JP2003121975A - Image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image having an excellent white background and little intrasurface unevenness when a color image for proof reading (color proof) is formed. SOLUTION: In an image forming method in which an image is obtained by subjecting a silver halide color photographic sensitive material >=350 mm in width and having silver halide emulsion layers on the base to color development, bleach fixation, stabilization and drying in order, a solution is replenished to a stabilization tank by in-line replenishment at a position between the circulation intake and discharge port of the stabilization tank.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for forming an image of a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a light-sensitive material), more specifically, an image formation for a color proof which is excellent in white background and has less in-plane variation. Regarding the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Silver halide color photographic light-sensitive materials are widely used today because of their high sensitivity, excellent color reproducibility and suitability for continuous processing. Due to these characteristics, silver halide color photographic light-sensitive materials are used not only in the field of photography but also in the field of printing, for example, in the field of so-called proof (proofing) for confirming the state of finished printed matter in the middle of printing. It is becoming widely used.

In the field of proofing, an image edited on a computer is output to a printing film, and the developed film is decomposed and exposed while appropriately changing the film.
By forming the images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), and by forming the image of the final printed matter on color photographic paper, it is possible to judge the layout of the final printed matter and the suitability of the colors. Was there.

Recently, a method of directly outputting an image edited on a computer to a printing plate has become widespread. In this case, data on the computer is directly printed on a color photographic paper without passing through a film. It is a method of forming, and is disclosed in JP-A Nos. 2001-83663 and 20.
01-250173.

In any of the above methods, the development process must be performed after the exposure. In general, color photographic paper is subjected to color development, bleach-fixing, washing with water or stabilizing treatment and then dried.

In the field of proofing, it is desired that the white background is excellent as well as the color. The photographic paper used is generally large in size A1 and B2, and on the other hand, it is processed with a small processing machine and with low replenishment, so there is white background variation (called in-plane variation) within one size.
Often occurs, resulting in deterioration of quality.

Further, if the amount of the replenishing liquid is increased, the variation is reduced, but the amount of the waste liquid is increased, which is not preferable in the environment.

WO 00/39637 discloses a technique of replenishing the first tank with an optical brightening agent in a multi-stage countercurrent washing method. Although it is effective for a small area sample, it is a large area sample. In that case, in-plane variation is caused and a sufficient effect cannot be obtained.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method for color proof which is excellent in white background and has less in-plane variation.

[0010]

The object of the present invention has been achieved by the following constitutions.

1) An image forming method for obtaining an image through color development, bleach-fixing, stabilization treatment and drying of a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material having a width of 350 mm or more having a silver halide emulsion layer on a support, An image forming method characterized in that the liquid is replenished to the stabilization processing tank by in-line replenishment between the suction port and the discharge port in which the stabilization processing tank is circulated.

2) In an image forming method for obtaining an image through color development, bleach-fixing, stabilization treatment and drying of a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material having a silver halide emulsion layer on a support and having a width of 350 mm or more, An image forming method characterized in that replenishment of a liquid to a stabilizing bath is performed at a central position in the width direction of a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material to be processed.

3) The image forming method as described in 2) above, wherein the stabilizing treatment tank is replenished with the liquid within 5 cm from the liquid surface in the tank.

4) In an image forming method for obtaining an image through color development, bleach-fixing, stabilization treatment and drying of a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material having a silver halide emulsion layer having a width of 350 mm or more on a support, An image forming method, characterized in that the stabilization treatment tank is replenished with liquid from two or more locations in the same tank.

5) In an image forming method for obtaining an image through color development, bleach-fixing, stabilization treatment and drying of a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material having a width of 350 mm or more having a silver halide emulsion layer on a support, An image forming method characterized in that liquid circulation in a stabilizing processing tank is carried out symmetrically with respect to a processing direction of a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material.

The present invention will be described in detail below. Conventionally, a multi-stage countercurrent system is used for the stabilization processing tank, and the photosensitive material that has left the final tank is transported to the drying process. At this time, the liquid in the stabilization treatment tank is circulated by continuously sucking and discharging the liquid by a circulation pump provided outside the tank. In addition, a replenisher is added to the stabilization processing tank according to the amount of the processed light-sensitive material.

In the present invention, the replenishment of the photosensitive material of the photosensitive material is performed by replenishing the stabilizing solution tank with the circulating solution in-line until the circulating solution in the stabilizing tank is sucked by the circulation pump and discharged. It became possible to reduce the in-plane variation of the white background. Further, the in-plane variation of the white background is subtly affected by the conveyance pressure of the photosensitive material conveyance roller in the processing device, and therefore, it is easy to cause a difference in processing equipment or a variation in the width direction.

In the present invention, replenishment of the stabilizing treatment replenisher is
It has been found that it is effective for improving the variation in the white ground, especially in a photosensitive material long in the width direction, although it is located at the center position in the width direction of the photosensitive material. Further, it was found that when replenishing the solution, the replenishing solution was added to the solution within 5 cm from the surface of the liquid to further improve the in-plane variation. This is considered to be an effect that the replenisher is stably diffused in processing a photosensitive material that is wide in the width direction.

In the present invention, it is possible to replenish the stabilizing treatment tank with 2 liquids.
It is performed from more than one location, but more preferably 2
~ 7 places. If the number of replenishment points is too large, the device itself becomes complicated, which is unfavorable in terms of maintenance and cost.

In the present invention, the width of the light-sensitive material is 350 m.
When it is m or more, the liquid circulation in the stabilization processing tank is performed symmetrically with respect to the traveling direction of the photosensitive material. The width of the photosensitive material is preferably 700 mm or less. The use of multiple liquid inlets and outlets for liquid circulation also has the disadvantage of complicating the device itself, but when processing wide photosensitive materials, the effect of reducing variations in white background can be greatly obtained. And is effective. Further, the total flow rate of the circulating liquid is preferably 20 ml / sec or more and 70 ml / sec or less, more preferably 40 ml / sec or more and 50 ml / sec or less at each jet.

One of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is four kinds of photosensitive emulsions of an infrared-sensitive emulsion, a blue-sensitive emulsion, a green-sensitive emulsion and a red-sensitive emulsion, which are yellow images, magenta images and cyan images. And a black image is formed.
The combination of the four types of photosensitive emulsions and the color image to be formed can be arbitrarily selected.

The emulsion for forming a black image may be any emulsion capable of forming a black image by imagewise exposure and development.

In a preferred example, the emulsion can be used in combination with a black image-forming layer containing a black coupler, and a plurality of couplers having different maximum wavelengths can be used instead of the black coupler. It is also a preferable example in which the emulsion contributes to the image formation of a plurality of layers, and as a result of the development of the emulsion, a black image is formed by a combination of a plurality of images. As an example of forming a black image by combining a plurality of images, for example, a yellow image layer for forming a yellow image contains the emulsion, and a blue image which is a complementary color of the yellow image (for example, a magenta image and a cyan image are There is one in which the formation layer also contains the emulsion and a black image is formed by developing the emulsion. Further, the emulsion may be contained in the magenta image forming layer and its complementary color image forming layer, or the emulsion may be contained in the cyan image forming layer and its complementary color image forming layer.

In another preferred example, the emulsion is contained in any of the yellow image forming layer, the magenta image forming layer and the cyan image forming layer, and a black image is formed by developing the emulsion. . In that case, the yellow, magenta, and cyan image forming layers may or may not contain any other emulsion.

The yellow image forming property, magenta image forming property, and cyan image forming property of the silver halide emulsion layer may be a single layer or a plurality of layers. Further, the order of coating from the support can be arbitrarily selected.

Blue-sensitive emulsions, green-sensitive emulsions, red-sensitive emulsions, and infrared-sensitive emulsions have at least the spectral sensitivity region of any emulsion with respect to the sensitivity of other emulsions at the wavelength. It is desirable that the sensitivity is 6 times higher. Here, the sensitivity is the density of a certain image layer (maximum density-0.3)
It is the reciprocal of the exposure amount required to obtain the density. More preferably, it is 8 times or more. Each photosensitive emulsion can be realized by sensitizing by selecting from a conventionally known spectral sensitizing dye.

In another form, a yellow image, a magenta image and a cyan image are formed by using three kinds of photosensitive emulsions of infrared light sensitive emulsion, green light sensitive emulsion and red light sensitive emulsion. The combination of the three types of photosensitive emulsions and the image to be formed can be arbitrarily selected. This form is particularly effective in that it can be combined with an inexpensive semiconductor laser light source.

The light-sensitive material used in the present invention is preferably of positive type. This positive-working light-sensitive material includes a light-sensitive material according to a direct positive-working method and a color reversal method, and when bleaching the image-formed silver, simultaneously bleaching a dye to form a positive image, The present invention also includes a light-sensitive material using a so-called silver dye bleaching method and a light-sensitive material using a color diffusion transfer method.

The grain size of each emulsion of the light-sensitive material according to the present invention is
It can be selected from a wide range in consideration of the required performance, particularly various properties such as sensitivity, sensitivity balance, color separation property, sharpness, and graininess.

As the silver halide emulsion, a surface latent image type silver halide emulsion forming a latent image on the surface by imagewise exposure may be used, and a silver halide emulsion forming a negative image by developing may be used. Further, using an internal latent image type silver halide emulsion in which the grain surface is not previously fogged, after image exposure, a fog treatment (nucleation treatment) is performed, and then surface development is performed, or after the image exposure, a fog treatment is performed. Those which can directly obtain a positive image by carrying out surface development while applying are also preferably used. The emulsion containing an internal latent image type silver halide emulsion grain is a silver halide grain having a photosensitive nucleus mainly inside the silver halide crystal grain and forming a latent image inside the grain upon exposure. The emulsion contained.

The fog treatment may be carried out by exposing the entire surface, chemically by using a fog agent, by using a strong developing solution, or by heat treatment or the like.

The whole surface exposure is carried out by immersing or moistening the imagewise exposed light-sensitive material in a developing solution or another aqueous solution, and then uniformly exposing the whole surface. The light source used here may be any light source as long as it has light in the photosensitive wavelength region of the photosensitive material,
High illuminance light such as flash light may be applied for a short time, or weak light may be applied for a long time. Further, the time of the whole surface exposure can be varied over a wide range so that the best positive image can be finally obtained depending on the light-sensitive material, the development processing conditions, the kind of the light source used and the like. Further, it is preferable that the exposure amount of the whole surface exposure gives a predetermined range of exposure amount in combination with the photosensitive material. Usually, when an excessive exposure amount is given, the minimum density is increased or desensitized, and the image quality tends to be deteriorated.

The technique of the fogging agent that can be used in the light-sensitive material is described in JP-A-6-95283, page 18, right column 39.
It is preferable to use the technique having the contents described in lines to page 41, left column, line 41.

The non-pre-fogged internal latent image type silver halide grains which can be used in the light-sensitive material mainly form a latent image inside the silver halide grains and have most of the photosensitive nuclei inside the grains. An emulsion having silver halide grains, including any silver halide such as silver bromide, silver chloride, silver chlorobromide, silver chloroiodide, silver iodobromide and silver chloroiodobromide. .

Particularly preferably, the coated silver amount is about 1 to 3.5.
A portion of the sample coated on a transparent support in the range of g / m ² was exposed to a light intensity scale for a defined period of time from about 0.1 to about 1 second, In the case of developing for 4 minutes at 20 ° C. using the following surface developer A which does not contain a silver halide solvent and develops only the surface image of the grain,
Another part of the same emulsion sample is similarly exposed, and the image inside the grain is developed. The maximum density which is not more than 1/5 of the maximum density obtained when developed with the following internal developer B at 20 ° C. for 4 minutes It is an emulsion showing the density. More preferably, the maximum density obtained using surface developer A is no greater than 1/10 of the maximum density obtained with internal developer B.

(Surface developer A) Metol 2.5 g L-ascorbic acid 10.0 g Sodium metaborate (tetrahydrate) 35.0 g Potassium bromide 1.0 g Water was added to 1000 ml (internal developer B) Metol 2 0.0 g Sodium sulfite (anhydrous) 90.0 g Hydroquinone 8.0 g Sodium carbonate (monohydrate) 52.5 g Potassium bromide 5.0 g Potassium iodide 0.5 g Water added 1000 ml Also internal latent image type silver halide Emulsions include those prepared by various methods. For example, US Pat. No. 2,592,2
Conversion type silver halide emulsions described in US Pat. No. 50 or US Pat. Nos. 3,206,316 and 3,31
Silver halide emulsions having internally chemically sensitized silver halide grains described in US Pat. Nos. 3,272,157 and 3,367,778, or US Pat.
No. 447,927, emulsions having silver halide grains incorporating polyvalent metal ions, or grain surfaces of silver halide grains containing the dopants described in US Pat. No. 3,761,276. Silver halide emulsion chemically weakly sensitized, or JP-A-50-8524 and 50-3
No. 8525 and No. 53-2408, silver halide emulsions composed of grains having a laminated structure, and others.
JP-A-52-156614 and 55-127549
Silver halide emulsions, etc.

The shape of the silver halide grains used in the present invention is a cube, an octahedron, a tetrahedron composed of a mixture of (100) plane and (111) plane, a shape having a (110) plane, a spherical shape, a tabular shape and the like. It may be any of Average particle size is 0.0
Those having a thickness of 5 to 3 μm are preferably used. The grain size distribution may be a monodisperse emulsion having uniform grain size and crystal habit, or an emulsion having no uniform grain size or crystal habit, but a monodisperse silver halide emulsion having uniform grain size and crystal habit. Is preferred.

The monodisperse silver halide emulsion is one in which the mass of silver halide contained in the grain size range of ± 20% around the average grain size rm is 60% or more of the total mass of silver halide grains. That is, preferably 70% or more, more preferably 8%.
It is 0% or more. Here, the average particle diameter rm is the product of the frequency ni and ri ^{3 of} particles having the particle diameter ri, ni × ri ³
Is defined as the particle size ri when the maximum is (3 significant digits,
The lowest digit is rounded down to 4). The term "particle size" used herein means the diameter of spherical silver halide grains, or the diameter of a projected image converted into a circular image of the same area in the case of grains having a shape other than spherical. . The particle size can be obtained, for example, by enlarging the particles with an electron microscope at a magnification of 10,000 to 50,000 times and measuring the particle diameter on the print or the area at the time of projection (the number of measured particles is Indiscriminately 1000
There shall be more than one).

A particularly preferred highly monodisperse emulsion is one in which the breadth of distribution defined by (grain size standard deviation / average grain diameter) × 100 = breadth of distribution (%) is 20% or less.
Here, the average particle size and the particle size standard deviation are ri defined above.
Shall be obtained from

The monodisperse emulsion can be obtained by adding a water-soluble silver salt solution and a water-soluble halide solution to a gelatin solution containing seed grains by the double jet method under the control of pAg and pH. In determining the addition rate, reference can be made to JP-A-54-48521 and JP-A-58-49938. As a method for obtaining a more highly monodisperse emulsion, the growth method in the presence of a tetrazaindene compound disclosed in JP-A-60-122935 can be applied. It is also preferable to add two or more monodisperse emulsions to the same color-sensitive layer.

The grain size of silver halide in each emulsion layer depends on the required performance, particularly sensitivity, sensitivity balance, color separation sharpness,
It can be determined from a wide range in consideration of various characteristics such as graininess.

The grain size of silver halide in one of the preferred embodiments is 0.1 to 0.6 μm for the red light-sensitive emulsion,
A green photosensitive emulsion having a range of 0.15 to 0.8 μm and a blue photosensitive emulsion having a range of 0.3 to 1.2 μm can be preferably used.

The light-sensitive material preferably contains a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound having a mercapto group. Preferred compounds include JP-A-6-95283, page 19, right column, 20 to
General formula [XI] described in line 49, particularly preferably, the same publication 2
General formula [XII] described on page 0, left column, line 5 to page 20, right column, line 2;
They are general formula [XIII] and general formula [XIV]. Specific examples of the compound include, for example, JP-A 64-73338, 11 to 1.
The compounds (1) to (39) described on page 5 can be mentioned.

The amount of the above mercapto compound added is
It may vary depending on the kind of the compound used and the layer to be added, and when it is added to the silver halide emulsion layer, it is generally in the range of 10 ^-8 to 10 ^-2 mol per mol of silver halide, and more preferably It is 10 ⁻⁶ to 10 ⁻³ mol.

The yellow image-forming, magenta image-forming and cyan image-forming silver halide emulsion layers in the light-sensitive material according to the present invention contain silver halide emulsions having different spectral sensitivity wavelength regions from each other, and The yellow, magenta and cyan image forming silver halide emulsion layers are contained in at least one of the yellow, magenta and cyan image forming silver halide emulsion layers;
It is preferable that a silver halide emulsion having a spectral sensitivity portion common to all emulsions having spectral sensitivity wavelength regions different from each other is contained.

As the magenta coupler used in the light-sensitive material according to the present invention, the compound represented by the general formula [M-1] described in JP-A 6-95283, page 7, right column has a spectral absorption characteristic of a coloring dye. Well preferred. Specific examples of preferable compounds include compound M-1 described on pages 8 to 11 of the same issue.
To M-19, and further other specific examples thereof include compounds M-1 to M-61 and 0239591 described in EP-A-0273712, pages 6 to 21.
No. 3, pages 1 to 223 described on pages 36 to 92
Other than the above representative examples.

The magenta coupler is a magenta coupler of another type.
It can also be used in combination with a tap coupler and is usually a silver halide.
1 x 10 per mole^-2Mol to 1 mol, preferably 1 ×
10 ^-2Mol ~ 8 x 10^-1Can be used in the molar range
It

Λm of the spectral absorption of the formed magenta image
ax is 530 to 560 nm.

Here, λL _0.2 and λmax of the spectral absorption of the magenta image formed by the light-sensitive material according to the present invention.
Is an amount measured by the following method.

That is, it is preferable that green light is applied through an ND filter to develop, and spectral absorption is measured, and λL _0.2 is preferably 580 to 635 nm.
The density of the ND filter is adjusted so that the maximum absorbance of the magenta image at this time is 1.0. λL _0.2 is a wavelength longer than the wavelength at which the maximum absorbance is 1.0 on the spectral absorbance curve of this magenta image, and the absorbance is 0.
Refers to a wavelength of 2.

The magenta image forming layer preferably contains a yellow coupler in addition to the magenta coupler. The difference in pKa between these couplers is preferably within 2, and more preferably within 1.5. A preferable yellow coupler to be contained in the magenta image forming layer is a coupler represented by the general formula [Y-Ia] described in JP-A-6-95283, page 12, right column. Among the couplers represented by the general formula [Y-1] in the publication, particularly preferable ones are those of the coupler represented by the [M-1] when combined with the magenta coupler represented by the general formula [M-1]. A coupler having a pKa value not lower than 3 by less than pKa.

Specific examples of the yellow coupler include compounds Y-1 and Y-2 described on pages 12 to 13 of JP-A-6-95283, and pages 13 to 17 of JP-A-2-139542. Compounds (Y-1) to (Y-58) of
Can be preferably used, but is not limited to these.

As the cyan coupler contained in the cyan image forming layer of the light-sensitive material according to the present invention, known phenol type, naphthol type or imidazole type couplers can be used. For example, a phenol-based coupler substituted with an alkyl group, an acylamino group, a ureido group, or the like, a naphthol-based coupler formed from a 5-aminonaphthol skeleton, and a 2-equivalent naphthol-based coupler having an oxygen atom introduced as a leaving group are typical. Target. Among these, preferred compounds include JP-A-6-95283, 1
General formula [C-I] and [C-II] of page 3 are mentioned.

The cyan coupler is usually used in a silver halide emulsion layer in an amount of 1 × 10 ^-3 per mol of silver halide.
It can be used in an amount of 1 to 1 mol, preferably 1 × 10 ^-2 to 8 × 10 ^-1 mol.

As the yellow coupler contained in the yellow image forming layer of the light-sensitive material of the present invention, known acylacetanilide type couplers can be preferably used. Specific examples of the yellow coupler include Y-I described in JP-A-3-241345, pages 5-9.
-1 to Y-I-55, or Y-1 to Y described on pages 11 to 14 of JP-A-3-209466.
The compound represented by -30 can also be preferably used. Further, couplers represented by the general formula [Y-I] described on page 21 of JP-A-6-95283 can also be mentioned.

Λm of the spectral absorption of the formed yellow image
ax is preferably 425 nm or more, and λL _0.2
Is preferably 515 nm or less. Where λL
_0.2 is defined for yellow images as well as for magenta images.

The yellow coupler is usually used in a silver halide emulsion layer at 1 × 10 ^-2 per mol of silver halide.
It can be used in an amount of 1 to 1 mol, preferably 1 × 10 ^-2 to 8 × 10 ^-1 mol.

In order to adjust the spectral absorption characteristics of the magenta color image, cyan color image and yellow color image, it is preferable to add a compound having a color tone adjusting action. As the compound for this, compounds represented by the general formulas [HBS-I] and [HBS-II] described in JP-A-6-95283, page 22, are preferable, and more preferably the general formula [HBS-I] described in page 22, HBS-II].

The yellow, magenta and cyan image forming layers are laminated and coated on the support, but the order from the support may be any order. One preferred embodiment is
For example, a cyan image forming layer, a magenta image forming layer, and a yellow image forming layer are formed from the side closer to the support. In addition to these, an intermediate layer, a filter layer, a protective layer and the like can be arranged as required.

An anti-fading agent may be used in combination with each of the magenta, cyan and yellow couplers in order to prevent fading of the formed dye image due to light, heat, humidity and the like. As a preferable compound, JP-A-2-66541 is known.
No. 3, page 3 phenyl ether compounds represented by the general formulas I and II, the general formula described in JP-A-3-174150
Phenolic compounds represented by IIIB, JP-A-64-9
An amine compound represented by the general formula A described in No. 0445,
General formulas XII, XIII, and X described in JP-A-62-182741
The metal complexes represented by IV and XV are particularly preferable for magenta dyes. Further, the compound represented by the general formula I ′ described in JP-A-1-196049 and the compound represented by the general formula II described in JP-A-5-11417 are particularly preferable for yellow and cyan dyes.

The oil-in-water type emulsion dispersion method used to add couplers and other organic compounds used in light-sensitive materials is usually carried out in a water-insoluble high-boiling point organic solvent having a boiling point of 150 ° C. or higher, if necessary. It is dissolved in combination with a boiling point and / or a water-soluble organic solvent, and emulsified and dispersed in a hydrophilic binder such as an aqueous gelatin solution using a surfactant. As a dispersing means, a stirrer, a homogenizer, a colloid mill, a flow jet mixer, an ultrasonic disperser or the like can be used. A step of removing the low boiling point organic solvent may be added after or at the same time as the dispersion.

As the high boiling point organic solvent that can be used for dissolving and dispersing the coupler and the like, various solvents known in the art can be used. Examples thereof include dioctyl phthalate, di-i-decyl phthalate and dibutyl phthalate. High boiling organic solvents such as phosphoric acid esters such as phthalic acid esters, tricresyl phosphate and trioctyl phosphate, phosphine oxides such as trioctyl phosphine oxide can also be preferably used. Further, the dielectric constant of the high boiling point organic solvent is preferably 3.5 to 7.0. It is also possible to use two or more high boiling point organic solvents in combination.

A compound preferable as a surfactant used for dispersing the photographic additives used in the light-sensitive material and adjusting the surface tension at the time of coating, and a hydrophobic group having 8 to 30 carbon atoms and a sulfo group or one thereof in one molecule. Those containing a salt are mentioned. Specifically, A- described in JP-A 64-26854
1-A-11 are mentioned. Further, a surfactant having a fluorine atom substituted in the alkyl group is also preferably used. These dispersions are usually added to a coating solution containing a silver halide emulsion, but it is better that the time after the dispersion is added to the coating solution and the time after addition to the coating solution is shorter, 10 each
The time is preferably within 3 hours, more preferably within 3 hours, and further preferably within 20 minutes.

In the light-sensitive material according to the present invention, a compound which reacts with an oxidized product of a developing agent is added to a layer between the light-sensitive layers to prevent color turbidity, or added to a silver halide emulsion layer. It is preferable to improve fog and the like. The compound for this purpose is preferably a hydroquinone derivative, and more preferably a dialkylhydroquinone such as 2,5-di-t-octylhydroquinone. Particularly preferred compounds are compounds represented by the general formula II described in JP-A-4-133056, and compounds II-1 to II-14 described on pages 13 to 14 of the publication and compound 1 described on page 17 are mentioned. To be

It is preferable to add an ultraviolet absorber to the light-sensitive material to prevent static fog and improve the light resistance of the dye image. Benzotriazoles are mentioned as a preferable ultraviolet absorber, and as a particularly preferable compound, a general formula III-described in JP-A-1-250944 is mentioned.
3, the compound represented by formula III described in JP-A-64-66646, and JP-A-63-18724.
UV-1L to UV-27L described in No. 0, JP-A-4-16
A compound represented by the general formula I described in JP-A No.
Examples thereof include compounds represented by the general formulas (I) and (II) described in No. 65144.

It is preferable that the light-sensitive material contains an oil-soluble dye or pigment because the whiteness is improved. Typical examples of oil-soluble dyes include compounds 1 to 27 described on pages (8) to (9) of JP-A-2-842.

In the light-sensitive material according to the present invention, the reflection density of the raw sample at the maximum wavelength of the spectral sensitivity of the cyan image-forming silver halide emulsion layer is preferably 0.7 or more. The above-mentioned light-sensitive material can be obtained by incorporating a coloring material such as a dye or black colloidal silver having absorption at the above wavelength into any of the photographic constituent layers.

The light-sensitive material according to the present invention may contain a water-soluble dye in any silver halide emulsion layer and / or other hydrophilic colloid photographic constituent layers.
Further, a dye having at least one of a carboxyl group, a sulfonamide group and a sulfamoyl group may be solid-dispersed and contained in any silver halide emulsion layer and / or other hydrophilic colloid photographic constituent layers. it can. The dye having at least one of the carboxyl group, the sulfamoyl group and the sulfonamide group is described in JP-A-6-952.
The compounds represented by the general formulas [I] to [IX] described in No. 83, pages 14 to 16 can be mentioned. The general formula [I]
Specific examples of the dyes represented by [I] to [VIII] in [IX] include, for example, JP-A-4-18545, 13-35.
Examples thereof include, but are not limited to, I-1 to VIII-7.

The layer containing the dye or colloidal silver is not particularly limited, but is preferably contained in the non-photosensitive hydrophilic colloid layer between the support and the emulsion layer closest to the support.

The silver halide can be optically spectrally sensitized with a commonly used sensitizing dye. The combined use of sensitizing dyes used for supersensitization such as internal latent image type silver halide emulsions and negative type silver halide emulsions is also useful for the silver halide emulsions of the present invention.
Regarding sensitizing dyes, Research Disclosure (R
References No. 15162 and 17643 can be referred to.

To the light-sensitive material according to the present invention, it is preferable to add a compound for adjusting the gradation of the feet. Preferred compounds include compounds represented by the general formula [AO-II] described in JP-A-6-95283, page 17. Preferred examples of the compound include compound II described on page 18 of the publication.
-1 to II-8 can be mentioned.

The amount of the compound [AO-II] added was 0.
Preferably 001~0.50g / m ^2, more preferably from 0.005~0.20g / m ^2. The compounds may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds. Further, a quinone derivative having 5 or more carbon atoms may be added to the compound [AO-II] for use. However, in any of these cases, the total amount used is 0.001 to 0.50 g.
It is preferably in the range of / m ² .

It is preferable that the light-sensitive material and / or the processing solution according to the present invention contain a fluorescent whitening agent, especially a water-soluble diaminostilbene-based fluorescent whitening agent, in order to improve whiteness.

In the present invention, as a method of changing the amount of the optical brightener in each stabilizing treatment tank, a method of adding the optical brightener after the stabilizing solution is charged into each layer and a method of adding the optical brightener are included. Another method is to change the amount of stabilizing solution and prepare with water. In addition, the fluorescent whitening agent in the tanks next to each other is 20
% Or more is preferable.

In the present invention, the replenishment of the stabilizing treatment liquid is suppressed by the in-line replenishment between the liquid suction port and the discharge port when the liquid in the stabilizing tank is circulated, thereby suppressing the in-plane variation of the white background. The effect is preferably obtained.

Gelatin is preferably used as a binder in the light-sensitive material. In particular, in order to remove the coloring components of gelatin, the gelatin extract is treated with hydrogen peroxide, or the raw material ossein is extracted with hydrogen peroxide treated, or it is produced from uncolored raw bone. By using ossein, gelatin having improved transmittance can be obtained. The gelatin is an alkali-treated ossein gelatin,
Any of acid-treated gelatin, gelatin derivative and modified gelatin may be used, but alkali-treated ossein gelatin is particularly preferable. The transmittance of gelatin is preferably 70% or more when a 10% solution is prepared and the transmittance is measured with a spectrophotometer at 420 nm.

Jelly strength of gelatin (by the Paggy method)
Is preferably 250 or more, particularly preferably 27
It is 0 or more.

The ratio of the gelatin to the total coated gelatin is not particularly limited, but it is preferably used in a large ratio, and specifically, a ratio of at least 20 to 100% by mass can obtain a preferable effect.

The total amount of gelatin contained on the image forming surface side of the light-sensitive material is preferably less than 11 g / m ² . The lower limit is not particularly limited, but it is generally preferably 3.0 g / m ² or more from the viewpoint of physical properties or photographic performance. The weight of gelatin can be determined by converting it to the weight of gelatin containing 11.0% by weight of water by the water content measurement method described in the Paggy method.

As the binder hardener, it is preferable to use a vinyl sulfone type hardener or a chlorotriazine type hardener alone or in combination. JP-A-61-2490
It is preferable to use the compounds described in No. 54 and No. 61-245153. Further, in order to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria which adversely affect photographic performance and image storability, it is preferable to add an antiseptic and an antifungal agent as described in JP-A-3-157646 to the colloid layer.

In the present invention, when the light-sensitive material is developed with a color developing solution, the developing solution, the bleach-fixing solution and the stabilizing solution are
Replenishing developer, replenishing bleaching solution, replenishing fixing solution,
Continuous development processing can be performed while replenishing the replenishing bleach-fixing solution and the replenishing stabilizing solution.

Examples of color developing agents that can be used in the developer used for developing the light-sensitive material include aminophenols and phenylenediamines, but p-phenylenediamines are preferable, and specifically N, N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine, diethylamino-o
-Toluidine, 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-
N- (β-methanesulfonamidoethyl) aniline, 4
-Amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N- (β-hydroxyethyl) aniline, 4-amino-N-ethyl-N-
(Β-hydroxyethyl) aniline, 4-amino-3-
Methyl-N-ethyl-N- (γ-hydroxypropyl)
It is a color developing agent such as aniline.

In addition, as an auxiliary developing agent, a conventional silver halide developing agent, for example, polyhydroxybenzenes such as hydroquinone, aminophenols, 3-pyrazolidones, ascorbic acid and its derivatives, reductones, etc., or a mixture thereof is used. May be included, specifically, hydroquinone, aminophenol, N-methylaminophenol (methol), 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone (phenidone), 1-phenyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidone. (Dimeson), 1-phenyl-
4-Methyl-4-hydroxymethyl-3-pyrazolidone (Dimeson S), ascorbic acid and the like can be mentioned.

All or part of these developing agents may be preliminarily contained in the emulsion so that they act on the silver halide during immersion in a high pH aqueous solution.

The developer used in the present invention may further contain a specific antifoggant and development inhibitor, or the developer additive may be optionally incorporated in the constituent layers of the light-sensitive material. Is also possible.

In the present invention, the color developing solution is added at an arbitrary p
Can be used in H range, but pH 9.5 from the viewpoint of rapid processing
˜13.0, more preferably pH
It is used in the range of 9.8 to 12.0.

The processing temperature for color development is preferably 35 to 70 ° C. A higher temperature is preferable because the treatment can be performed for a shorter time, but it is preferably not so high in view of stability of the treatment liquid, and treatment at 37 to 60 ° C. is more preferable.

The color developing solution contains, in addition to the color developing agent,
Known developer component compounds can be added. Usually, an alkaline agent having a pH buffering action, chloride ion,
Development inhibitors such as benzotriazoles, preservatives and chelating agents are used.

The photographic material is subjected to bleaching treatment and fixing treatment after color development. The bleaching process may be performed simultaneously with the fixing process. After the fixing process, the pH is usually adjusted with various alkaline agents during the stabilization process before use. The pH of the film surface of the light-sensitive material after processing and drying is preferably 7 or less.

The film surface pH was measured by leaving the light-sensitive material in an atmosphere of 23 ° C. and 55% RH (relative humidity) for 24 hours, and then using a pipette of 0.3 mol / L potassium nitrate aqueous solution on the surface. After dropping, the membrane surface pH electrode (GST-5213F) manufactured by Toa Denpa Co., Ltd. is brought into contact, equilibrated for 3 minutes, and the pH value may be read.

Further, known photographic additives can be used in the light-sensitive material of the present invention. Examples of the known photographic additives include RD17643, page 23, section III to page 29, section IX, and RD18716, page 648, upper right corner.
The compounds described on the right side of page 651 can be mentioned.

The reflection support used in the light-sensitive material according to the present invention is preferably a base paper, which has a polyolefin resin laminated on both sides thereof. The raw paper used as the support can be selected from the raw materials generally used for photographic printing paper. For example, natural pulp, synthetic pulp, a mixture of natural pulp and synthetic pulp, and various raw materials for laminated paper can be used. Generally, a natural pulp mainly composed of a softwood pulp, a hardwood pulp, a mixed pulp of a softwood pulp and a hardwood pulp, etc. can be widely used. Further, the support may be blended with additives such as a sizing agent, a fixing agent, a toughening agent, a filler, an antistatic agent and a dye, which are generally used in papermaking, and a surface size. An agent, a surface-strengthening agent, an antistatic agent, etc. may be appropriately applied to the surface.

The reflective support is usually 50 to 300 g /
A smooth surface having a mass of m ² is used, and
The resin for laminating both surfaces thereof is ethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, α-olefins such as homopolymers of polypropylene, at least two copolymers of the above olefins, or at least two of these various polymers.
It can be selected from a mixture of seeds and the like. Particularly preferred polyolefin resins are low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene or mixtures thereof.

The molecular weight of the polyolefin resin to be laminated on the reflection support is not particularly limited, but the range of 20,000 to 200,000 is usually used.

The polyolefin resin coating layer on the side of the reflective support on which the photographic emulsion is coated is preferably 25 to 50 μm.
m, and more preferably 25 to 35 μm. The polyolefin used to laminate the back side of the reflective support (the reflective side of the side on which the emulsion layer is provided) is usually a melt-laminated mixture of low and high density polyethylene. And this layer is often matted.

In forming a laminate on the front and back of a support used for a light-sensitive material, in general, the density of the resin layer on the front side is set slightly higher than that on the back side in order to enhance the flatness of the developed photographic paper in a normal environment. Means such as increasing the amount of laminating on the back side is used. Further, in general, the laminate on the front and back surfaces of the reflective support can be formed by melt extrusion coating the polyolefin resin composition on the support. In addition, it is preferable to perform corona discharge treatment, flame treatment, or the like on the surface of the support, or on both the front and back surfaces, if necessary. Further, it is preferable to provide a subcoat layer for improving the adhesiveness with the photographic emulsion on the surface laminate layer, or a backcoat layer for improving the printing writability and antistatic property on the back laminate layer. .

The polyolefin resin used for laminating the support surface (the surface on which the emulsion layer is provided) of the light-sensitive material according to the present invention is preferably 13 to 20% by mass, more preferably 1% by mass.
White pigment of 5 to 20% by mass is dispersed and mixed.

As the white pigment, inorganic and / or organic white pigments can be used, preferably inorganic white pigments. Examples of such white pigments include alkaline earth metal sulfates such as barium sulfate. Alkaline earth metal carbonates such as calcium carbonate, finely divided silicic acid, synthetic silicate silicas,
Examples thereof include calcium silicate, alumina, hydrated alumina, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, talc and clay. Of these, preferably, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate,
Titanium oxide, and more preferably barium sulfate and titanium oxide.

The titanium oxide may be of the rutile type or the anatase type, and the one whose surface is coated with a metal oxide such as hydrous alumina oxide or hydrous ferrite is also used.

In addition to the above, it is preferable to add a colored pigment and a fluorescent whitening agent in order to improve the antioxidant and whiteness.

Further, by coating a hydrophilic colloid layer containing a white pigment on the reflective support, sharpness is improved, which is preferable. As the white pigment, the same white pigment as described above can be used, but titanium oxide is preferable. It is more preferable to add a hollow fine particle polymer or a high-boiling point organic solvent to the hydrophilic colloid layer containing a white pigment because the sharpness and / or curl resistance can be improved.

As the reflective support used in the light-sensitive material of the present invention, a synthetic resin film support such as polypropylene whose surface is further coated with polyolefin can be used.

The thickness of the reflective support is not particularly limited, but 8
Those having a thickness of 0 to 160 μm are preferably used. Especially 9
The thickness of 0 to 130 μm is more preferable.

The shape of the surface of the reflective support may be smooth or have an appropriate surface roughness, but it is preferable to select a reflective support having a gloss close to that of a printed matter. For example, it is preferable to use a white support having an average surface roughness SRa defined by JIS-B0601-1976 of 0.30 to 3.0 μm. It is preferable that the image forming surface has a surface roughness of 0.30 to 3.0 μm. Therefore, a matting agent can be contained in the constituent layer of the photosensitive material on the image forming surface side. The layer to which the matting agent is added includes a silver halide emulsion layer, a protective film, an intermediate layer and an undercoat layer, which may be added to a plurality of layers, and is preferably the uppermost layer of the light-sensitive material.

The surface gloss of the light-sensitive material on the side of the image forming layer preferably has a gloss close to that of a printed matter. For example, the glossiness GS of the surface of the image forming layer after processing is measured by the method specified in JIS-Z8741. It is preferable that (60 °) is 5 to 60.

In the step of producing the color proof according to the present invention, the light-sensitive material is exposed on the basis of the halftone dot image information forming the color-separated yellow image information, magenta image information, cyan image information and black image information. I do. In the step, when at least a part of the halftone dot image information has a halftone dot area ratio of 40%, one square inch (6.45c).
The halftone image is converted so that the number of halftone dots per m ² ) is 200 × 10 ³ or more. Preferably 300 × 10 ³ or more, more preferably 400 × 10 ³
˜2000 × 10 ³ . The number of halftone dots can be measured by counting halftone dot images taken by an optical microscope or the like.

The halftone dot image produced by the image forming method of the present invention is particularly effective when it is a halftone dot image for high-definition printing by the AM screening method which has been generally used conventionally. . Further, the present invention is most effective when it is a halftone image formed by a frequency-modulated so-called FM screening method.

The halftone dot image information used to create these halftone dot images is a halftone dot image recorded on a film, and exposure is performed by bringing the film into close contact with the photosensitive material and scanning the light source. Is preferred. A vacuum adhesion method can be preferably used for adhesion. In these exposures,
It is preferable to perform the exposure through an optical means for improving the parallelism of the light from the light source. Examples of means for improving the parallelism of the light emitted from the light source include optical lenses, reflecting mirrors, a honeycomb structure or the like that absorbs components other than the parallel light on the wall surface through a linear tubular optical path, and the like. To be It is also possible to improve collimated light with an assembly of optical fibers.

It is also preferable to perform exposure by laser scanning based on the halftone image information.

To form an image using the image forming method of the present invention, it is preferable to use an automatic developing machine of the light source section scanning exposure system. As a concrete example of a system for forming a particularly preferable image, Konsensus L manufactured by Konica Corporation,
Examples include Konsensus 570 and Konsensus 2.

The present invention is preferably applied to a light-sensitive material in which a developing agent is not incorporated in the light-sensitive material, and particularly preferably to a light-sensitive material having a reflective support to form a direct ornamental image. Particularly, a color proof light-sensitive material can be mentioned.

[0112]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. Unless otherwise specified, “%” in the examples means “mass%”.

Example 1 <Preparation of Emulsion EM-P1> An aqueous solution containing ammonia and silver nitrate and an aqueous solution containing potassium bromide were simultaneously controlled by the control double jet method while controlling the aqueous solution containing ossein gelatin at 40 ° C. Addition, particle size 0.25μ
m cubic silver bromide core emulsion was obtained. At that time, pH and pAg were controlled so that a cube was obtained as a particle shape.

An aqueous solution containing ammonia and silver nitrate and an aqueous solution containing potassium bromide and sodium chloride (molar ratio KBr: NaCl = 50: 50) were simultaneously added to the obtained core emulsion by the control double jet method. To form an average particle size of 0.42 μm.
At that time, pH and pAg were controlled so that a cube was obtained as a particle shape. After washing with water to remove the water-soluble salt, gelatin was added to obtain an emulsion EM-P1. The breadth of the grain size distribution of this emulsion was 8%.

<Preparation of Emulsion EM-P2> While controlling the aqueous solution containing ossein gelatin at 40 ° C., an aqueous solution containing ammonia and silver nitrate, potassium bromide and sodium chloride (molar ratio KBr: NaCl = 95: 5). 2) was simultaneously added by a control double jet method to obtain a cubic silver chlorobromide core emulsion having a grain size of 0.18 μm. At that time, p so that a cubic shape is obtained as the particle shape.
H and pAg were controlled.

An aqueous solution containing ammonia and silver nitrate and an aqueous solution containing potassium bromide and sodium chloride (molar ratio KBr: NaCl = 40: 60) were simultaneously added to the obtained core emulsion by the control double jet method. To form an average particle diameter of 0.25 μm.
At that time, pH and pAg were controlled so that a cube was obtained as a particle shape. After washing with water to remove the water-soluble salt, gelatin was added to obtain an emulsion EM-P2. The breadth of the grain size distribution of this emulsion was 8%.

Emulsions EM-P1 and EM-P2 were coated on a transparent cellulose triacetate support so that the amount of silver coated was 2 g / m ² , respectively.
Second-light wedge exposure was performed, and the surface developing solution A was used for development at 20 ° C. for 4 minutes, and a portion of another sample was similarly exposed, and then developed with the internal developing solution B for 4 minutes at 20 ° C. The maximum density of surface development was about 1/12 of the maximum density of internal development. This confirmed that both EM-P1 and EM-P2 were internal latent image type silver halide emulsions.

<Preparation of Green-Sensitive Silver Halide Emulsion> After optimal sensitization by adding a sensitizing dye (GS-1) to the emulsion EM-P1, the inhibitor (T-1) was added per mol of silver. 100m
g was added to prepare a blue-sensitive emulsion Em-G1.

T-1: 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-
1,3,3a, 7-Tetrazaindene <Preparation of Red-Sensitive Silver Halide Emulsion> Optimum color sensitization by adding a sensitizing dye (RS-1, RS-2) to the emulsion EM-P2. A red photosensitive emulsion Em-R1 was prepared in the same manner as the green photosensitive emulsion Em-G1.

<Preparation of Infrared-sensitive Silver Halide Emulsion> Sensitizing dyes (IRS-1, IRS-2) were added to emulsion EM-P2 for optimum color sensitization, and an inhibitor (AF-1) was added. An infrared-sensitive emulsion Em-IFR1 was prepared in the same manner as the green photosensitive emulsion Em-G1 except that it was added.

AF-1: Sodium ascorbate.1
Water salt

[0122]

[Chemical 1]

[0123]

[Chemical 2]

<Preparation of Multilayer Light-Sensitive Material Sample> A high-density polyethylene was laminated on one side and a molten polyethylene containing anatase-type titanium oxide dispersed in a content of 15% by mass was laminated on the other side, and the thickness was 110 μm. The above-mentioned Em-G1, Em-R1 and Em-I are provided on a paper pulp reflective support.
Using each emulsion of FR1, each layer having the layer constitution shown below was coated on the polyethylene layer side containing titanium oxide, and on the back side, gelatin 6.0 g / m ² , silica matting agent 0.
A multilayer photosensitive material sample 101 coated with 65 g / m ² was prepared. The numerical value of each material indicates the coating amount (g / m ² ).

H-1 and H-2 were added as hardeners. As the coating aid and the dispersing aid, the surfactant S is used.
It was prepared by adding U-1, SU-2 and SU-3. Sample 1
The gelatin coating amount of No. 01 was 11.72 g / m ² .

SU-1: sulfosuccinic acid di (2-ethylhexyl) ester sodium salt SU-2: sulfosuccinic acid di (2,2,3,3,4,4,4)
5,5-octafluoropentyl) ester sodium salt SU-3: sodium tri-i-propylnaphthalene sulfonate H-1: 2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-s-triazine sodium salt H-2: tetrakis (Vinylsulfonylmethyl) methane <Layer structure of multilayer photosensitive material sample 101> Eighth layer (UV absorbing layer) Gelatin 1.60 UV absorbing agent (UV-1) 0.070 UV absorbing agent (UV-2) 0.025 Ultraviolet absorber (UV-3) 0.120 Surfactant (SU-3) 0.002 Silica matting agent 0.01 Hardener (H-1) 0.008 7th layer (red sensitive layer) Gelatin 1. 25 Red-sensitive emulsion (Em-R1) 0.35 Magenta coupler (M-1) 0.25 Yellow coupler (Y-2) 0.02 Antistaining agent (HQ-1) 0. 35 Surfactant (SU-3) 0.003 Inhibitor (T-1, T-2, T-3) (molar ratio 1: 1: 1) 0.0036 High boiling organic solvent (SO-1) 0. 38 6th layer (intermediate layer) Gelatin 0.80 Hydroquinone derivative (HQ-2) 0.04 Hydroquinone derivative (HQ-3) 0.02 Surfactant (SU-1) 0.002 High boiling point solvent (SO-2) ) 0.005 Anti-irradiation dye (AI-2) 0.050 Hardener (H-2) 0.012 Fifth layer (green sensitive layer) Gelatin 0.90 Green sensitive emulsion (Em-G1) 0.37 Cyan coupler (C-1) 0.35 Anti-staining agent (HQ-1) 0.02 Surfactant (SU-3) 0.002 Inhibitor (T-1, T-2, T-3) (molar ratio) 1: 1: 1) 0.002 high boiling organic solvent (SO-2) 0.40 4 layers (intermediate layer) Gelatin 0.08 Hydroquinone derivative (HQ-2) 0.04 Hydroquinone derivative (HQ-3) 0.02 Surfactant (SU-1) 0.001 High boiling point solvent (SO-2) 0 0.005 Anti-irradiation dye (AI-1) 0.045 Hardener (H-2) 0.012 Third layer (infrared photosensitive layer) Gelatin 1.10 Infrared photosensitive emulsion (Em-IFR1) 0. 40 Yellow coupler (Y-1) 0.19 Yellow coupler (Y-2) 0.19 Stain inhibitor (HQ-1) 0.04 Surfactant (SU-3) 0.002 Inhibitor (T-1, T-2, T-3) (molar ratio 1: 1: 1) 0.004 high boiling point organic solvent (SO-1) 0.30 second layer (intermediate layer) gelatin 1.20 hydroquinone derivative (HQ-2) 0.04 Hydroquinone invitation Body (HQ-3) 0.02 High boiling point solvent (SO-2) 0.005 Sea surface active agent (SU-1) 0.001 Anti-irradiation dye (AI-3) 0.150 Anti-irradiation dye (AI-) 4) 0.010 Hardener (H-2) 0.017 First layer (white pigment-containing layer) Gelatin 2.00 Styrene / butyl methacrylate / 2-sulfoethyl methacrylate copolymer / sodium salt 0.12 Black colloid Silver 0.08 Polyvinylpyrrolidone 0.10 White pigment Surfactant (SU-2) 0.002 shown in Table 1

[0127]

[Chemical 3]

[0128]

[Chemical 4]

[0129]

[Chemical 5]

SO-1: trioctylphosphine oxide SO-2: di (i-decyl) phthalate HQ-1: 2,5-di (t-butyl) hydroquinone HQ-2: 2,5-di ((1, 1-dimethyl-4-hexyloxycarbonyl) butyl) hydroquinone HQ-3: 2,5-di-sec-dodecylhydroquinone and 2,5-di-sec-tetradecylhydroquinone and 2-sec-dodecyl-5-sec- Mixture of tetradecylhydroquinone in a mass ratio of 1: 1: 2 T-2: 1- (3-acetamidophenyl) -5-mercaptotetrazole T-3: N-benzyladenine A laser scanning exposure apparatus described below for the obtained sample. so,
Infrared laser light (semiconductor laser: GaAlAs, λmax; about 780 nm), red laser light (semiconductor laser: AlGaInAs, λma) on the halftone dot test chart.
x; about 670 nm) and green laser light (helium / neon laser, λmax; about 544 nm).
In addition, the sample was suction-adhered to the rotating drum, and the number of rotations was 2000 points / min. However, at that time, 12 infrared semiconductor lasers were arranged, and the multilayer photosensitive material sample was simultaneously exposed as 12 beams of laser light through an optical means.

The exposed sample was processed by the following processing steps to obtain a white background image. This was designated as Sample 101.

(Processing step-1) Treatment process temperature time Immersion (developer) 37 ℃ for 12 seconds Fog exposure-12 seconds Color development 37 ℃ 95 seconds Bleach-fixing 35 ℃ 45 seconds Stabilization treatment 25-30 ° C First tank 15 seconds Second tank 15 seconds Third tank 15 seconds Drying 60-85 ° C 40 seconds The composition of the treatment liquid in each step is as follows.

(Color developer composition) Benzyl alcohol 15.0 ml Ceric sulfate 0.015 g Ethylene glycol 8.0 ml Potassium sulfite 2.5 g Potassium bromide 0.6 g Sodium chloride 0.2 g Potassium carbonate 25.0 g T-1 0.1 g Hydroxylamine sulfate 5.0 g Diethylenetriamine sodium pentaacetate 2.0 g 4-Amino-N-ethyl-N- (β-hydroxyethyl) aniline sulfate 4.5 g Optical brightener (4,4′-diamino Stilbene disulfonic acid derivative) 1.0 g Potassium hydroxide 2.0 g Diethylene glycol 15.0 ml Water is added to bring the total volume to 1000 ml, and the pH is adjusted to 10.15.

(Composition of bleach-fixing solution) Diethylenetriamine pentaacetate ferric ammonium 90.0 g Diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid 3.0 g Ammonium thiosulfate (70% aqueous solution) 180.0 ml Ammonium sulfite (40% aqueous solution) 27.5 ml 3-Mercapto-1 , 2,4-Triazole 0.15 g Adjust the pH to 7.1 with potassium carbonate or glacial acetic acid, and add water to make 1000 ml.

(Stabilizing solution composition) o-phenylphenol 0.3 g potassium sulfite (50% aqueous solution) 12.0 ml ethylene glycol 10.0 g 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid 2.5 g bismuth chloride 0.2 g Zinc sulfate heptahydrate 0.7 g Ammonium hydroxide (28% aqueous solution) 2.0 g Polyvinylpyrrolidone (K-17) 0.2 g Optical brightener (4,4′-diaminostilbenedisulfonic acid derivative) 2.0 g Water Is added to bring the total volume to 1000 ml, and the pH is adjusted to 7.5 with ammonium hydroxide or sulfuric acid.

The stabilization treatment was a countercurrent system having a three-tank construction. The formulation of the replenisher for the running process is shown below.

(Color development replenisher) benzyl alcohol 18.5 ml cerium sulphate 0.015 g ethylene glycol 10.0 ml potassium sulfite 2.5 g potassium bromide 0.3 g sodium chloride 0.2 g potassium carbonate 25.0 g T-1 0.1 g Hydroxylamine sulfate 5.0 g Diethylenetriamine sodium pentaacetate 2.0 g 4-Amino-N-ethyl-N- (β-hydroxyethyl) aniline sulfate 5.4 g Optical brightener (4,4′-diamino Stilbene disulfonic acid derivative) 1.0 g Potassium hydroxide 2.0 g Diethylene glycol 18.0 ml Water is added to bring the total volume to 1 liter, and the pH is adjusted to 10.35.

(Bleach-fixing solution replenisher) Same as the above-mentioned bleach-fixing solution.

(Stabilizing Solution Replenishing Solution) Same as the above stabilizing solution.

The replenishment amount is as follows. Color developing solution 500 ml / m ² Bleach-fixing solution 350 ml / m ² Stabilizer 400 ml / m ² Development is Konica Digital Konsensu
Processing was continuously performed by using the automatic developing machine of No. s until the total amount of the replenished color developing solution was twice as much as the solution amount in the color developing tank. The liquid in the stabilization treatment tank was circulated at a rate of 45 ml / sec with a small pump attached outside the tank in all of the first to third tanks.

The liquid was replenished in the liquid on the upper left side in the sample advancing direction of each processing tank. Next, the liquid in the stabilization treatment third tank circulated at 45 ml / sec was changed so that the replenisher was replenished in-line with the circulating liquid before the liquid was discharged from the circulation pump into the tank. Samples 102 and 103 were obtained in the same manner as above except that the apparatus was used.

<< Evaluation of White Background >> The halftone dot image information of the original is input, and the white background at the following positions is X-marked for the exposed sample.
-Rite X-Rite 528 color tone (L ^* ,
a ^* , b ^* ) were measured.

The variation of the color tone (standard deviation of L ^* , a ^* , b ^* ) at the measurement points (nine points in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) was determined, and the results are shown in Table 1.

[0144]

[Table 1]

From Table 1, the samples 102 and 103 of the present invention are
It can be seen that the variation of the color tone is smaller than that of the comparative sample 101 and the variation is improved.

Example 2 Next, a device in which the replenishing port of the replenishing liquid is changed is used so that the liquid is replenished to the third tank for the stabilization treatment from the upper center part in the sample transport direction. Then, a sample 201 was obtained by using the multilayer photosensitive material sample 101. The liquid replenishment was changed to the upper left portion in the sample width direction instead of the upper center portion, and the same treatment was performed to change to the sample 202 and the upper right portion to obtain sample 203.

Furthermore, the liquid replenishment to the third tank for stabilization treatment is
Sample 204 was obtained in the same manner as above, except that the apparatus was changed to be 5 cm in the liquid in the tank, which is the center of the sample transport direction. Table 2 shows the results of the measurement performed in the same manner as in Example 1.

[0148]

[Table 2]

From Table 2, the samples 201 and 204 of the present invention are
It can be seen that the variation of the color tone is less than that of the comparative samples 202 and 203, and the variation is improved. It can be seen that the effect is particularly great when the replenisher 204 is replenished in the solution.

Example 3 Next, liquid replenishment to the third tank for stabilization treatment was carried out at two points in the tank (one at each of the upper part and the lower part on the left side wall of the tank with respect to the sample advancing direction).
Sample 301 was obtained by using a device in which a replenishing port for the replenisher was added and changed, and using the multilayer photosensitive material sample 101 in the same manner as above. In addition, a replenishment port is provided for each of the upper and lower parts of the right side wall.
A sample 302 was obtained as a place. Table 3 shows the results of the measurement performed in the same manner as in Example 1.

[0151]

[Table 3]

From Table 3, the samples 301 and 302 of the present invention are
It can be seen that the variation of the color tone is smaller than that of the comparative sample 101 and the variation is improved.

Example 4 Next, the circulating liquid in the third tank for stabilization treatment was mixed in a plurality (3
(4 places, 5 places), using a device with circulating fluid discharge ports installed (total circulation amount is 45 ml / sec, each circulating liquid discharge port can be attached to any place in the third tank) Similarly, using the multilayer photosensitive material sample 101, sample 4
01-404 were obtained. Table 4 shows the result of measurement performed in the same manner as in Example 1.

[0154]

[Table 4]

From Table 4, the samples 401 to 404 of the present invention are
It can be seen that the variation of the color tone is smaller than that of the comparative sample 101 and the variation is improved.

[0156]

According to the present invention, an image which is excellent in white background and has less in-plane variation can be obtained in producing a proof color image (color proof).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view (sample width 57 showing an example of a position where a white background color tone of an exposed sample is measured in the practice of the present invention.
0 mm).

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of a position for measuring a white background color tone of a sample that has been subjected to an exposure process in the practice of the present invention (sample width 35
0 mm).

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming method for obtaining an image through color development, bleach-fixing, stabilizing treatment and drying of a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material having a silver halide emulsion layer on a support and having a width of 350 mm or more, An image forming method characterized in that the liquid is replenished to the stabilization processing tank by in-line replenishment between the suction port and the discharge port in which the stabilization processing tank is circulated. 2. An image forming method for obtaining an image through color development, bleach-fixing, stabilization treatment and drying of a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material having a silver halide emulsion layer having a width of 350 mm or more on a support, An image forming method characterized in that replenishment of a liquid to a stabilizing bath is performed at a central position in the width direction of a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material to be processed. 3. The image forming method according to claim 2, wherein the stabilizing treatment tank is replenished with the liquid within 5 cm from the surface of the liquid inside the tank. 4. An image forming method for obtaining an image through color development, bleach-fixing, stabilization treatment and drying of a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material having a silver halide emulsion layer having a width of 350 mm or more on a support, An image forming method, characterized in that the stabilization treatment tank is replenished with liquid from two or more locations in the same tank. 5. An image forming method for obtaining an image through color development, bleach-fixing, stabilization treatment and drying of a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material having a silver halide emulsion layer on a support and having a width of 350 mm or more, An image forming method characterized in that liquid circulation in a stabilizing processing tank is carried out symmetrically with respect to a processing direction of a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material.