1 mol / Ag1 mol.

In heat development using the processing material, it is preferable to use a small amount of water for the purpose of promoting development, promoting the transfer of the processing material, and promoting the diffusion of unnecessary substances. Specifically, water equivalent to 0.1 to 1 times the amount required to swell the entire coating film except the back layer of both the photosensitive material and the processing material is given to the photosensitive material or the processing material. And the processing material are overlapped so that the photosensitive layer and the processing layer face each other, and heated at a predetermined temperature described later for a predetermined time. Here, any water may be used as long as it is commonly used water. Specifically, distilled water, tap water, well water, mineral water and the like can be used.

The state of the film at the time of swelling is unstable, and the photosensitive material and / or the processing material are adhered in a state of being swollen with water, and when heated, the amount of water is limited to the above range. Local color unevenness can be effectively prevented. The amount of water required for maximum swelling is to immerse the photosensitive material or processing material with the coating film to be measured in the water used,
When the film swells sufficiently, the film thickness is measured, the maximum swelling amount is calculated, and then the weight can be obtained by reducing the weight of the coating film.
An example of a method for measuring the degree of swelling is described in Photographic Science Engineering, Vol. 16, page 449 (19).
72).

As a method of applying water, there is a method of immersing a photosensitive material or a processing material in water and removing excess water with a squeeze roller. However, it is preferable to apply a predetermined amount of water to the photosensitive material or the processing material in a completely coated manner. In addition, a plurality of nozzle holes for injecting water are arranged at regular intervals in a straight line along a direction intersecting with the direction of conveyance of the photosensitive material or the processing material, and the nozzle and the nozzle are arranged on the conveyance path. In particular, a method in which water is sprayed by a water application device having an actuator that displaces water toward the surface is particularly preferable. The temperature of the applied water is preferably 30C to 60C. Examples of a method of superposing a photosensitive material and a processing material are described in JP-A-62-253,159 and
-147,244.

As described above, the lower limit of the processing temperature in the heat development is 50 ° C. or higher, preferably 60 ° C. or higher. The upper limit is preferably 250 ° C. or lower, more preferably 150 ° C. or lower. The processing time is preferably 3 seconds to 90 seconds, and 5 seconds to
60 seconds is more preferred. Heating methods include contacting a heated block or plate, contacting a hot plate, hot presser, heat roller, heat drum, halogen lamp heater, infrared and far-infrared lamp heater, or in a high-temperature atmosphere. There is a method of passing. A method of superposing a photosensitive material and a processing material in such a manner that the photosensitive layer and the processing layer face each other is disclosed in JP-A-62-253,159, and
The method described on page 1-147, 244 (27) can be applied.

In the heat development processing, any of various heat development apparatuses can be used. For example, JP-A-59-75,2
No. 47, No. 59-177, 547, No. 59-181,
No. 353, No. 60-18, 951, Shokai 62-2
5,944, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-277,517, 4-2
43,072, 4-244,693, 6-16
Nos. 4,421, 6-164,422 and the like are preferably used. As a commercially available device, there is a Pictrostat 10 manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
0, Pictrostat 200, Pictrostat 3
00, Pictrostat 330, Pictrostat 50, Pictography 3000, Pictography 2000, etc. can be used.

The photosensitive material and / or the processing material may have a form having a conductive heating element layer as a heating means for heating and developing. The elements described in JP-A-61-145544 can be used as the heat-generating elements.

In the method of the present invention, in order to read the silver image generated by the above-mentioned processing, it is necessary to remove the undeveloped silver halide and the developed silver without removing the fixing step, the bleaching step and the washing step. It is possible to read image information without the need.

Next, an example of an image processing system for reading a silver image, creating digital image data, and forming a color image, which is applicable to the method of the present invention, will be described. In this example, the color photographic film is black-and-white developed so as to generate a silver image containing no dye information. In the case of black and white development, light sources of various wavelengths of red light (R light), green light (G light), and blue light (B light) can be used. In this example, infrared light (IR light) is used. Light) to read the silver image. When reading an image in a state in which development is not stopped or in a state of development,
The use of R, G, B light causes a problem that the silver halide is exposed to the reading light, but the use of IR light can avoid the problem.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the image processing system 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system 10 includes a magnetic information reading unit 12, a reference exposure unit 14,
Developing unit 16, buffer unit 18, film scanner 20,
It comprises an image processing device 22, a printer unit 24, and a processor unit 26.

The image processing system 10 reads a film image (silver image) recorded on a color photographic film such as a negative film or a reversal film (positive film), performs image processing, and converts the image after the image processing into photographic paper. For example, 135-size photographic film, 110-size photographic film, and photographic film on which a transparent magnetic layer is formed (240-size photographic film: so-called APS film), 120-size and 2-size photographic films
A film image of a photographic film having a size of 20 (Broni size) can be processed. Photographic film 2
8 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 with the emulsion side (B photosensitive layer side) facing up. In the image processing system, an image may be formed on heat-sensitive paper by heat, or an image may be formed on a recording medium such as plain paper by xerography or ink jet.

When the photographic film 28 to be processed is an APS film as shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic information reading section 12 reads the magnetic information recorded on the magnetic layer 30 formed below the image frame of the APS film 28A. Used when reading. The magnetic information includes film sensitivity information and information on the film type such as a DX code.

At the leading end and the trailing end of the APS film 28A, unexposed areas which can be freely used by the user are provided as shown in FIG. Can be used as When the photographic film 28 is a 135-size photographic film, the photographic film 28 is located at the leading or trailing end of the film.
Can be used as the reference exposure area 32.

The reference exposure section 14 performs reference exposure on the reference exposure area 32 in order to form image information used when determining image processing conditions. The image processing conditions may be determined by reading the image information of the reference exposure area after reading all the image frames by storing the data obtained by reading the image frames. However, the image processing conditions may be determined before reading the image frames. Since the image processing can be performed while reading the image frames, the reference exposure area 32 on the leading end side of the photographic film 28 can be subjected to the reference exposure so that the image processing conditions can be determined before reading the image frames. preferable.

The reference exposure section 14 includes an exposure section 34 and an LED driver 36 as shown in FIG. The exposure unit 34 is an LE in which a plurality of LEDs 38 are arranged.
A diffusion plate 42 is provided on the LED side of the D substrate 40, and a wedge 44 for generating a light intensity distribution along the film transport direction is provided on the light diffusion side of the diffusion plate.

The LED substrate 40 is divided into four regions as shown in FIG. 5. In the uppermost region in FIG. 5, LEDs 46R that emit red light (R light) are arranged. LED emitting green light (G light)
46G are arranged, and a blue light (B
LEDs 46B that emit light are arranged, and LEDs 46R, 46G, and 46B are alternately arranged in the lowermost region. It should be noted that the light amount balance of R, G, and B in the gray exposure section is set to be close to the standard daylight color temperature such as D65 by using the LEDs 46R, 46G, and 4D.
It is preferable to determine the number of 6B.

The LED board 40 is connected to the LED driver 36, and each LED 38 on the LED board 40
Light is emitted uniformly when a predetermined current is supplied from the ED driver 36. Further, the LED driver 36 can appropriately control the current supplied to each LED according to the film type by obtaining film sensitivity information from the magnetic information reading unit 12, for example.

The light emitted from each LED is diffused by the diffusion plate 42 and applied to the photographic film 28 via the wedge 44. The wedge 44 changes the amount of exposure to the photographic film 28. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the wedge 44 continuously exposes the photographic film 28 from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction (the direction of arrow A) of the photographic film 28. Increase the volume. Note that the exposure amount may be increased stepwise. The upstream side of the wedge 44 in the transport direction of the photographic film 28 can be linearly exposed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction as shown by a line 48 in FIG. In addition, without using the wedge 44, each LE
The exposure amount may be changed by gradually increasing the current supplied to D along the film transport direction.

The reference exposure area 32 of the photographic film 28 formed by the reference exposure unit 14 having the above-described configuration is used to mix the R, G, and B lights, and the R, G, and B lights as shown in FIG. Light, ie, gray light, is used for reference exposure. In addition, linear exposure is performed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the photographic film 28. By detecting this line 48 as a trigger line, it can be detected that the reference exposure area 32 has been subjected to the reference exposure.

Note that the reference exposure section 14 may be configured using a light source such as a halogen lamp instead of the LED as shown in FIG. 7, for example. The reference exposure unit 14 shown in FIG. 7 includes a halogen lamp 50, and a shutter 52 is arranged on the light irradiation side of the halogen lamp 50. On the light emission side of the shutter 52, a diffusion box 56 in which diffusion plates 54 are attached vertically, a color separation filter 58 for separating light into R light, G light, and B light, and the wedge 44 described above are arranged in this order. Have been.

The color separation filter 58 includes a filter that transmits only the R light of the incident light, a filter that transmits only the G light of the incident light, and a filter that transmits only the B light of the incident light. It is arranged at a site corresponding to the 5 LED array sites. The LEDs 46R, 46
It is preferable to dispose a color temperature conversion filter such as D65, which is close to a standard daylight color temperature, in a portion where G and 46B are alternately arranged. Thus, the same reference exposure as in FIG. 6 can be performed. Further, in order to reduce the cost, the correction may be performed based on the relationship between the color temperature of the halogen lamp and the color temperature of D65 without disposing a filter.

In the developing section 16, black-and-white development is performed by applying a developer for black-and-white development to the photographic film. As shown in FIG. 8, the developing unit 16 includes an ejection tank 62 for ejecting a developer to the photographic film 28.

At the lower left of the injection tank 62, a developer bottle 64 for storing a developer to be supplied to the injection tank 62 is disposed. A filter 66 is provided. A liquid feed pipe 70 in which a pump 68 is arranged on the way connects the developer bottle 64 and the filter 66. Further, on the right side of the injection tank 62, a sub tank 7 for storing the developer sent from the developer bottle 64 is provided.
2 from the filter 66 to the liquid feed pipe 74
Extends to the sub tank 72. Therefore, the pump 6
When the nozzle 8 is operated, the developer is sent from the developer bottle 64 to the filter 66 side, and the developer that has passed through the filter 66 and is filtered is sent to the sub tank 72 so that the developer is temporarily stored in the sub tank 72. become.

Further, a liquid feed pipe 76 connecting between the sub tank 72 and the injection tank 62 is disposed therebetween, and the filter 66, the sub tank 72, and the liquid feed pipe 76 are provided.
The developing solution sent from the developing solution bottle 64 by the pump 68 via the above-mentioned means fills the injection tank 62. A developer bottle 64 is provided below the injection tank 62.
A tray 80 connected by a circulation pipe 78 is disposed in the tray 80 so that the developer overflowing from the injection tank 62 is
Are collected and returned to the developer bottle 64 via the circulation pipe 78. The circulation pipe 78 is connected to the sub-tank 72 in a state of protruding and extending into the sub-tank 72, and is configured to return unneeded developer accumulated in the sub-tank 72 to the developer bottle 64. .

Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a part of the wall surface of the
A nozzle plate 82 formed by bending an elastically deformable rectangular thin plate is provided at a portion facing the transport path E of No. 8. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the nozzle plate 82 has a plurality of nozzle holes at regular intervals along a direction intersecting the transport direction A of the photographic film 28, which is the longitudinal direction of the nozzle plate 82. 84 (for example, several tens μm in diameter)
Are formed over the entire width of the photographic film 28, thereby forming a nozzle row extending linearly. The plurality of nozzle rows are arranged on the nozzle plate 82 in a zigzag pattern.

That is, a plurality of nozzle rows formed by a plurality of nozzle holes 84 arranged linearly are provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the injection tank 62, respectively.
The developing solution filled in the injection tank 62 from the nozzle holes 84 constituting these nozzle rows is used for the photographic film 28.
It can be discharged so as to be injected to the side. By jetting the developing solution from the jet tank 62, the photographic film 28 conveyed at a substantially constant speed is developed in black and white.

In this embodiment, the developing unit 16 is configured to spray and apply a developing solution. However, the developing unit 16 may be configured by using a heat developing device described below. In this case, the photosensitive material constituting the photographic film 28 contains a developing agent. As shown in FIG. 20, a water application device 290 is installed on the downstream side in the transport direction in the developing section for performing thermal development, and the drum 291 and the transport roller 30 are further installed on the downstream side. In this device, the photographic film 28 is guided between the lower surface of the drum 291 and the upper surface of the transport roller 30 after passing through the water application device 290, and is supplied to the supply reel 28.
And is transported along the outer peripheral surface of the drum 291 while being sandwiched between the processing member K containing a base or a base precursor and the outer peripheral surface of the drum 291. A heating unit 292 is installed near the outer peripheral surface on the left side of the drum 291, and the photographic film 28 and the processing member K in an overlapping state are heated for a predetermined time.
After a lapse of a predetermined time, the processing member K is separated from the photographic film 28 at the upper end of the drum 291, and the photographic film 28 from which the processing member K has been separated is transported to the film carrier 86 through the buffer unit 18 by the plurality of transport rollers 36. Is done.

The buffer 18 absorbs a difference between the speed at which the photographic film 28 is transported at a substantially constant speed in the developing unit 16 and the speed at which the photographic film 28 is transported by the film carrier 86 described later. The developing unit 1
When the transport speed at 6 and the transport speed at the film carrier 86 are the same, the buffer unit can be omitted.

The film scanner 12 reads an image recorded on the photographic film 28 developed by the developing unit 16 and outputs image data obtained by the reading, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 11. like,
A film carrier 86 is provided.

The upper side of the film carrier 86 is shown in FIG.
A lighting unit 90 configured to arrange the LEDs 88 in a ring shape as shown in FIG.
A is arranged. The light emitted from the illumination unit 90A is light (IR light) having a wavelength in the infrared region (center wavelength is about 950 nm) as shown in FIG. The lighting unit 90A is driven by an LED driver 92.

On the upper side of the illumination unit 90A, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 15, an imaging lens 94A for imaging light reflected from the B layer of the photographic film 28, and reflected from the B layer of the photographic film 28. Area CCD to detect light
96A are arranged in order along the optical axis L. The area CCD 96A includes a number of CCs each having sensitivity in the infrared region.
This is a monochrome CCD in which D cells (photoelectric conversion cells) are arranged in a matrix, and are arranged so that the light receiving surface substantially coincides with the imaging point position of the imaging lens 94A. The area CCD 96A is disposed on the pixel shift unit 98A. Further, a black shutter 100A is provided between the area CCD 96A and the imaging lens 94A.

The area CCD 96A is a CCD driver 10
It is connected to the scanner control unit 104 via 2A.
The scanner control unit 104 includes a CPU, a ROM (for example, a ROM whose storage content is rewritable), a RAM, and an input / output port, and these are connected to each other via a bus or the like. The scanner control unit 104 controls the operation of each unit of the film scanner 20. Also, CCD driver 1
02A generates a drive signal for driving the area CCD 96A, and controls the drive of the area CCD 96A.

On the lower side of the film carrier 86, an illumination unit 90B, an imaging lens 94B, an area CCD 96B arranged on a pixel shift unit 98B, and a CCD driver 102B are arranged in this order. These are the illumination unit 90A, the imaging lens 94A, and the area CC described above.
D96A and the CCD driver 102A have the same configuration, but the area CCD 96B is a part of the IR light applied to the photographic film 28 by the illumination unit 90B and reflected by the R layer of the photographic film 28 as shown in FIG. And the photographic film 28 by the lighting unit 90A.
Of the light applied to the photographic film 28 are detected.

A light correction ND filter 106 is arranged between the illumination unit 90B and the film carrier 86. The ND filter 106 for bright correction is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), a plurality (5 in this embodiment) provided on a turret 108 rotatable in the direction of arrow B.
ND filters 112A to 112D having different transmittances from each other are fitted except for one of the openings 110.

The photographic film 2 is used for the film carrier 86.
The photographic film 28 is positioned such that the center of the screen of the image recorded in the image 8 is positioned at a position (reading position) that coincides with the optical axis L.
Is transported.

The film carrier 86 includes a DX code reading sensor 114, a frame detection sensor 116, reflection reference plates 118A and 118B for bright correction, and the like. D
The X code reading sensor 114 reads a DX code 120 optically recorded on a 135-size photographic film 28 as shown in FIG. Frame detection sensor 116
Performs the detection of the image frame position of the photographic film 28. As a result, the center of the screen of the image is positioned at a position corresponding to the optical axis L.

The light correction reflectors 118A and 118B are arranged at positions facing each other with the photographic film 28 interposed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 14B, the turret is rotatable along the arrow C direction. One of the openings 1 (five in this embodiment) provided on the
With the exception of 24, the reflection plates 126A to 126A
126D are respectively fitted.

The photographic film 28 is a film carrier 86
And the image is positioned at a position (reading position) where the center of the screen of the image coincides with the optical axis L. Further, the scanner control unit 104 keeps the aperture 124 of the light correction reflectors 118A and 118B in a state where the image is positioned at the reading position.
The turrets 122 and 108 are rotated so that the opening 110 of the ND filter 106 for bright correction is positioned on the optical axis L, and the area C corresponding to a predetermined reading condition is
The charge accumulation times t1 and t2 of the CDs 96A and 96B are determined by the CCD.
These are set in the drivers 102A and 102B, respectively.

As a result, when the illumination unit 90A is turned on by the scanner control section 104 as shown in FIG. 17E, the B layer side of the photographic film 28 is irradiated with IR light. The reflected light is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 17A, the electric charge is detected by the area CCD 96A (specifically, the photoelectrically converted charge is accumulated), and FIG.
As shown in (B), the signal representing the amount of reflected light is the area C
Output from CD96A.

At the same time, the light transmitted through the photographic film 28 is transmitted to the area CCD 96 as shown in FIG.
B, and is output from the area CCD 96B as a signal representing the amount of transmitted light as shown in FIG.

When the detection of the transmitted light and the reflected light of the B layer is completed, the illumination unit 90B is turned on by the scanner control unit 104 as shown in FIG.
Is irradiated on the base layer side, and the light reflected from the R layer of the photographic film 28 is detected by the area CCD 96B as shown in FIG. 17C, and represents the amount of reflected light as shown in FIG. 17D. The signal is output from the area CCD 96B as a signal.

The light amounts and the lighting times t4 and t5 of the light emitted by the lighting units 90A and 90B and the area C
Charge accumulation time t1, t2, t by CD96A, 96B
3 is set by a setup calculation by the control unit 140 described later.

[0142] The black antihalation layer using silver colloid has absorption in a wide wavelength range without bleaching, and attenuates incident or emitted light.
When the photographic film 28 is provided with such an antihalation layer, the irradiation light amount of the illumination unit 90B for irradiating the support surface side of the photographic film 28 is adjusted by the illumination unit 90A for irradiating the emulsion surface side of the photographic film 28. It is preferable to change the irradiation light amount on the support surface side and the irradiation light amount on the emulsion surface side in accordance with the type of the film, for example, by determining the composition of the film or the composition of the antihalation layer. The light transmittance of the antihalation layer using the silver colloid is about 20% to 50%. When the same amount of light is irradiated on the support surface side and the emulsion surface side, the light reception amount of the area CCD on the support surface side is increased. Area C on emulsion side
This is 4% to 25% of the received light amount of the CD. Therefore, it is preferable that the irradiation light amount of the illumination unit 90B that irradiates the support surface side is, for example, twice to four times the irradiation light amount of the illumination unit 90A that irradiates the emulsion surface side.

The amount of light reflected by the layer B changes according to the amount of developed silver contained in the layer B (blue-sensitive layer), that is, the amount of silver image in the layer B. Therefore, photoelectrically converting the light reflected by the B layer corresponds to reading image information of a yellow dye image obtained when color development is performed instead of black and white development. Similarly, photoelectrically converting the light reflected by the R layer (red-sensitive layer) corresponds to reading image information of a cyan dye image obtained when color development is performed. Also,
The photoelectric conversion of the transmitted light is equivalent to reading an image obtained by mixing a yellow dye image, a magenta dye image, and a cyan dye image in a green photosensitive layer obtained by color development. Accordingly, the silver images of the three types of photographic light-sensitive layers of blue light sensitivity, green light sensitivity, and red light sensitivity are read.

The reading of the image by the area CCDs 96A and 96B may be performed a plurality of times according to the degree of generation of the silver image. For example, with the image positioned at the reading position, the lighting units 90A and 90B are alternately turned on at predetermined time intervals, and the same image is read a plurality of times. In the case of reading a plurality of times, the time interval from the start of development to reading is gradually increased, for example, the image is read at 10 seconds, 20 seconds, and 40 seconds after the start of the development process at a development temperature of 60 ° C. It is more preferable to read a plurality of times so that the length becomes longer. However, it is preferable to perform reading twice or more within at least three minutes.

The silver concentration in the silver image increases according to the amount of exposure. If the silver concentration is too low, the image may not be read, and if the silver concentration is too high, it becomes difficult to read the image. The same silver image is read a plurality of times as described above, using the image data read after the development has progressed for the low silver density portion, using the data read in the early development stage for the high silver density portion, and so on. By creating a composite image from a plurality of image data, it is possible to obtain a better image than forming an image from one read data.

The area CCD 96A is arranged on a pixel shift unit 98A as shown in FIG. 18, and the pixel shift unit 98A is connected to piezo elements 101X and 101Y driven by a piezo driver 99. The piezo element 101 is provided by the piezo driver 99.
By vibrating X and 101Y in the X and Y directions in FIG. 18, the pixel shift unit 98A, that is, the area CCD 96A can be shifted in the X and Y directions. As a result, for example, in the X direction for each half pixel,
By sequentially moving the area CCD 96A in the Y direction and reading each image, the image can be read at four times the resolution. The area CCD 96B has the same configuration.

In this example, the lighting units 90A, 90A
0B to light of the same wavelength (IR having a center wavelength of about 950 nm)
Light), but the lighting units 90A,
It may be configured to irradiate light of different wavelengths (for example, 850 nm and 1310 nm) from 90B. In this case, reflected light and transmitted light can be detected simultaneously.

The signals output from the area CCDs 96A and 96B are amplified by amplifier circuits 128A and 128B, respectively, converted into digital data representing the amount of reflected light by A / D converters 130A and 130B, and correlated double sampling circuits ( CDS) 132A and 132B. The CDSs 132A and 132B sample the feedthrough data indicating the level of the feedthrough signal and the pixel data indicating the signal level of each pixel, respectively, subtract the feedthrough data from the pixel data for each pixel, and calculate the operation result (each Data corresponding to the amount of charge stored in the CCD cell) are sequentially output to the image processing device 22 as image data.

The image data output from the CDSs 132A and 132B is input to the light / dark correction units 134A and 134B, respectively. The light / dark correction units 134A and 134B perform light / dark correction based on predetermined dark correction data and light correction data.

The light / dark correction section 134A has an area CCD 96
Data (data representing the dark output level of each cell of the area CCD 96A) input to the light / dark correction unit in a state where the light incident side of A is shielded by the black shutter 100A is stored as dark correction data in a memory (not shown) for each cell. The dark correction is performed by reducing the dark output level of the cell corresponding to each pixel from the input image data. The setting of the dark correction data is performed, for example, at the start of the inspection of the apparatus, at a predetermined time interval, or at each scan, and is preferably performed at a frequency capable of correcting the dark output level fluctuation. The darkness correction by the lightness / darkness correction unit 134B can be performed in the same manner as described above.

When performing the light correction on the image data of the image recorded on the photographic film 28 which has been subjected to the normal color development by the light / dark correction unit 134A, first, a white plate or the like having a high reflectance is used. The reflected light is read by the area CCD 96A using the data, and the density variation of each pixel represented by the data is caused by the variation of the photoelectric conversion characteristic of each cell or the unevenness of the light source. A gain is determined for each cell and stored in a memory (not shown) as bright correction data. Then, the input image data of the frame image to be read is corrected for each pixel according to the gain determined for each cell. The brightness correction by the brightness correction unit 134B can be performed in the same manner as described above. When the transmitted light from the illumination unit 90A is read and the brightness is corrected, the brightness correction is performed in a state where the light from the illumination unit 90A is transparent.

However, in the case where the brightness correction is performed on the image data of the image recorded on the photographic film 28 which has been subjected to the black-and-white development, when the white plate is used, or when the brightness correction is performed in a state where the photographic film 28 is left blank, the photographic film The image density is too bright as compared with the image density recorded in No. 28, so that the bright correction cannot be performed properly. For this reason, it is preferable that the density of the unexposed portion of the photographic film 28 be used as the reference density for light correction, and that the light correction be performed such that a reflector or a filter close to this is located on the optical axis L. As a result, the brightness correction of the photographic film 28 that has been subjected to the black and white development can be properly performed. The selection of the reference density for light correction is performed by the control unit 140 described later.
This is performed by the setup calculation.

Further, the brightness correction may be performed such that the unexposed portion of the photographic film 28 is located on the optical axis. As a result, the ND filter 106 for bright correction and the reflectors 118A and 118B for bright correction become unnecessary, and the cost can be reduced. In this case, the charge accumulation time and the light amount are set so as to be close to the saturation point (the brightest point in a state where linearity can be obtained) of the area CCDs 96A and 96B in reading the unexposed area. Is stored in a memory (not shown) as bright correction data. When reading at a high S / N, pre-scan is performed for each frame, and the charge accumulation time and light amount may be set using the brightest point of the frame, or reading of an unexposed portion may be performed. The charge accumulation time and the light amount are set based on the data, and when it is determined that the overexposure is negative by the first scan, scanning is performed again under a brighter condition (extend the accumulation time and increase the light amount). Is also good. The image data subjected to the light / dark correction processing by the light / dark correction units 134A and 134B are output to the image processing device 22, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing device 22
A frame memory 136, an image processing unit 138, and a control unit 140 are provided. The frame memory has a capacity capable of storing the image data of the frame image of each frame, and the image data input from the film scanner 20 is stored in the frame memory 136. The image data input to the frame memory 136 is subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 138.

The image processing section 138 performs various image processing in accordance with the processing conditions determined and notified for each image by the control section 140.

The control unit 140 includes a CPU 142, a ROM 1
44 (for example, ROM whose storage contents can be rewritten), RAM
146, an input / output port (I / O) 148, a hard disk 150, a keyboard 152, a mouse 154, and a monitor 156, which are connected to each other via a bus. The CPU 142 of the control unit 140 calculates (sets up) various image processing parameters to be performed in the image processing unit 138 based on the read data of the reference exposure unit input from the frame memory 136, and sends it to the image processing unit 138. Output. This calculation is performed as follows.

The conversion characteristic f1 for converting the reflection density of R to the transmission density of R from the read data of the reflected light of the R single-color exposure area of the mixed color reference exposure unit 32 and the read data of the transmitted light of the R single-color exposure area. Ask. As described above, the exposure amount of each exposure area gradually increases from the upstream side in the transport direction of the photographic film 28, so that data of low density to high density of each exposure area can be obtained. Therefore, the conversion characteristic f1 is
For example, by calculating a value obtained by dividing the read data of the reflected light from the read data of the transmitted light for each density range,
A conversion curve for converting the reflection density of R into the transmission density of R can be obtained. Here, assuming that the reflection density of R is D _HR and the transmission density of R is D _TR , D _TR = f1 (D
_HR ).

Similarly, the CPU 142 reads the read data of the reflected light of the B monochromatic exposure area of the reference
A conversion characteristic f2 for converting the reflection density of B into the transmission density of B is obtained from the read data of the transmitted light in the monochromatic exposure area. Here, the reflection density of B is D _HB , and the transmission density of B is D _TB
In this case, D _TB = f2 (D _HB ).

The control unit 140 determines the conversion characteristic f
The data of 1, f2 is output to the LUT (lookup table) 158 of the image processing unit 138. In the LUT 158, the input read data of the R image and the B image are each log-converted and converted into reflection density data, and the converted reflection density data is converted into transmission density data by the conversion characteristics f1 and f2. The conversion characteristic is converted to the transmission density by obtaining the conversion characteristic in this manner. In the intermediate layer density region, the light passes through the layer twice, so that the reflection density is about twice the transmission density, and the density is high in the high density region. This is because the reflection density and the transmission density have a non-linear relationship, such as saturation, so that gray balance and the like cannot be properly corrected when reflection reading and transmission reading are mixed.

On the other hand, the transmission read data D _TG of the G layer is
Since the transmission density data of the R, G, and B layers is included in the transmission density data, the transmission read data of the R, G, and B layers is _calculated as D _TRGB.
In this case, D _TG = D _TRGB −D _TR −D _TB can be expressed. This calculation is performed by the MTX (matrix) circuit 160.

The reflection density of the R layer read from the base side in the G monochromatic exposure area, and the B density read from the emulsion side
Assuming that there is no color mixture, the reflection density of the layer becomes zero. This is because the R layer and the B layer in the G monochromatic exposure region do not reflect the R layer and the B layer because no developed silver is present in the R layer and the B layer. However, the reflection read data of the R layer and the B layer is the lower layer (G in the present embodiment).
Layer), which results in color mixing, and in this state, turbid color reproduction occurs. Similarly, assuming that there is no color mixture, the reflection density of the B layer, the transmission density of the G layer, and the transmission density of the R layer and the G layer in the B monochromatic exposure area are zero, assuming no color mixture. Become. However,
Actually, as described above, each layer is affected by the other layers, so that color mixing occurs.

Thus, by determining the transmission density of each layer in each monochromatic exposure area, the effect of color mixing is eliminated as described below. First, a color mixing coefficient aij representing the degree of color mixing of the j color in the i color is calculated. Where i, j
= 1,2,3, 1 represents R, 2 represents G, and 3 represents B.

When the data of the transmission density of R, G, B when there is no color mixture is R, G, B, R, G, B
The data R ', G', and B 'of the transmission densities of G and B are expressed by the following equation (1).

[0164]

(Equation 1)

[0165]

(Equation 2)

Here, the color mixing coefficients a12 and a32 can be obtained from the transmission density D _TR of the R layer and the transmission density D _{TB of the} B layer in the G monochromatic exposure area.
3 and a23 can be obtained from the transmission density D _TR of the R layer and the transmission density D _{TG of the} G layer in the B monochromatic exposure area, and the color mixing coefficients a21 and a31 are the transmission density D _TG of the G layer in the R monochromatic exposure area. And the transmission density D _{TB of the} B layer.

The CPU 142 calculates the inverse matrix of the equation (2) composed of the above-mentioned color mixing coefficients to obtain the color correction coefficients.
Output to TX circuit 160.

In addition, an arbitrary color chart is exposed on a film in advance without performing RGB monochromatic exposure, and a color correction coefficient is optimized and obtained by a least square method or the like from the read data and a color reproduction target value. It may be. That is, by using a commercially available color negative film and continuously photographing the same subject with the same camera, an undeveloped film in which a plurality of (for example, two) latent images of the same pattern are formed is prepared. Liquid, and after development, bleach,
Drying is performed without fixing and washing to obtain a black and white developed film. The other frame is developed with a color developer, and after development, bleaching, fixing, washing, and drying are performed to obtain a color developed film. A color correction coefficient is determined using the image of the color development film as a target image.

The image recorded on the black and white developing film is read from three directions by a separately provided film scanner. That is, light (IR light in the present embodiment) is irradiated to the emulsion layer side and the support side of the black and white developed film, and the light reflected from each of them exposes the upper (B layer) photographic photosensitive layer and the lower (R layer). ) The reflected image of the photographic photosensitive layer is read, and the photographic photosensitive layer of the B layer, the photographic photosensitive layer of the R layer, and the photographic photosensitive layer of the intermediate layer (G layer) are exposed to light transmitted through the black and white developed film. Is read out.
The image data Fr, Br, and T of the reflection image of the B layer, the reflection image of the R layer, and the transmission image of the RGB layer are extracted, and 3
The pixel coordinates are corrected so that the two images are superimposed. In particular, since the reflection image of the R layer is inverted at the time of reading, the reflection image is left-right inverted and superimposed. The superposition of the images is performed by defining a reference point in the image, rotating and translating each image so that the coordinates of the reference point match. Data Fr, Br, T which are taken out of the film scanner and coordinate-transformed so as to be superimposed
Are linearly converted by a converter for converting gray scale to linear, and the data F
It is input as r ', Br', T '.

Further, the images recorded on the respective photosensitive layers of the color developing film are separated into three colors as transmission images and read by a film scanner having the same sensitivity. The read data R, G, and B are respectively linearly converted by the converter, and are input to the regression operation device as data R ′, G ′, and B ′ that are target values.

In the regression arithmetic unit, the linearly transformed three-layer data Fr ', Br', T 'are converted into target values R', G ', B'.
Regression analysis is performed and parameters are calculated in order to match. Data Fr ', B read from black and white developed film
Since r 'and T' are not separated into color components (RGB components), a process of separating them into color components based on the color of the image recorded on the color developing film is performed.

That is, in the regression calculation device, three of R, G, B
For each of the colors, ten parameters ai0 to ai9 (where i = 1, 2, 3, and
1 represents R, 2 represents G, 3 represents B), and Fr ′, B
The parameters of a 3 × 10 matrix for converting r ′, T ′ into target values R ′, G ′, B ′ are obtained by statistical calculation. Thereby, a 3 × 10 determinant is obtained as a color correction coefficient.

[0173]

(Equation 3)

Equation (3) is expressed as follows.

[0175]

(Equation 4)

In the above example, the size of the parameter matrix is set to 3 × 10 matrix.
There may be nine matrices.

The MTX circuit 160 uses the color correction coefficients obtained by any of the above methods to generate R, G, and B colors without color mixture.
Are calculated and output to the LUT 162. LUT
In 162, gray balance correction and contrast correction are performed. The CPU 142 determines parameters for performing the gray balance correction and the contrast correction.

That is, the conversion characteristic f3 is obtained from the read data of the gray exposure area of the reference exposure area 32 and the predetermined target gray density. However, in general photography, since the image is taken with light sources having various color temperatures, the gray balance cannot be sufficiently corrected from the read data of the gray exposure area of the reference exposure area 32. For this reason, the light source correction coefficient of the photographing light source is estimated for each frame, and the LUT
162. That is, the LUT 162 performs gray balance correction using the conversion characteristic f3 as a reference of the grayscale conversion characteristic, and further performs grayscale balance correction by performing correction using a light source correction coefficient. Further, since the contrast of the black-and-white development is different from the contrast of the reference color development, a contrast correction for correcting the contrast is performed.

The image data on which the gray balance correction and the contrast correction have been performed are enlarged / reduced to a predetermined magnification by the enlargement / reduction unit 164, subjected to dodging processing by the automatic dodging unit 166, and sharpened by the sharpness enhancing unit 168. Processing is performed. Note that the sharpness enhancement processing may be performed based on only the high-frequency components while removing the low-frequency components.

The image data subjected to the image processing as described above is converted into image data to be displayed on the monitor 154 by the 3D (three-dimensional) LUT color conversion unit 170 and the printer unit is converted by the 3DLUT conversion unit 172. At 24, it is converted into image data to be printed on photographic paper.

The printer unit 24 includes, for example, an image memory,
It is configured to include R, G, and B laser light sources, a laser driver that controls the operation of the laser light sources, and the like (all not shown). The recording image data input from the image processing device 22 is read out after being once stored in the image memory,
It is used for modulating R, G, B laser light emitted from a laser light source. The laser light emitted from the laser light source is
Scanning is performed on the printing paper via a polygon mirror and an fθ lens, and an image is exposed and recorded on the printing paper. The photographic paper on which the image has been exposed and recorded is sent to the processor unit 26 where color development is performed.
Each processing of bleach-fixing, washing with water and drying is performed. As a result, the image recorded on the photographic paper by exposure is visualized.

In the above description, an example in which a silver image is formed by black-and-white development has been described. However, a silver image may contain dye image information as long as it is substantially a silver image, and may be 60% or more of the image density. May be derived from developed silver.
Therefore, a silver image containing dye information obtained by color-developing a color film may be used.

When a color film is color-developed, the silver image containing the dye information can be read only by using the infrared light without reading the dye image. An upper layer light source for irradiating the upper photosensitive layer with light of a dye and a complementary color contained in the silver image in the layer, and a lower layer photograph of the dye and complementary light contained in the silver image of the lower photographic photosensitive layer in the lower photographic photosensitive layer A light source for the lower layer that irradiates the photosensitive layer side, and a light of a complementary color to the dye contained in the silver image in the photographic photosensitive layer of the intermediate layer is irradiated to the upper photographic photosensitive layer side or the lower photographic photosensitive layer side. A dye image may be read by providing a light source for the intermediate layer and a reading sensor for reading image information by light reflected from the upper and lower layers of the color photographic film and light transmitted through the color photographic film. Specifically, image information on the cyan dye image and the silver image in the red-sensitive layer is obtained by detecting the reflected light using the R light, and the green light is detected by detecting the transmitted light using the G light. Information including image information on the magenta dye image and the silver image in the photosensitive layer is obtained. By detecting the reflected light using B light, the image information on the yellow dye image and the silver image in the blue photosensitive layer can be obtained. can get.

[0184]

EXAMPLES The present invention will now be described specifically with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. (Example 1) Gelatin 0.37 having an average molecular weight of 15000
g, 0.37 g of oxidized gelatin, and 930 ml of distilled water containing 0.7 g of potassium bromide.
The temperature was raised to 0 ° C. While vigorously stirring this solution, 30 ml of an aqueous solution containing 0.34 g of silver nitrate and 0.24 g of potassium bromide were added.
g of an aqueous solution containing 30 g were added over 20 seconds. After the addition, the temperature was kept at 40 ° C. for 1 minute, and the temperature of the
And aged. After adding 27.0 g of gelatin whose amino group was modified with trimellitic acid together with 200 ml of distilled water, 100 ml of an aqueous solution containing 23.36 g of silver nitrate and 80 ml of an aqueous solution containing 16.37 g of potassium bromide were added while increasing the flow rate. Added over minutes. After maintaining at 63 ° C. for 2 minutes after completion of the addition, the temperature of the reaction solution was lowered to 45 ° C. Next, an aqueous solution 250 containing 83.2 g of silver nitrate
ml and an aqueous solution containing potassium iodide at a molar ratio of potassium bromide of 3:97 (potassium bromide concentration: 26%) were added while accelerating the flow rate, and the silver potential after the reaction was higher than that of the saturated calomel electrode. The addition was carried out for 60 minutes to -50 mV.
Further, 75 ml of an aqueous solution containing 18.7 g of silver nitrate and a 21.9% aqueous solution of potassium bromide were added over 10 minutes so that the silver potential of the reaction solution became 0 mV with respect to the saturated calomel electrode. After maintaining at 75 ° C. for 1 minute after completion of the addition,
The temperature of the reaction was lowered to 40 ° C. Then, sodium p-iodoacetamidobenzenesulfonate-water salt 1
100 ml of an aqueous solution containing 0.5 g was added, and p
H was adjusted to 9.0. Then, sodium sulfite4.
50 ml of an aqueous solution containing 3 g were added. After the addition, 4
After maintaining at 0 ° C. for 3 minutes, the temperature of the reaction solution was raised to 55 ° C. After adjusting the pH of the reaction solution to 5.8, 0.8 mg of sodium benzenethiosulfinate, 0.04 mg of potassium hexachloroiridate (IV) and 5.5 g of potassium bromide were added, and the mixture was kept at 55 ° C. for 1 minute. 180 ml of an aqueous solution containing 44.3 g of silver nitrate and potassium bromide 3
4.0 g, 8.9 mg potassium hexacyanoferrate (II)
160 ml of an aqueous solution containing was added over 30 minutes. The temperature was lowered and desalting was performed according to a standard method. After completion of desalting, gelatin was added so as to be 7% by weight, and the pH was adjusted to 6.2.

The obtained emulsion had an average particle size of 1.29 μm expressed by a diameter equivalent to a sphere, and a coefficient of variation of the particle size distribution of 1
The emulsion was composed of hexagonal tabular grains having an average grain thickness of 9%, an average grain thickness of 0.13 μm, and an average aspect ratio of 25.4. This emulsion was designated as emulsion A.

Emulsion A was prepared by changing the amounts of silver nitrate and potassium bromide initially added at the time of grain formation and changing the number of nuclei formed, so that the average grain size represented by a diameter equivalent to a sphere was 0.85 μm, Emulsion B consisting of hexagonal tabular grains having an average grain thickness of 0.11 μm and an average aspect ratio of 17.5, and an average grain size of 0.52 μm expressed as a diameter equivalent to a sphere
m, average grain thickness 0.09 μm, average aspect ratio 1
Emulsion C comprising 1.3 hexagonal tabular grains was prepared. However, the amount of potassium hexachloroiridate (IV) and potassium hexacyanoferrate (II) is inversely proportional to the particle volume, and the amount of sodium p-iodoacetamidobenzenesulfonate-water salt is proportional to the perimeter of the particles. And changed it.

After adding 5.6 ml of a 1% aqueous solution of potassium iodide to Emulsion A at 40 ° C., 4.4 × 10 ⁻⁴ mol of the following red-sensitive spectral sensitizing dye, compound I, potassium thiocyanate, chloroauric acid , Sodium thiosulfate, and mono (pentafluorophenyl) diphenylphosphine selenide were added for spectral and chemical sensitization. After completion of the chemical sensitization, stabilizer S was added. At this time, the amount of the chemical sensitizer was adjusted so that the degree of chemical sensitization of the emulsion was optimized. The obtained spectrally and chemically sensitized emulsion was designated as red-sensitive emulsion Ar. Emulsions B and C were similarly spectrally sensitized and chemically sensitized to obtain emulsion Br and emulsion Cr. However, the amount of the spectral sensitizing dye added was changed in proportion to the grain surface area, and the amount of the chemical sensitizer was adjusted so that the degree of chemical sensitization of the emulsion was optimized.

[0188]

Embedded image

[0189]

Embedded image

Similarly, by changing the spectral sensitizing dye, green-sensitive emulsions Ag, Bg, and Cg, blue-sensitive emulsions Ab, Bb,
And Cb were adjusted.

[0191]

Embedded image

[0192]

Embedded image

Next, a dispersion of zinc hydroxide used as a base precursor was prepared. 31 g of zinc hydroxide powder having a primary particle size of 0.2 μm, 1.6 g of carboxymethylcellulose and 0.4 g of sodium polyacrylate as a dispersant, and lime-treated ossein gelatin 8.5
g and 158.5 ml of water were mixed, and the mixture was dispersed in a mill using glass beads for 1 hour. After the dispersion, the glass beads were separated by filtration to obtain 188 g of a dispersion of zinc hydroxide.

Further, an emulsified dispersion containing a coupler and a built-in developing agent was prepared.

First, an emulsified dispersion containing a cyan coupler and a built-in developing agent was prepared as follows. 10.78 g of cyan coupler (a), developing agent (b) 8.14
g, developing agent (c) 1.05 g, antifoggant (d) 0.
15 g, 8.27 g of a high boiling point organic solvent (e), and 38.0 ml of ethyl acetate were dissolved at 60 ° C. The above solution was mixed with 150 g of an aqueous solution in which 12.2 g of lime-processed gelatin and 0.8 g of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (f) were dissolved.
Emulsification and dispersion were performed at 00 rpm for 20 minutes. After the dispersion, distilled water was added so that the total amount became 300 g, and the mixture was mixed at 2,000 rpm for 10 minutes.

[0196]

Embedded image

[0197]

Embedded image

Subsequently, an emulsified dispersion containing a magenta coupler and a built-in developing agent was prepared as follows. 7.65 g of magenta coupler (q), 1.12 g of magenta coupler (r), 8.13 g of developing agent (b), 1.05 g of developing agent (c), 0.11 g of antifoggant (d), high boiling organic solvent (E) 7.52 g and ethyl acetate 3
8.0 ml was dissolved at 60 ° C. Lime-treated gelatin 1
The above solution was mixed with 150 g of an aqueous solution in which 2.2 g of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and 2.2 g of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate were dissolved.
Emulsified and dispersed over 0 minutes. After the dispersion, distilled water was added so that the total amount became 300 g, and the mixture was mixed at 2,000 rpm for 10 minutes.

[0199]

Embedded image

Further, an emulsified dispersion containing a yellow coupler and a built-in developing agent was prepared as follows. 8.95 g of yellow coupler (m), 7.2 of developing agent (n)
6 g, developing agent (c) 1.47 g, antifoggant (d)
0.17 g, 0.28 g of the antifoggant (o), 18.29 g of the high boiling point organic solvent (p), and 50 ml of ethyl acetate were dissolved at 60 ° C. The above solution was mixed with 200 g of an aqueous solution in which 18.0 g of lime-processed gelatin and 0.8 g of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate were dissolved, and emulsified and dispersed at 10,000 rpm for 20 minutes using a dissolver stirrer. After the dispersion, distilled water was added so that the total amount became 300 g, and the mixture was mixed at 2,000 rpm for 10 minutes.

[0201]

Embedded image

Further, a dispersion of a dye for coloring as an antihalation layer was prepared in the same manner. The dyes and the high-boiling organic solvents used to disperse them are shown below.

[0203]

Embedded image

[0204]

Embedded image

These dispersions and the previously prepared silver halide emulsion were combined and coated on a support with the composition shown in Tables 1 to 5 to prepare a multilayer photographic light-sensitive material.

[0206]

[Table 1]

[0207]

[Table 2]

[0208]

[Table 3]

[0209]

[Table 4]

[0210]

[Table 5]

[0211]

Embedded image

A multilayer photographic light-sensitive material was prepared from Sample 101 except that the color coupler was removed from the emulsified dispersion used for each layer. Sample 102 was obtained. Sample 1
01 is different from the emulsified dispersion used for each layer in that the built-in developing agent is only removed to produce a multilayer photographic light-sensitive material,
Sample 103 was obtained. Further, a multilayer photographic light-sensitive material different from Sample 103 except that the dispersion of zinc hydroxide used for the intermediate layer was removed was prepared as Sample 104.

Further, processing materials P-1 and P-2 as shown in Tables 6 and 7 were prepared.

[0214]

[Table 6]

[0215]

[Table 7]

[0216]

Embedded image

[0219]

Embedded image

First, a sample piece was cut out from the light-sensitive material sample 104, loaded into a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera, and a color chart manufactured by Macbeth Co., Ltd. was photographed under photographic daylight (color temperature of about 5500K) illumination at a shutter speed of 1/100 second. Taken in.
The photographed sample piece was subjected to a CN- developing process for a color negative film manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
The development process was performed by 16 standard processes. After the treatment,
Digital minilab manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Frontier 350 input device (color scanner) SP150
0, perform a standard negative-positive conversion process,
RGB image data of the photographing subject was obtained. Using the gray step portion of the obtained image information, the image density and the noise corresponding to the image density were obtained and set as the S / N ratio. This represents the standard deviation of the variation of each pixel in a patch image corresponding to 18% gray as a ratio to the average density value.

Next, a sample piece cut out from the same sample 104 was similarly exposed, and then subjected to a black-and-white developing solution 20 having the following formulation.
C., development was performed for 4 minutes, followed by a stop treatment (30 seconds) with acetic acid (3%), washing with water and drying to obtain a sample on which a silver image was recorded. (Black and white developer composition) Methol 2g Anhydrous sodium sulfite 50g Hydroquinone 4g Anhydrous sodium carbonate 6g Potassium bromide ... 0.75 g Total amount of water added... 1000 ml In the portion of the sample 104 after the black and white development processing where blue light was recorded, it was better to observe from the sample surface farther from the support after development. The degree of blackening was greater than that observed from the back of the body, and in the part where red light was recorded, the degree of blackening was larger when observed from the back of the support.

Using the sample piece after this treatment, using the same apparatus as that shown in FIG. 1, such as a film scanner, an image processing apparatus, and a printer section, the front side (emulsion side) and the back side of the sample were used. The reflection density and the transmission density of each of the three sides (the support surface side) are determined using the maximum wavelength 9 having the spectral distribution of FIG.
The image information Fr is read using infrared light of 50 nm as a light source,
(Front surface reflection) Three kinds of information of Br (back surface reflection) and T (transmission) were obtained. The obtained information is determined by a least squares method using a matrix coefficient of 3 × 10 (a10 to a39) according to the following equation so that the RGB signal values are as equal as possible to the color image information already obtained using the sample 104, It was converted to color information to obtain R ', G' and B 'density information. With respect to this image information as well, the image density and the noise corresponding to the image density were obtained using the gray step portion, and the obtained S / N ratio was used.

[0221]

(Equation 5)

Table 8 summarizes the results. As shown in Table 8, a color image could be reproduced, but the S / N ratio was extremely low.

[0223]

[Table 8]

Next, a similar test was performed using the multilayer photosensitive material sample 103. The results are summarized in Table 9 below and were similar to the results using sample 104.

[0225]

[Table 9]

Using these samples 104 and 103, the developing conditions during black-and-white development were changed, and the developing temperature was raised to 60%.
Color image information was obtained according to the above procedure, except that the processing was performed at 40 ° C. and the processing time was 40 seconds. The results are shown in Table 10 below. When the development temperature was 60 ° C., the S / N
It can be seen that the ratio has been improved.

[0227]

[Table 10]

First, a test was performed using Sample 101.
After photographing a Macbeth color chart under the same conditions as in the previous experiment using sample 104, the photographed sample pieces were subjected to a development process using CN-16 standard processing manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. . As a result, a negative color capturing effect was obtained in the same manner as when the sample 104 was developed by the CN-16 standard processing, and a similar color image could be reproduced by conversion with a color scanner. Using the gray step portion of the obtained color image, the image density and the noise corresponding to the image density were obtained and defined as the S / N ratio.

Next, the sample photographed under the same conditions was developed at 20 ° C. for 4 minutes with the black-and-white developing solution described above, followed by a stop treatment (30 seconds) with acetic acid (3%). After washing with water and drying, a sample on which a silver image was recorded was obtained. Using the processed sample piece, an image was read using the same method as in the case of the sample 104, and three types of information of image information Fr (front surface reflection) Br (back surface reflection) and T (transmission) were obtained. After linearly converting the obtained information as necessary, a 3 × 10 matrix coefficient is determined by the least square method so that the RGB signal values are as equal as possible to the color image information obtained using the sample 104. Convert to color information, R ', G' and B '
Concentration information was obtained. The image information thus obtained reproduced a color image in spite of using a silver image. With respect to this image information as well, the image density and the noise corresponding to the image density were obtained using the gray step portion, and were set as the S / N ratio.

Subsequently, using the same sample 101, the developing conditions during black-and-white development were changed, the developing temperature was 60 ° C., the processing time was 40 seconds, and the color image information and the noise corresponding to the color image information were determined according to the above procedure. The obtained S / N ratio was used.

Further, after photographing the same sample 101 under the same conditions, 20 ml of 40 ° C. hot water was applied to the surface of the exposed photosensitive material.
/ M ² , the processing material P-1 and the respective film surfaces were overlapped with each other, and then heat-developed at 83 ° C. for 17 seconds using a heat drum. Both the dye image and the silver image corresponding to the exposure were formed on the sample of the photosensitive material from which the processing material was peeled off.

Using this sample, an image was read using the same method as that for the sample 104, and three types of information, that is, image information Fr (front surface reflection) Br (back surface reflection) and T (transmission) were obtained. The obtained information is used for the sample 10
In order to make the RGB signal values as equal as possible to the color image information obtained by using R.4, a matrix coefficient of 3 × 10 is determined by the least squares method, converted into color information, and R ′, G ′ and B ′ density information I got With respect to this image information as well, the image density and the noise corresponding to the image density were obtained using the gray step portion, and the obtained S / N ratio was used.

Further, the sample 102 was photographed under the same conditions,
Develop at 20 ° C. for 4 minutes using the black-and-white developing solution described above, then perform a stop treatment (30 seconds) with acetic acid (3%), wash with water, and dry to obtain a sample on which a silver image is recorded. Obtained.
Using the processed sample piece, an image is read using the same method as that for the sample 104, and image information Fr (surface reflection) B
Three types of information, r (backside reflection) and T (transmission), were obtained.
In the same manner as described above, the obtained information is determined by a least squares method using a matrix coefficient of 3 × 10 so that the RGB signal values are as equal as possible to the color image information already obtained using the sample 104, and the color information is obtained. Convert R ', G' and B '
Concentration information was obtained. With respect to this image information as well, the image density and the noise corresponding to the image density were obtained using the gray step portion, and were set as the S / N ratio.

Subsequently, using the same sample 102, the developing conditions during black-and-white development were changed, the developing temperature was set at 60 ° C., the processing time was set at 40 seconds, and the color image information and the noise corresponding to the color image information were determined according to the above procedure. The obtained S / N ratio was used.

Further, after photographing the same sample 102 under the same conditions, 20 ml of 40 ° C. warm water was applied to the surface of the exposed photosensitive material.
/ M ² , the processing material P-1 and the respective film surfaces were overlapped with each other, and then heat-developed at 83 ° C. for 17 seconds using a heat drum. A silver image corresponding to the exposure was formed on the sample of the photosensitive material from which the processing material was peeled off.

Using this sample, an image was read using the same method as in the case of the sample 104, and three types of information, that is, image information Fr (front surface reflection) Br (back surface reflection) and T (transmission) were obtained. The obtained information is used for the sample 10
In order to make the RGB signal values as equal as possible to the color image information obtained by using R.4, a matrix coefficient of 3 × 10 is determined by the least squares method, converted into color information, and R ′, G ′ and B ′ density information I got With respect to this image information as well, the image density and the noise corresponding to the image density were obtained using the gray step portion, and the obtained S / N ratio was used.

Table 11 summarizes the results.

[0238]

[Table 11]

From the results, it was found that when the processing was carried out by laminating with a processing material containing a base precursor in the presence of a small amount of water using an internal developing agent and heating at 83.degree. Compared to when supplied from outside,
It is clear that the S / N ratio is further improved.

Example 2 Sample 10 prepared in Example 1
Using No. 1, a standard subject on which a mannequin and a Macbeth chart were placed was photographed. The exposure at this time was performed under two conditions, a normal condition of sensitivity ISO800 and a condition of over 4 stops. The photographed sample was developed using a black and white developing solution at 20 ° C., and a developed silver image was read in the same manner as in Example 1. However, reading was carried out by arranging a scanner so that reading could be performed at each of 1 minute, 2 minutes, and 4 minutes after the development process was started.

A color image was reproduced in the same manner as in the example using the obtained image information Fr (front surface reflection) Br (back surface reflection) and T (transmission) at each point in time, but was read at four minutes. The color image is reproduced using only the data, and the image density at the time of 2 minutes is divided into three stages. The darkest part of the negative density is the data at the time of 1 minute development, and the lightest part of the negative density is 4 parts. Weighting was performed so that the ratio of data at the time of minute development was increased, and two types of data were synthesized.

Next, the same standard subject was photographed using the same sample 101, and the developing conditions for black and white development were changed.
A development process was performed at 60 ° C., and a developed silver image was read. However, reading was started for 10 seconds, 20 seconds,
The scanner was arranged so that it could be performed at each time point of 40 seconds.

A color image was reproduced in the same manner as in the example using the obtained image information Fr (front surface reflection) Br (back surface reflection) and T (transmission) at each time point, but was read at a time point of 40 seconds. A color image is reproduced using only data, and the image density at 20 seconds is divided into three levels. The darkest part of the negative density is the data at the time of development for 10 seconds, and the lightest part of the negative density is 40 parts. Weighting was performed so that the ratio of data at the time of second development became high, and two types of data were synthesized.

When the obtained results are compared, in any case where the type of the developing solution is different, three-stage data is weighted and synthesized rather than an image reproduced using only the data read in the final stage. The image was particularly excellent in the S / N ratio and gradation reproduction in overexposure, but the latter image developed at 60 ° C. was excellent in the S / N ratio, and a good image could be obtained. did it.

[0245]

According to the image reading method and the color image forming method of the present invention, a color image is formed by reading a silver image obtained by developing a color photographic photosensitive material after exposure and forming a color image from silver image information. When forming, a silver image suitable for reading is formed and the silver image is read, so that a high-sensitivity color image can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image processing system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an APS film.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a 135 film.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a reference exposure unit.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the LED substrate.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a reference exposure area of the APS film.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating another example of a reference exposure unit.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a developing unit.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an injection tank.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the injection tank.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a film scanner.

12A is a bottom view of the lighting unit, and FIG. 12B is a side view of the lighting unit.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the wavelength of irradiation light.

FIG. 14A is a plan view of a bright correction ND filter,
(B) is a plan view of a light correction reflector.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating reading of an image using IR light.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a DX code;

FIG. 17 is a timing chart showing an image reading timing.

FIG. 18 is a schematic configuration diagram of a pixel shifting unit.

FIG. 19 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image processing unit.

FIG. 20 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating another configuration of the developing unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image processing system 12 Magnetic information reading part (input means) 14 Reference exposure part (exposure means) 16 Black-and-white developing part 18 Buffer part 20 Film scanner 22 Image processing device 24 Printer part 26 Processor part 90 Illumination unit 94 Imaging lens 96 Area CCD (reading sensor) 134 light / dark correction unit 136 frame memory 138 image processing unit (image processing unit) 140 control unit (calculation unit) 150 hard disk (storage unit) 158, 162 LUT (correction unit) 160 MTX circuit (correction unit)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03D 13/00 G03D 13/00 Z 5C072 G06T 1/00 G06F 15/64 310 H04N 1/04 H04N 1/04 DF term (reference) 2H016 AE01 AG01 BC01 BE01 BE02 BE03 BM10 2H023 BA00 CA05 CA11 2H106 AB04 BA55 2H112 AA03 AA11 BA23 BC10 5B047 AA05 AB02 BA02 BB04 BC06 BC16 DA06 5C072 AA01 BA04 BA16 BA19 CA05 FA10 X10

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A color photographic light-sensitive material having at least three kinds of photographic light-sensitive layers containing a blue-sensitive, green-sensitive and red-sensitive silver halide emulsion on a light-transmitting support. An image reading method in which a color photographic light-sensitive material after exposure is processed at a processing temperature of 50 ° C. or higher so that a silver image is formed, and then the silver image is substantially read. 2. The image reading method according to claim 1, wherein 60% or more of the image density is derived from developed silver. 3. The image reading method according to claim 1, wherein the color photographic light-sensitive material contains a developing agent. 4. A color photographic light-sensitive material incorporating the developing agent, and a processing material including a processing layer containing at least one of a base and a base precursor on a support, after exposing the color photographic light-sensitive material, 1/1 of water required for maximum swelling of the color photographic light-sensitive material and the entire coating film of the processing material
4. The image reading method according to claim 3, wherein the image is developed by bonding and heating in a state where water equivalent to 0 to 1 times is present between the color photographic light-sensitive material and the processing material. 5. A compound represented by the following general formula I, general formula II, general formula III,
5. The image reading method according to claim 1, wherein processing is performed using a developing agent represented by the general formula IV so that a silver image is generated. 6. Embedded image Embedded image Embedded image Embedded image In the formula, R1 to R4 represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkylcarbonamide group, an arylcarbonamide group, an alkylsulfonamide group, an arylsulfonamide group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group. Group, alkylcarbamoyl group, arylcarbamoyl group, carbamoyl group,
Alkylsulfamoyl group, arylsulfamoyl group, sulfamoyl group, cyano group, alkylsulfonyl group, arylsulfonyl group, alkoxycarbonyl group,
Aryloxycarbonyl group, alkylcarbonyl group,
Represents an arylcarbonyl group or an acyloxy group;
5 represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group. Z
Represents a group of atoms forming a (hetero) aromatic ring, and when Z is a benzene ring, the total value of Hammett constant (σ) of the substituent is 1 or more. R6 represents an alkyl group. X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a selenium atom or an alkyl-substituted or aryl-substituted tertiary nitrogen atom. R7 and R8 represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and R7 and R8 may combine with each other to form a double bond or a ring. Further, each of the general formulas I to IV contains at least one ballast group having 8 or more carbon atoms in order to impart oil solubility to the molecule. 6. A color image forming method for forming a color image based on silver image information read by the image reading method according to claim 1.