JP2004212936A - Processing method for silver halide color photosensitive material and color image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a silver halide color photosensitive material having superior color reproducibility of yellow, to provide a processing method for a silver halide color photosensitive material having very stable reproducibility even when development conditions vary, and to provide a color image forming method for obtaining an image independent of variation of development conditions and improved in color reproducibility, when hues fit for properties of paper of a print are reproduced at uniform density over the whole surface. <P>SOLUTION: In the processing method for a silver halide color photosensitive material, a silver halide color photosensitive material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one coupler represented by formula (1) on a support is processed with a processing solution containing at least one compound represented by formula (W). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material containing a coupler having improved color reproducibility of yellow and a method for forming a color image.

  Silver halide color light-sensitive materials have high sensitivity, excellent color reproducibility, and are suitable for continuous processing.Therefore, not only in the field of photography, but also in the field of printing, especially in the middle of printing It has been widely used in the field of so-called proofs for checking the state of finished printed matter.

  In the field of proofing, an image edited on a computer is output to a printing film, and the developed film is appropriately replaced and subjected to decomposing exposure to obtain yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C). By forming an image and forming an image of the final printed matter on color photographic paper, it has been performed to determine the suitability of the layout and color of the final printed matter.

  Recently, a method of directly outputting an image edited on a computer to a printing plate has gradually become widespread. In such a case, it is desired to obtain a color image directly from the data on the computer without using a film. In rare cases, a system using a silver halide color light-sensitive material enables high-quality image formation such as accurate dot image formation due to excellent sharpness and the like, while continuous processing is performed as described above. Because it is possible, and since images can be written to a plurality of color image forming units at the same time, high productivity can be realized.

  In a system for forming an area gradation image based on digital data, a halftone dot is divided into smaller units (here, these are expressed as pixels), and the pixels are exposed at an appropriate exposure amount to form an aggregate. It is possible to reproduce halftone dots. As a simple example, if one halftone dot is composed of 100 pixels, halftone dots are formed by exposing 50 pixels so that halftone% can be developed. You can do it.

  Actually, the coloring density and the area of the coloring region change depending on the exposure amount, the exposure beam diameter, and the like, and the dot percentage actually measured using a densitometer differs from the number of exposed pixels. In practice, after setting the exposure amount and beam diameter to appropriate areas, the number of pixels to be exposed is appropriately changed, and the work of finely adjusting the exposure amount is repeated. The conditions will be adjusted so that the dot gain is reproduced.

  Further, some printing papers have various colors depending on the application, and a proof for such a printed matter reproduces not only the color tone and dot gain of a printed image but also the color of the printing paper well. Things are required. In a system using silver halide color photosensitive materials, in order to reproduce these colored printing papers, it is necessary to adjust the amount of exposure to the white part of the image to produce an appropriate color, etc. Can be expressed.

  In addition to the technical development of an exposure system using such silver halide color light-sensitive materials, various efforts have been made over the years to bring the color reproduction obtained from silver halide color light-sensitive materials as close as possible to printed matter. Was. In particular, there is a high demand for yellow color development and color reproduction technology, and the conventionally used acylacetanilide type yellow coupler has a sharp color tone on the long-wave side of the spectral spectrum of the coloring dye, and has a large amount of reddish component. It was pointed out that there was a large deviation from the color tone of the printed matter. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-122969 proposes to apply a color developing agent for a commonly used ornamental color photographic system to a color proofing application. And the color reproducibility of yellow deteriorates. Further, in order to adjust the hue, a technique of adding a coupler having a different hue from yellow, which develops an image-like color in a yellow color-forming layer, has been disclosed.However, an essential means for improving both lightness and chroma is disclosed. Nevertheless, improvements were still desired.

  On the other hand, yellow couplers for silver halide color photography having a specific structure have been proposed for the purpose of improving color developability and color reproducibility. For example, JP-A-8-29932 discloses an acylacetanilide-type yellow coupler having a characteristic feature in an acyl moiety, JP-A-5-11416 discloses a malondiamide-type yellow coupler, and JP-A-4-218042 discloses a yellow coupler. Are cycloalkylcarbonylacetanilide type yellow couplers, respectively.

  Further, a material having an active propene type structure has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In particular, a proposal has been made that it can be preferably applied to a silver halide color light-sensitive material for color proofing when used with a specific high boiling point organic solvent ( For example, see Patent Document 2). However, as a result of intensive studies, silver halide color light-sensitive materials using these compounds are suitable for scanning exposure of low illuminance and long exposure time using a fluorescent tube, etc. In high-intensity, short-scan exposure systems used to obtain color images directly from computer data such as those described above, the coupler causes interaction with the silver halide grains, causing undesirable effects, and the desired photographic gradation. Turned out to be impossible.

  On the other hand, it is a novel photographic yellow coupler for the purpose of improving color development, color reproducibility, storage stability, etc., and is superior in color reproducibility and molar extinction coefficient to conventional acylacetanilide type yellow couplers. (For example, see Patent Documents 3, 4, 5, and 6).

  Since these couplers are preferable for color reproduction, they are considered to be applied to silver halide color light-sensitive materials for color proof use, and as a result of research, there is no interaction with silver halide emulsion grains as described above, and high illuminance It has been found that the method can be preferably used for a time scanning exposure method. However, when the development processing conditions such as the development temperature and the pH of the developer fluctuate due to the high molar extinction coefficient and excellent color developability, an extremely stable image can be obtained at a high halftone dot percentage, but the low It has been found that an image at a halftone dot percentage or a solid image portion with a light density have a disadvantage that they are sensitive to fluctuations in development processing conditions and have poor stability. In particular, when the color tone of the target printing paper is yellowish, as described above, or in the case of a so-called white background color reproduction in which the background of the image is light yellow, or the color is solidly colored to include a yellow component. However, there is a problem in that the area gradation image is faithfully reproduced. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-365745 discloses that, in terms of faithful reproduction of an area gradation image, monochromatic exposure is separately performed on a silver halide photosensitive material with a reference light amount, and the relationship between the exposure amount and the separated color density is determined. An image forming method is disclosed which secures color reproducibility with respect to fluctuations by managing the separated color development density. According to the description in the examples of the publication, the relationship between the exposure amount and the decomposed color density is obtained by performing monochromatic exposure, and it is disclosed that performance correction of the photosensitive material can be appropriately compensated by performing this correction. The relationship between the exposure amount and the decomposition color density is equivalent to the relationship between the exposure amount of the present invention and the amount corresponding to the amount of the image dye, and JP-A-2002-365745 discloses that the characteristics of the photosensitive material This document discloses what processing can be performed when the characteristics fluctuate by giving them as the separated color density, and what advantages can be obtained when describing the data as the separated color density. No statement is made as to whether this occurs. According to the present invention, in addition to the data on the characteristics of the photosensitive material, the relationship between the color of the pixel (the minimum unit of exposure constituting a halftone dot) and the amount corresponding to the amount of the image dye is provided as data. This is a method related to the method of determining the image forming conditions, which makes it easy to respond to changes in the spectral absorption of the coloring material of the recording material, etc., and also to meticulously respond to user preferences and differences in printing conditions. Only a part of this system is disclosed in the above publication.

On the other hand, in order to prevent the white background of the silver halide color light-sensitive material after the development processing from being stained, a technique of adding a fluorescent whitening agent to the silver halide color light-sensitive material or the processing solution is known. For example, it has been proposed to add a triazinylstilbene compound having a specific substituent on a triazine ring or a bistriazinyl arylenediamine compound having a specific substituent on a triazine ring to a treatment liquid ( For example, see Patent Documents 7 and 8), these compounds are effective for improving the white background after the treatment. However, inconsistencies due to variations in in-plane density and color reproducibility or fluctuations in development processing conditions occur when a coupler described in any one of general formulas (1) to (4) of the publication is used. There is no mention of the problem and the means for solving it.
US Patent No. 5,460,927 JP-A-8-29932 U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,689 U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,149 JP-A-10-148921 JP-A-2002-174888 JP 2001-281823 A JP 2002-139822 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a silver halide color light-sensitive material having excellent color reproducibility of yellow, in particular, color reproducibility extremely close to a target image with a hue without lowering of lightness and chroma. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material having extremely stable reproducibility even when the development processing conditions fluctuate. Furthermore, when reproducing the color tone according to the paper quality of the target printed matter at a uniform density over the entire surface, it is possible to stably reproduce an image with improved color reproducibility even when the development processing conditions fluctuate. It is another object of the present invention to provide a color image forming method for obtaining the same.

  The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following configurations.

  Claim 1. A silver halide color light-sensitive material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one coupler represented by the following general formula (1) on a support is represented by the following general formula (W) A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, characterized by processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound.

(Wherein, R ₁ represents a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group, aromatic group, heterocyclic group, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, amino group, m represents an integer represented by 1 or 2, When m is 2, two R _{1 s} may be the same or different from each other, and may be bonded to each other to form a ring, and R ₂ represents a group that can be substituted with an oxygen atom, and forms a color together with the oxygen atom. upon reaction with an oxidation product of a developing agent is a leaving radicals .G is _{-CO -, - C = NR 3} -, - PO -, - SO -, - represents a group selected from any of - SO ₂ R ₃ represents the same group as R _2. )

(Wherein, R ₁₁ and R ₁₂ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, R ₁₃ and R ₁₄ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and R ₁₅ and R ₁₆ each independently represent represent a group represented by the following general formula (W-R), Rw represents a hydrogen atom, a group represented by the following general formula (W-R), or _{-CH 2 CH 2 SO 3 M,} M is Represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom, an alkaline earth metal atom, an ammonium group, or a pyridinium group. R ₁₃ and R ₁₅ , or R ₁₄ and R ₁₆ may be bonded to each other to form a ring.)

(In the formula, A represents any one of a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a hydroxymethyl group, a 2-hydroxyethyl group, a 1-hydroxyethyl group, a 3-hydroxypropyl group, a 2-hydroxypropyl group, and a 1-hydroxypropyl group. , A may be the same or different. F, h and j represent 1 or 2, and g, i and k represent 0 or 1.)
Claim 2. A silver halide color light-sensitive material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one type of coupler represented by the general formula (1) on a support is represented by the following general formula (S) A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, which comprises processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of:

(Wherein, R _{21 to} R ₂₄ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and at least one of R _{21 to} R ₂₄ represents a group represented by the general formula (WR). R ₂₁ and R ₂₂ and R ₂₃ and R ₂₄ may be bonded to each other to form a ring. L represents a divalent linking group, and n represents an integer of 1 or more.)
Claim 3. A silver halide color light-sensitive material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one type of coupler represented by the following formula (2) on a support is represented by the formula (W). A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, characterized by processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound.

(Wherein, R ₁ represents a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group, aromatic group, or heterocyclic group, and R ₂ represents a substituent. Z is a non-metal atom which forms a ring together with a nitrogen atom and a carbon atom. X represents a group which is eliminated by a reaction with an oxidized form of a color developing agent.)
Claim 4. A silver halide color photographic material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one coupler represented by formula (2) on a support is represented by formula (S). A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, which comprises processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of:

  Claim 5. A silver halide color photographic material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one type of coupler represented by the following formula (3) on a support is represented by the formula (W). A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, characterized by processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound.

(Wherein, R ₁ and R ₂ represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, r represents an integer of 0 to 4, and when r is 2 or more, a plurality of R _{2 s} may be the same or different, and are further bonded to each other. and may form a ring .T is -COOR _3, -CONHR _3, and represents a group selected from heterocyclic, R ₃ by reaction of .X representing a substituent with an oxidation product of a color developing agent Represents a leaving group.)
Claim 6. A silver halide color light-sensitive material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one coupler represented by the general formula (3) on a support is represented by the general formula (S). A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, which comprises processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of:

  Claim 7. A silver halide color photographic material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one type of coupler represented by the following formula (4) on a support is represented by the formula (W): A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, characterized by processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound.

(In the formula, R ₁ and R ₂ each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or heterocyclic group.)
Claim 8. A silver halide color light-sensitive material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one coupler represented by the general formula (4) on a support is represented by the general formula (S). A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, which comprises processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of:

  Claim 9. A silver halide color light-sensitive material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one coupler represented by any of formulas (1) to (4) on a support, A treatment solution containing at least one compound represented by the formula (W) and at least one compound represented by the general formula (S), or at least one compound represented by the general formula (W) A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, characterized by processing with a processing solution containing a seed and a processing solution containing at least one compound represented by the formula (S).

  Claim 10. The relationship between the amount of exposure to the silver halide color light-sensitive material and the amount corresponding to the amount of image dye before the method of processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material according to claim 1 is performed. A method for obtaining energy required for image formation using a relationship between a pixel color and an amount corresponding to the amount of image dye.

Claim 11. Before the method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the substantial exposure time is 10 ⁻ based on digital data using the silver halide color light-sensitive material. A color image forming method, wherein image exposure is performed by short-time scanning exposure of ⁷ to 10 ^-3 seconds.

  Claim 12. Before performing the method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material according to any one of claims 1 to 9, an image is formed by using the silver halide color light-sensitive material so as to have an area gradation based on digital data. A color image forming method comprising exposing.

  Claim 13. 13. The color image forming method according to claim 11, wherein when performing image exposure based on the digital data, the image data is white in the image data after performing exposure for coloring white pixels in the image data. A color image forming method, wherein a pixel is exposed to an arbitrary color forming component so that the density is at least 0.01 or more larger than the density of the most obvious color.

Claim 14. 13. The color image forming method according to claim 11, wherein when performing image exposure based on the digital data, white pixels in the image data are subjected to exposure for coloring white pixels of the image data. Is converted to a value obtained by developing an arbitrary color-forming component, and the white background or ground-color component obtained by forming the arbitrary color-forming component on the most obvious background is represented by L ^* in the CIELAB color space of 0. A color image forming method, which comprises exposing a color to one or more reduced colors.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the color reproduction of yellow is improved, an image very similar to printing is provided, and when the output image surface is an image having a uniform color tone, even if the development processing conditions fluctuate, A silver halide color light-sensitive material having little variation in density and color tone was provided.

  The present inventors have assiduously studied and, as a result, surprisingly affected the sensitometric curve during development, particularly the low density portion, that is, the leg portion of the sensitometric curve, and particularly the low halftone dot portion or the low It has been found that the method is effective in reproducing an image such as the above-mentioned white background coloring, which stably forms a solid image having a uniform color tone. This eliminates the instability caused by fluctuations in the processing conditions of the low halftone dot portion and low density solid image portion, which were problems when employing a yellow coupler having extremely excellent color reproducibility and color development as described above. The inventor of the present invention has realized that the reproduction of a yellow image very similar to a printed matter and the in-plane uniformity of a color tone containing yellow or a yellow component, which is a problem in imparting a slight tint to a white background, are stably compatible. Found them. In addition, when the characteristics of the photosensitive material fluctuate due to fluctuations in the production lot of the silver halide emulsion of the photosensitive material or the like, in addition to the data of the characteristics of the photosensitive material as described above, the pixel (dots constituting halftone dots) When a slight tint is applied to a white background, a method is adopted in which the relationship between the color of the (exposure minimum unit) and the amount corresponding to the amount of the image dye is provided as data, and the image forming conditions are determined by a combination of the two. The present inventors have also found that uniformity of the in-plane variation of the color tone containing yellow or yellow component can be maintained.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.

  First, the couplers represented by the general formulas (1) to (4) will be described.

Among the groups represented by R ₁ in the compound represented by the general formula (1), examples of the substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group include an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, and an alkynyl group. . For example, dodecyl group, isodecyl group, octyl group, t-octyl group, neopentyl group, stearyl group, 2-ethylhexyl group, dodecyloxypropyl group, and cycloalkyl group include cyclohexyl group, cyclopropyl group, adamantyl group, and 2-hydroxyethyl group. Groups, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl group, benzyl group, vinyl group, allyl group, propargyl group and the like.

Similarly, examples of the substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group represented by R ₁ include a phenyl group, a 4-methoxyphenyl group, a naphthyl group, and a 2-aminonaphthyl group. Similarly, among the groups represented by R ₁ , substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic groups include pyrrolyl, furyl, benzofuryl, benzopyrrolyl, thienyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, pyrimidinyl, benzimidazolyl and the like. Is mentioned.

Similarly, examples of the alkoxy group represented by R ₁ include a dodecyloxy group, a pentyloxy group, a 3- (2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy) propyloxy group, and the like. Similarly, examples of the aryloxy group represented by R ₁ include a phenoxy group, a 4-chlorophenoxy group, a naphthyloxy group, and a 2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy group.

Similarly, the amino group represented by R ₁ includes a hexadecylamino group, a 2-ethylhexylamino group, a 4-dodecyloxyanilino group, a 3- (2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy) propylamino group, And an indazolinyl group.

Of the groups represented by R ₁ in the compound represented by the general formula (1), a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, and an amino group are preferred. More preferably, it is a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group.

In the compound represented by the general formula (1), the integer represented by m is 1 or 2, and when m is 2, a plurality of R _{1 s} may be the same or different from each other; To form a ring.

Examples of the group which can be substituted for the oxygen atom represented by R ₂ in the compound represented by the general formula (1) include a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group, aromatic group, heterocyclic group, carbamoyl group and the like. No.

  Examples of the substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group include an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, and an alkynyl group. Specific examples include an iso-propyl group, a t-butyl group, a neopentyl group, a trifluoromethyl group, a pentafluoroethyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a cyclopropyl group, and an adamantyl group.

The group capable of substituting for the oxygen atom represented by R ₂ in the compound represented by the general formula (1) may further have a substituent, and preferably has a dissociable group having a relatively small acidity. Preferably, the dissociable group includes, for example, a carboxyl group, a sulfamoyl group and the like.

The group represented by G in the compound represented by formula (1), -CO -, - C = NR 3 -, - PO -, - SO -, - SO 2 - group selected from any one of Represents As group represented by G, preferably -CO -, - PO -, - SO 2 - a, and still more preferably -CO -, - SO ₂ - it is.

Formula (2) represented by a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group represented by R ₁ in the compound, an aromatic group, a heterocyclic group, a substituted or unsubstituted formula in (1) represented by R ₁ Examples thereof include the same as the substituted aliphatic group, aromatic group and heterocyclic group. R ₁ is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, or aryl group, and more preferably an alkyl group. Preferred alkyl groups include an n-butyl group, an iso-propyl group, a hexyl group, a pentafluoroethyl group, a hydroxyethyl group, a 3-phenoxypropyl group, and the like.

The substituent represented by R ₂ in the compound represented by the general formula (2) is not particularly limited as long as it is a group that can be substituted with an amino group, and is a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group, substituted or unsubstituted. And a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group. Examples of the substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group include an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, and the like, and specifically, represented by R ₁ in the compound represented by the general formula (1). And the same groups as those described above. Similarly, examples of the substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group and the substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group include those exemplified for the group represented by R ₁ in the compound represented by the general formula (1). Similar ones can be mentioned.

The substituent represented by R ₂ in the compound represented by the general formula (2) is preferably an alkyl group or an aryl group, and more preferably an aryl group. Examples of the aryl group include a 2-chloro-4-stearyloxycarbonylphenyl group, a 2-methoxy-3-dodecyloxycarbonylphenyl group, and a 2-methoxy-4-phenylcarbonylamino group. No restrictions.

  Z in the compound represented by the general formula (2) represents a nonmetallic atom group forming a ring together with a nitrogen atom and a carbon atom. Examples of Z include 1,2,4-triazin-5-one, 1,3,5-triazin-2-one, 1,3-diazin-4,6-one, 4-pyrimidone, and the like. These may further have a substituent. Preferably, 4-pyrimidone is used.

  The atom represented by X in the compound represented by the general formula (2), which is eliminated by coupling with the oxidized form of the color developing agent, is a group which is eliminated by a nitrogen atom, or an atom which is eliminated by an oxygen atom. A halogen atom, hydrogen, and the like.

  Examples of the group leaving at the nitrogen atom include succinimide, phthalimide, pyrrole, pyrazole, 1,2,4-triazole, tetrazole, benzotriazole, imidazoline-2,4-dione, oxazolidin-2,4-dione, and indole And heterocyclic groups such as benzopyrazole, 2-pyridone and 2-pyrimidone; carbonamido groups such as trifluoroacetamide groups; sulfonamide groups such as methanesulfonamide groups; and arylazo groups such as naphthylazo groups. The group capable of leaving at a nitrogen atom is preferably a heterocyclic group, and preferably a heterocyclic group such as 1,2,4-triazole, imidazoline-2,4-dione, oxazolidine-2,4-dione. .

  Examples of the group that is eliminated by an oxygen atom include an aryloxy group such as a phenoxy group, a 4-methoxycarbonylphenoxy group, and a 4-arylsulfonylphenoxy group. Examples of the group leaving with a sulfur atom include an arylthio group such as a phenylthio group. Examples of the halogen atom include a chlorine atom and a bromine atom. Further, these groups may have further substituents as long as they can be substituted. X may be a photographically useful group.

The group represented by R ₁ and R ₂ in the compound represented by the general formula (3) represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and the substituent represented by R ₁ and R ₂ is not particularly limited, and may be a representative. Examples include, for example, alkyl, aryl, anilino, acylamino, sulfonamide, alkylthio, arylthio, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, and other groups.Other than these, a halogen atom, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, heterocycle, sulfonyl, Sulfinyl, phosphonyl, acyl, carbamoyl, sulfamoyl, cyano, alkoxy, aryloxy, heterocyclic oxy, acyloxy, sulfonyloxy, carbamoyloxy, amino, alkylamino, imide, ureido, sulfamoylamino, alkoxycarbonylamino, aryloxycarbonyl amino, Alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, heterocyclic thio, thioureido, carboxyl, hydroxyl, mercapto, nitro, each group such as sulfo, spiro compound residue, bridged hydrocarbon compound residue and the like are also mentioned. These groups may further have a substituent.

r is an integer of 0 to 4, and when r is 2 to 4, a plurality of R ₂ may be the same or different, and may combine with each other to form a ring.

As R ₁ in the compound represented by the general formula (3), preferably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryl group, a cyano group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group, and particularly preferably a hydrogen atom, An alkyl group and an aryl group.

As R ₂ in the compound represented by the general formula (3), preferably a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an acylamino group, a carbamoyl group, etc., and particularly preferably hydrogen Atom, alkyl group, alkoxycarbonyl group and acylamino group.

Group represented by T in the compound represented by formula (3) _is, -COOR 3, -CONHR _3, and a group selected from a heterocyclic group. Examples of R ₃ include the same groups as R ₁ or R ₂ in formula (3), and preferably include an alkyl group, an aryl group, and a cycloalkyl group. More preferably, it is an aryl group, for example, a 2-chloro-4-stearyloxycarbonylphenyl group, a 2-methoxy-3-dodecyloxycarbonylphenyl group, etc., but there is no particular limitation. Examples of the heterocyclic group include imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyrrole, thiophene, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, pyridazinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, furan, and thiadiazolyl. Preferred examples of the heterocyclic group include imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, and benzimidazolyl. Further, these heterocycles may have a substituent, and examples of the substituent include those similar to R ₁ or R ₂ in formula (3).

The substituted or unsubstituted aryl group represented by R ₁ and R ₂ in the compound represented by the general formula (4) is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms, for example, phenyl, Examples thereof include p-tolyl, m-chlorophenyl, naphthyl, and 2,6-dimethylphenyl. The substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group represented by R ₁ and R ₂ in the compound represented by the general formula (4) is a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group having 3 to 24 carbon atoms. , 2-pyrimidinyl, 2-benzothiazolyl, 2-thienyl, 2-furyl group and the like. The substituted or unsubstituted aryl group and heterocyclic group represented by R ₁ and R ₂ in the compound represented by the general formula (4) may further have a substituent. The same as R ₁ or R ₂ in (3) can be exemplified.

  Next, specific examples of the couplers represented by the general formulas (1) to (4), which are compounds according to the present invention, are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  The yellow coupler used in the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention can be prepared according to the method described in JP-A-10-148921, U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,149, JP-A-2002-174884 and the like. Can be synthesized.

  Next, the compound represented by Formula (W) will be described.

The substituents represented by R ₁₁ and R ₁₂ in the compound represented by the general formula (W) are not particularly limited, and may be the same as the substituents represented by R ₁ or R ₂ in the general formula (3). Things can be mentioned. R ₁₁ and R ₁₂ are preferably an aryl group or an alkyl group, and more preferably an alkyl group. Preferred alkyl groups are substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups having 1 to 16, more preferably 1 to 8, and particularly preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of the substituent include an alkoxy group, a sulfonic acid group, and an ethyleneoxy group. Is mentioned. Specific examples of the alkyl group represented by R ₁₁ and R ₁₂ include a methyl group, a propyl group, an iso-propyl group, an octyl group, a 3-hydroxypropyl group, a 2-sulfoethyl group, and a 2- (2-hydroxyethoxy) group. ) Ethyl group and the like. R ₁₁ and R ₁₂ are particularly preferably a hydrogen atom, a 2-hydroxyethyl group, a 2-sulfoethyl group, or the like.

As the substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups represented by R ₁₃ and R ₁₄ in the compound represented by the general formula (W), those similar to R ₁₁ and R ₁₂ can be preferably used.

The substituents represented by R ₁₅ and R ₁₆ in the compound represented by the general formula (W) are represented by the aforementioned general formula (WR), wherein A in the general formula (WR) represents a hydrogen atom, Group, a hydroxymethyl group, a 2-hydroxyethyl group, a 1-hydroxyethyl group, a 3-hydroxypropyl group, a 2-hydroxypropyl group, or a 1-hydroxypropyl group. Is also good. The groups represented by R ₁₅ and R ₁₆ preferably contain at least one hydroxyl group.

Groups represented by Rw in the compound represented by formula (W) is a group represented by formula (W-R), or -CH ₂ CH ₂ SO ₃ M. As the group represented by rw, preferably -CH ₂ CH ₂ SO ₃ M.

  Among the alkali metal atoms and alkaline earth metal atoms represented by M in the compound represented by the general formula (W), particularly preferred are Na and K. As the ammonium group, a tetraalkylammonium group is preferable, and examples thereof include tetrabutylammonium. Most preferably, M is Na and K in the compound represented by formula (W).

  Next, specific examples of the compound represented by Formula (W), which is a compound of the present invention, are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  The compound represented by formula (W) used in the method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention can be synthesized according to the method described in JP-A-2001-281823.

Next, the compound represented by formula (S) will be described. The substituent represented by R ₂₁ to R ₂₄ in the general formula (S) is not particularly limited, but may be the same as the substituent represented by R ₁ or R ₂ in the general formula (3). it can. R _{21 to} R ₂₄ are preferably an aryl group or an alkyl group, and more preferably an alkyl group. Preferred alkyl groups are substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups having 1 to 16, more preferably 1 to 8, and particularly preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of the substituent include an alkoxy group, a sulfonic acid group, and an ethyleneoxy group. Is mentioned. Specific examples of the alkyl group represented by R _{21 to} R ₂₄ include a methyl group, a propyl group, an iso-propyl group, an octyl group, a 3-hydroxypropyl group, a 2-sulfoethyl group, and a 2- (2-hydroxyethoxy) group. ) Ethyl group and the like. Particularly preferred as R _{21 to} R ₂₄ are a hydrogen atom, a 2-hydroxyethyl group, a 2-sulfoethyl group and the like. At least one of R _{21 to} R ₂₄ is a group represented by the general formula (WR). Further, among R _{21 to} R ₂₄ , at least one of the groups other than the group represented by the general formula (WR) is
—CH ₂ CH ₂ SO ₃ M. M represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom, an alkaline earth metal atom, an ammonium group, or a pyridinium group, and among the alkali metal atoms and alkaline earth metal atoms represented by M, Na and K are particularly preferable. is there. As the ammonium group, a tetraalkylammonium group is preferable, and examples thereof include tetrabutylammonium.

The divalent linking group represented by L is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include an alkylene group, a phenylene group, a naphthylene group, and a heterocyclic group. Examples of the alkylene group include an ethylene group, a propylene group, a butylene group, and a 1,4-cyclohexanediyl group, and these may further have a substituent. Examples of the phenylene group include a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,3-phenylene group, and a 1,2-phenylene group, and these may further have a substituent. Examples of the naphthylene group include a 1,5-naphthylene group and a 1,8-naphthylene group, and these may further have a substituent. Examples of the heterocyclic group include 2,6-pyridinediyl, 2,6-pyrimidinediyl, 3,6-pyridazinediyl, 1,4-phthalazinediyl, 3,5-isothiazoldiyl, and 3,5. — (1,2,4-triazole) diyl group and the like.
The substituent represented by L is preferably a phenylene group, a naphthylene group or a heterocyclic group. Particularly preferred are a phenylene group and a naphthylene group. n represents an integer of 1 or more, and is preferably 1.

  Next, specific examples of the compound represented by the general formula (S), which is the compound of the present invention, are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  The compound represented by the general formula (S) can be synthesized, for example, by the method described in JP-A-2002-296744.

The yellow coupler used in the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention is used in an amount of usually 1 × 10 ^-3 mol to 1 mol, preferably 1 × 10 ^-2 mol to 8 × 10 ^-1 mol, per mol of silver halide. Can be used. Further, the coupler of the present invention can be used in combination with other types of couplers. For the couplers used in the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention, the methods and techniques used for ordinary dye-forming couplers are similarly applied.

  As the magenta coupler used in the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention, a compound represented by formula (MI) or (M-II) described on page 2 of JP-A-8-328210 is preferable. Specific examples of preferred compounds include MCP-1 to MCP-41 described on pages 6 to 16 of the same publication. Further specific examples include compounds M-1 to M-61 described in EP-A-273,712, pages 6 to 21 and JP-A-235,913, pages 36 to 92. Among the compounds 1 to 223, there are compounds other than the above-mentioned representative examples.

The magenta coupler can be used in combination with other types of magenta couplers, and is usually 1 × 10 ^-3 mol to 1 mol, preferably 1 × 10 ^-2 mol to 8 × 10 ^-1 mol, per mol of silver halide. Can be used in a range.

  The λmax of the spectral absorption of the magenta image formed in the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention is preferably from 530 to 560 nm, and the λL0.2 is preferably from 580 to 635 nm. [lambda] L0.2 refers to a wavelength which is longer than the wavelength showing the maximum absorbance and has an absorbance of 0.2 when the maximum absorbance is 1.0 in the spectral absorbance curve of the image dye. This amount is an indication of the magnitude of the unnecessary absorption on the long-wave side of the image dye, and it is preferable that the wavelength is closer to λmax because the unnecessary absorption is smaller.

  The magenta image forming layer of the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention preferably contains a yellow coupler in addition to the magenta coupler. Preferred yellow couplers to be contained in the magenta image-forming layer of the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention include known pivaloylacetanilide type and benzoylacetanilide type couplers. Specific examples of preferable yellow couplers to be contained in the magenta image-forming layer of the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention include YCP-1 to YCP-39 described in JP-A-8-314079, pages 6 to 15, right column. The couplers represented may be mentioned, but are of course not limited thereto.

As the cyan coupler contained in the cyan image forming layer in the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention, a known phenol coupler, naphthol coupler, imidazole coupler, or azole coupler can be used. For example, a phenol coupler substituted with an alkyl group, an acylamino group or a ureido group, a naphthol coupler formed from a 5-aminonaphthol skeleton, a 2-equivalent naphthol coupler having an oxygen atom introduced as a leaving group, and the like are represented. You. Of these, preferred compounds include the general formulas [CI] and [C-II] described on page 13 of JP-A-6-95283. As the azole coupler, a pyrazoloazole coupler represented by the general formula [I] or [II] described on page 2 of JP-A-8-171185, or a compound represented by the general formula (I) described in JP-A-11-282138 )). The cyan coupler can be used in the silver halide emulsion layer in an amount of 1 × 10 ^-3 to 1 mol, preferably 1 × 10 ^-2 to 8 × 10 ^-1 mol, per mol of silver halide.

  In order to adjust the spectral absorption characteristics of the magenta image, the cyan image, and the yellow image, it is preferable to add a compound having a color tone adjusting action. As the compound for this, a phosphate ester compound represented by the general formula [HBS-I] described on page 22 of JP-A-6-95283 and a phosphine oxide compound represented by [HBS-II] are preferable. More preferred are compounds represented by the general formula [HBS-II] described on page 22 of the same publication.

  An anti-fading agent can be used in combination with each of the magenta, cyan, and yellow couplers to prevent fading of the formed dye image due to light, heat, humidity, and the like. Preferred compounds include phenyl ether compounds represented by general formulas I and II described on page 3 of JP-A-2-66541, phenolic compounds represented by general formula IIIB described in JP-A-3-174150, The amine compounds represented by the general formula A described in JP-A-64-90445 and the metal complexes represented by the general formulas XII, XIII, XIV and XV described in JP-A-62-182741 are particularly preferable for magenta dyes. Further, a compound represented by the general formula I 'described in JP-A-1-19649 and a compound represented by the general formula II described in JP-A-5-11417 are particularly preferred for yellow and cyan dyes.

  When an oil-in-water emulsion dispersion method is used to add the stain inhibitor and other organic compounds used in the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention, a water-insoluble high boiling organic compound having a boiling point of 150 ° C. or higher is usually used. If necessary, a low-boiling point and / or water-soluble organic solvent is used in combination in the solvent, and the mixture is dissolved 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. After or simultaneously with the dispersion, a step of removing the low boiling organic solvent may be added. Examples of high-boiling organic solvents that can be used to dissolve and disperse the stain inhibitor and the like include phosphates such as tricresyl phosphate and trioctyl phosphate, phosphine oxides such as trioctyl phosphine oxide, and Higher alcohol compounds represented by (ai) to (ax) described on page 5 of JP-A-4-265975 are preferably used. The high-boiling organic solvent preferably has a dielectric constant of 3.5 to 7.0. Further, two or more kinds of high-boiling organic solvents can be used in combination.

  As the silver halide emulsion used in the present invention, a silver halide emulsion comprising 95% by mole or more of silver chloride is preferable, and any halogen such as silver chloride, silver chlorobromide, silver chloroiodobromide and silver chloroiodide can be used. Those having a composition are used. Among them, silver chlorobromide containing 95 mol% or more of silver chloride, especially silver halide emulsion having a portion containing silver bromide at a high concentration is preferably used. Silver chloroiodide containing 0.5 mol% is also preferably used. In the silver halide emulsion having a portion containing silver bromide at a high concentration, the portion containing silver bromide at a high concentration may be a so-called core-shell emulsion or may be simply formed without forming a complete layer. A so-called epitaxy junction region in which only a region having a partially different composition may exist may be formed. It is particularly preferable that the portion where silver bromide exists at a high concentration is formed at the top of crystal grains on the surface of silver halide grains. The composition may change continuously or may change discontinuously.

  It is advantageous that the negative-working silver halide emulsion used in the present invention contains a heavy metal ion. This is expected to improve so-called reciprocity failure and prevent desensitization in high-illuminance exposure and softening on the shadow side. Examples of heavy metal ions that can be used for such purposes include Group 8 to Group 10 metals such as iron, iridium, platinum, palladium, nickel, rhodium, osmium, ruthenium, and cobalt, and twelfth metals such as cadmium, zinc, and mercury. Group transition metals and each ion of lead, rhenium, molybdenum, tungsten, gallium, and chromium can be mentioned. Among them, metal ions of iron, iridium, platinum, ruthenium, gallium, and osmium are preferable. These metal ions can be added to the silver halide emulsion in the form of a salt or a complex salt. When the heavy metal ion forms a complex, its ligand is cyanide ion, thiocyanate ion, cyanate ion, chloride ion, bromide ion, iodide ion, carbonyl, nitrosyl, ammonia, 1, 2, 4-triazole, thiazole and the like can be mentioned. Among them, chloride ion, bromide ion and the like are preferable. These ligands may be used alone or in combination of a plurality of ligands.

  These metal compounds can also be characterized as the depth of electron traps when contained in silver halide emulsion grains. Examples of the compound that gives a shallow electron trap having a depth of 0.2 eV or less include a second lead ion or a compound having a cyano ligand, which is effective for improving reciprocity failure, particularly low illumination failure. . Examples of the compound that gives a deep electron trap having a depth of 0.35 eV or more include halide ions and Ir, Rh, and Ru compounds having a nitrosyl ligand. These can be preferably used for improving high illumination reciprocity failure. It is also a preferable embodiment to use a compound that gives a shallow electron trap with a depth of 0.2 eV or less and a compound that gives a deep electron trap with a depth of 0.35 eV or more. These compounds are described in detail in JP-A-2000-214561, pp. 4-5.

  In order to allow the silver halide emulsion to contain heavy metal ions, the heavy metal compound may be added to any of the steps during physical ripening before formation of silver halide grains, during formation of silver halide grains, and during physical ripening after formation of silver halide grains. May be added at the location.

The heavy metal compound can be dissolved together with the halide salt and added continuously over the whole or a part of the grain forming step. Alternatively, it can be prepared by forming silver halide fine particles containing these heavy metal compounds in advance and adding them. The amount of the heavy metal ion added to the silver halide emulsion is preferably 1 × 10 ⁻⁹ mol or more and 1 × 10 ⁻² mol or less, more preferably 1 × 10 ⁻⁸ mol or more, per mol of silver halide. It is preferably at most 5 × 10 ⁻⁵ mol.

  Any shape can be used for the particles used. One preferable example is a cube having a (100) plane as a crystal surface. Also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,183,756 and 4,225,666, JP-A-55-26589, JP-B-55-42737, and The Journal of Photographic -To produce particles having a shape such as octahedron, tetradecahedron, dodecahedron, etc. by a method described in a document such as Science (J. Photographic Sci.) 21, 39 (1973), and use them. You can also. Further, particles having a twin plane may be used. Although grains having a single shape are preferably used, it is particularly preferred to add two or more kinds of monodispersed silver halide emulsions to the same layer. The particle size of the particles is not particularly limited, but is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 1.2 μm, more preferably 0.2 to 1.0 μm, in consideration of other photographic properties such as rapid processing property and sensitivity. It is.

  This particle size can be measured using the projected area or diameter approximation of the particle. If the particles are substantially uniform in shape, the particle size distribution can represent this fairly accurately as diameter or projected area.

  The distribution of the grain size of the silver halide grains used in the present invention is preferably a monodispersed silver halide grain having a variation coefficient of 0.22 or less, more preferably 0.15 or less, and particularly preferably a variation coefficient of 0.1 or less. That is, two or more monodispersed emulsions of 15 or less are added to the same layer. Here, the variation coefficient is a coefficient representing the width of the particle size distribution, and is defined by the following equation.

Coefficient of variation = S / R
(Here, S represents the standard deviation of the particle size distribution, and R represents the average particle size.)
As the apparatus and method for preparing a silver halide emulsion, various methods known in the art can be used.

  The emulsion used in the present invention may be obtained by any of the acidic method, neutral method, and ammonia method. The particles may be grown at one time or may be grown after seed particles have been made. The method of making the seed particles and the method of growing them may be the same or different.

  The form in which the soluble silver salt and the soluble halide salt are reacted may be any of a forward mixing method, a reverse mixing method, a simultaneous mixing method, and a combination thereof, but a method obtained by the simultaneous mixing method is preferable. Further, as one form of the double jet method, a pAg controlled double jet method described in JP-A-54-48521 can be used.

  JP-A-57-92523 and JP-A-57-92524 disclose a device for supplying an aqueous solution of a water-soluble silver salt and a water-soluble halide salt from an addition device disposed in a reaction mother liquor. No. 2,921,164, a device for continuously adding a water-soluble silver salt and a water-soluble halide salt aqueous solution in a concentration-variable manner, outside the reactor described in JP-B-56-501776. The reaction mother liquor may be taken out and concentrated by an ultrafiltration method to form a grain while keeping the distance between silver halide grains constant.

  If necessary, a silver halide solvent such as thioether may be used. Further, a compound having a mercapto group, a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound or a compound such as a sensitizing dye may be added during the formation of silver halide grains or after the completion of grain formation.

  The negative-working silver halide emulsion used in the present invention can be used in combination with a sensitization method using a gold compound and a sensitization method using a chalcogen sensitizer. As the chalcogen sensitizer, a sulfur sensitizer, a selenium sensitizer, a tellurium sensitizer, or the like can be used, but a sulfur sensitizer is preferable. Examples of the sulfur sensitizer include thiosulfate, triethylthiourea, allylthiocarbamide thiourea, allylisothiocyanate, cystine, p-v toluenethiosulfonate, rhodanine, and inorganic sulfur.

The amount of the sulfur sensitizer, it is preferred to vary the size, etc. of the effect of the type of silver halide emulsions applied or expectations, per mol of silver halide 5 × 10 ^-10 ~5 × 10 ^- A range of ⁵ mol, preferably 5 × 10 ^{−8 to} 3 × 10 ⁻⁵ mol is preferred.

As the gold sensitizer, various gold complexes such as chloroauric acid and gold sulfide can be added. Examples of the ligand compound used include dimethyl rhodanine, thiocyanic acid, mercaptotetrazole, mercaptotriazole and the like. The amount of the gold compound used is not uniform depending on the type of silver halide emulsion, the type of compound to be used, the ripening conditions, etc., but usually 1 × 10 ⁻⁴ mol to 1 × 10 ⁻⁸ per mol of silver halide. Preferably it is molar. More preferably, it is 1 × 10 ⁻⁵ mol to 1 × 10 ⁻⁸ mol. These compounds can be added not for sensitizers but for various purposes at the stage of preparing a coating solution.

  The chemical sensitization of the negative silver halide emulsion used in the present invention may be a reduction sensitization.

The silver halide emulsion used in the present invention is known for the purpose of preventing fog generated during the preparation process of a silver halide color light-sensitive material, reducing performance fluctuation during storage, and preventing fog generated during development. Antifoggants and stabilizers can be used. Preferred examples of the compound that can be used for such a purpose include a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic mercapto compound represented by the general formula (II) described in the lower section on page 7 of JP-A-2-14636. Preferable specific compounds include compounds (IIa-1) to (IIa-8) and (IIb-1) to (IIb-7) described on page 8 of the publication, and JP-A-2000-267235. Compounds described on page 8, right column, lines 32-36 can be mentioned. These compounds are added according to the purpose in the steps of preparing silver halide emulsion grains, chemical sensitizing step, finishing the chemical sensitizing step, and preparing a coating solution. When chemical sensitization is performed in the presence of these compounds, it is preferably used in an amount of about 1 × 10 ⁻⁵ mol to 5 × 10 ⁻⁴ mol per mol of silver halide. When added at the end of chemical sensitization, the amount is preferably about 1 × 10 ⁻⁶ mol to 1 × 10 ⁻² mol per mol of silver halide, and preferably 1 × 10 ⁻⁵ mol to 5 × 10 ⁻³ mol. More preferred. In the coating solution preparation step, when added to the silver halide emulsion layer, the amount is preferably about 1 × 10 ^-6 mol to 1 × 10 ^-1 mol per mol of silver halide, more preferably 1 × 10 ^-5 mol to 1 × 10 ^-5 mol. 1 × 10 ^-2 mol is more preferred. When it is added to a layer other than the silver halide emulsion layer, the amount in the coating film is preferably about 1 × 10 ^-9 mol to 1 × 10 ^-3 mol per 1 m ² .

  Other additives can be added to the silver halide emulsion used in the present invention for various purposes. For example, disulfide and polysulfide compounds such as A-20, C-1, C-9, C-14, C-15, C-16 and C-40 specifically described in JP-A-2-14636 It is preferable to use thiosulfonic acid compounds such as D-1, D-3, D-6 and D-8, inorganic sulfur and the like.

  In the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention, dyes having absorption in various wavelength ranges can be used for the purpose of preventing irradiation and halation. For this purpose, any of known compounds can be used. In particular, as dyes having absorption in the visible region, dyes of AI-1 to 11 described in JP-A-3-251840, page 308, and dyes having an absorption in the visible region are disclosed. The dye described in JP-A-6-3770 is preferably used.

  The silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention comprises a hydrophilic colloid colored with at least one diffusion-resistant compound on the side closer to the support than the silver halide emulsion layer closest to the support among the silver halide emulsion layers. It is preferred to have a layer. As the coloring substance, a dye or another organic or inorganic coloring substance can be used.

The silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention may have at least one colored hydrophilic colloid layer on the side closer to the support than the silver halide emulsion layer closest to the support among the silver halide emulsion layers. Preferably, the layer may contain a white pigment. For example, rutile-type titanium dioxide, anatase-type titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, barium stearate, silica, alumina, zirconium oxide, kaolin and the like can be used, but titanium dioxide is preferable among them for various reasons. The white pigment is dispersed in an aqueous binder of a hydrophilic colloid such as gelatin, for example, which allows the processing liquid to penetrate. The coating amount of the white pigment is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 50 g / m ² , and more preferably in the range of 0.2 to 5 g / m ² .

  Between the support and the silver halide emulsion layer closest to the support, a non-photosensitive hydrophilic colloid layer such as an undercoat layer or an intermediate layer may be provided at any position in addition to the white pigment-containing layer, if necessary. Can be provided.

  It is preferable to add a fluorescent whitening agent to the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention since whiteness can be further improved. The fluorescent whitening agent is not particularly limited as long as it is a compound capable of absorbing ultraviolet light and emitting visible light fluorescence, but is a diaminostilbene-based compound having at least one sulfonic acid group in a molecule. These compounds also have an effect of promoting the elution of the sensitizing dye out of the light-sensitive material, and are therefore preferable. Another preferred embodiment is a solid particulate compound having a fluorescent whitening effect.

  The silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention has a layer containing a silver halide emulsion spectrally sensitized to a specific region in a wavelength region of 400 to 900 nm. The silver halide emulsion contains one kind or a combination of two or more kinds of sensitizing dyes.

  As the spectral sensitizing dye used in the silver halide emulsion used in the present invention, any known compounds can be used. Examples of the blue-sensitive sensitizing dye are described in page 28 of JP-A-3-251840. Can be preferably used alone or in combination. As the green photosensitive sensitizing dye, GS-1 to GS-5 described on page 28 of the same publication are preferably used. As the red-sensitive sensitizing dye, RS-1 to 8 described on page 29 of the same publication are preferably used.

  These sensitizing dyes may be added at any time from the formation of silver halide grains to the end of chemical sensitization. In addition, as a method for adding these dyes, water or an organic solvent miscible with water such as methanol, ethanol, fluorinated alcohol, acetone, and dimethylformamide may be dissolved and added as a solution. May be added as a solution, emulsion or suspension in a water-miscible solvent having a density of more than 1.0 g / ml.

As a method for dispersing the sensitizing dye, a method of mechanically pulverizing and dispersing the sensitizing dye into fine particles having a particle size of 1 μm or less in an aqueous system using a high-speed stirring type dispersing machine may be used, as described in JP-A-58-105141. A method of mechanically pulverizing and dispersing fine particles of 1 μm or less in an aqueous system at a temperature of from −8 to 60 to 80 ° C., and a surface tension of 3.8 × 10 ⁻² N / described in JP-B-60-6496. m) or less, wherein the dispersion is dissolved in an acid substantially free of water and having a pKa of not more than 5, which is described in JP-A-50-80826. A method of adding and dispersing in a liquid and adding this dispersion to a silver halide emulsion can be used.

  Water is preferable as a dispersion medium used for dispersion, but the solubility may be adjusted by adding a small amount of an organic solvent, or the stability of the dispersion may be increased by adding a hydrophilic colloid such as gelatin.

  Examples of the dispersing device that can be used to prepare the dispersion include a high-speed stirring type dispersing device shown in FIG. 1 of JP-A-4-125563, a ball mill, a sand mill, an ultrasonic dispersing device, and the like. be able to.

  Further, in using these dispersing apparatuses, a method of performing a pre-treatment such as dry pulverization in advance and then performing a wet dispersing method as described in JP-A-4-125632 may be employed.

  The silver halide emulsion used in the present invention may contain one kind or a combination of two or more kinds of sensitizing dyes.

  Preferred compounds as a surfactant used for dispersing a photographic additive used in the silver halide color light-sensitive material according to the present invention and adjusting a surface tension at the time of coating include a hydrophobic compound having 8 to 30 carbon atoms in one molecule. And those containing a sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof. Specific examples include A-1 to A-11 described in JP-A-64-26854. Also, a surfactant in which a fluorine atom is substituted for an alkyl group is preferably used. These dispersions are usually added to a coating solution containing a silver halide emulsion, and the time until the addition to the coating solution after the dispersion and the time from the addition to the coating solution to the coating are preferably as short as 10 hours each. Within 3 hours, more preferably within 20 minutes.

  In the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention, a compound which reacts with an oxidized developing agent is added to a layer between the light-sensitive layers to prevent color turbidity, or is 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, more preferably a dialkylhydroquinone such as 2,5-di-t-octylhydroquinone. Particularly preferred compounds are those represented by the general formula II described in JP-A-4-133056, and include compounds II-1 to II-14 described on pages 13 to 14 and compound 1 described on page 17.

  It is preferable to add an ultraviolet absorber to the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention to prevent static fog and improve the light fastness of the dye image. Preferred ultraviolet absorbers include benzotriazoles. Particularly preferred compounds are compounds represented by the general formula III-3 described in JP-A-1-250944, and compounds represented by the general formula described in JP-A-64-66646. Compounds represented by III, UV-1L to UV-27L described in JP-A-63-187240, compounds represented by the general formula I described in JP-A-4-1633, and compounds described in JP-A-5-165144. Examples include compounds represented by formulas (I) and (II).

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

  In the silver halide color light-sensitive material according to the present invention, it is advantageous to use gelatin as a binder. If necessary, other gelatin, gelatin derivatives, graft polymers of gelatin and other polymers, proteins other than gelatin may be used. A hydrophilic colloid such as a sugar derivative, a cellulose derivative, and a synthetic hydrophilic polymer such as a homopolymer or a copolymer can also be used.

  As the hardener of these binders, it is preferable to use a vinyl sulfone hardener or a chlorotriazine hardener alone or in combination. It is preferable to use the compounds described in JP-A-61-249054 and JP-A-61-245153. It is preferable to add a preservative and an antifungal agent as described in JP-A-3-157646 in the colloid layer in order to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria which adversely affect the photographic performance and image storability. In order to improve the physical properties of the surface of the silver halide color light-sensitive material or the processed sample, a slipping agent or matting agent described in JP-A-6-118543 and JP-A-2-73250 is added to the protective layer. Is preferred.

  As the support used in the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention, any material may be used, paper coated with polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate, a paper support made of natural pulp or synthetic pulp, a vinyl chloride sheet, Polypropylene which may contain a white pigment, polyethylene terephthalate support, baryta paper and the like can be used. Among them, a support having a water-resistant resin coating layer on both sides of the base paper is preferable. As the water-resistant resin, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate or a copolymer thereof is preferable.

As the support having a water-resistant resin coating layer on the surface of paper, a support having a smooth surface having a mass of 50 to 300 g / m ² is usually used, but for the purpose of obtaining a proof image, a feeling of handling is required. to approximate the printing paper, 130 g / m ² or less of the base paper is preferably used, it is used further sheet of 70~120g / m ² is preferred.

  The support used in the present invention can be preferably used regardless of whether it has random irregularities or is smooth.

  As the white pigment used for the support, an inorganic and / or organic white pigment can be used, and an inorganic white pigment is preferably used. For example, sulfates of alkaline earth metals such as barium sulfate, carbonates of alkaline earth metals such as calcium carbonate, finely divided silica, silicas such as synthetic silicate, calcium silicate, alumina, alumina hydrate, Examples include titanium oxide, zinc oxide, talc, and clay. The white pigment is preferably barium sulfate or titanium oxide.

  The amount of the white pigment contained in the water-resistant resin layer on the surface of the support is preferably 13% by mass or more, and more preferably 15% by mass, in order to improve sharpness.

  The degree of dispersion of the white pigment in the water-resistant resin layer of the paper support according to the present invention can be measured by the method described in JP-A-2-28640. When measured by this method, the degree of dispersion of the white pigment is preferably 0.20 or less, more preferably 0.15 or less, as the variation coefficient described in the above-mentioned publication.

  The resin layer of the paper support having a water-resistant resin layer on both sides used in the present invention may be a single layer or a plurality of layers. It is preferable to form a plurality of layers and to include a white pigment at a high concentration in contact with the emulsion layer, because sharpness is greatly improved and a proofing image is formed.

  The center surface average roughness (SRa) value of the support is preferably 0.15 μm or less, more preferably 0.12 μm or less, because the effect of good gloss is obtained, and it is more preferable.

  The silver halide color light-sensitive material used in the present invention may be subjected to corona discharge, ultraviolet irradiation, flame treatment, etc. on the support surface, if necessary, and then directly or undercoating (adhesion of the support surface, antistatic property). Or one or more subbing layers for improving the properties, dimensional stability, rub resistance, hardness, antihalation property, frictional properties and / or other properties).

  When coating a silver halide color light-sensitive material using a silver halide emulsion, a thickener may be used in order to improve coatability. Extrusion coating and curtain coating, in which two or more layers can be applied simultaneously, are particularly useful as a coating method.

  As the exposure light source of the exposure apparatus used in the present invention, any known light source can be preferably used, but a laser or a light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as LED) is more preferably used.

  As a laser, a semiconductor laser (hereinafter, referred to as an LD) is preferably used because it is compact and the life of the light source is long. Also, LDs are used for applications such as optical pickups for DVDs and music CDs, barcode scanners for POS systems, and for applications such as optical communication, and have the advantage of being inexpensive and having relatively high output. have. Specific examples of LD include aluminum gallium indium arsenide (650 nm), indium gallium phosphorus (リ ン 700 nm), gallium arsenic phosphorus (610 to 900 nm), and gallium aluminum arsenide (760 to 850 nm). ) And the like. Recently, a laser emitting blue light has been developed, but at present, it is advantageous to use an LD as a light source having a longer wavelength than 610 nm.

  As a laser light source having an SHG element, light emitted from an LD or YAG laser is converted into half-wavelength light by the SHG element and emitted. Since a visible light is obtained, there is no green light source. Used as a light source in the blue region. As an example of this type of light source, there is a combination of a YAG laser and an SHG element (532 nm). Examples of the gas laser include a helium-cadmium laser (about 442 nm), an argon ion laser (about 514 nm), and a helium neon laser (about 544 nm and 633 nm). As an LED, an LED having a composition similar to that of an LD is known, but various LEDs from blue to infrared have been put to practical use.

  As an exposure light source used in the present invention, each laser may be used alone, or a combination thereof may be used as a multi-beam. In the case of an LD, for example, by arranging ten LDs, a beam composed of ten light beams is obtained. On the other hand, in the case of a helium-neon laser, the light emitted from the laser is split into, for example, ten light beams by a beam separator.

  In the case of an LD or LED, the intensity of the exposure light source can be directly modulated by changing the value of the current flowing through each element. In the case of an LD, the intensity may be changed using an element such as an AOM (acoustic optical modulator). In the case of a gas laser, a device such as an AOM or an EOM (electro-optic modulator) is generally used.

  When an LED is used as a light source, a method may be used in which the same pixel is repeatedly exposed by a plurality of elements as long as the amount of light is weak.

  Organic light-emitting elements may be used as light sources instead of these, and these are described in, for example, JP-A-2000-258846.

  In the present invention, the term "area gradation image" is used. However, this is not expressed by the density of the color of each pixel but by the size of the area of a portion colored to a specific density. And may be considered synonymous with halftone dots. Also, the terms density modulation and density modulation image are used, which means that the density of the color of a pixel is represented by changing the density, and is synonymous with a continuous tone image in a broad sense.

  One of the features of the present invention is that a halftone dot is formed as an aggregate of pixels whose density can be changed. In a system that forms an area gradation image based on digital data, it is possible to divide a halftone dot into smaller pixels, and to reproduce the halftone dot as an aggregate by exposing this pixel with an appropriate exposure amount. . As a simple example, if one halftone dot is composed of 100 pixels, halftone dots are formed by exposing 50 pixels so that halftone% can be developed. You can do it. In the case of normal area gradation exposure, the purpose can be achieved by developing Y, M, C, and black. However, if the density can be changed, overprint colors and spot colors can be reproduced, and the usefulness of the proof image becomes extremely high.

  One of the features of the present invention is to form an image using the relationship between the exposure amount of the silver halide photosensitive material and the amount corresponding to the amount of the image dye and the relationship between the pixel color and the amount corresponding to the amount of the image dye. The purpose is to find the necessary exposure. Any amount corresponding to the amount of image dye can be preferably used as long as it corresponds to the amount of image dye on a one-to-one basis. In extreme cases, the amount of the dye itself may be used. As the amount corresponding to the amount of the image dye, a density (optical density) often used in the field of printing, coordinates in the CIELAB color space, or the like can be used. For example, in the case of a Y dye, the B density, b * in the CIELAB color space, and the like are appropriate. These may be used in an appropriate combination amount. For example, a metric chroma in the CIELAB color space can be used for a C dye. One of the suitable ones is an analytical concentration.

  Analytical density is a concept of density that is often used in the field of photography. When Y, M, and C dyes are formed in an arbitrary amount, and when only the Y dye is formed in the same amount, the B density is analyzed analytically. The G density when only the M dye is colored in the same amount is called the analytical G density, and the R density when only the C dye is colored in the same amount is called the analytical R density. Analytical concentration is a conceptual quantity, but can also be determined by calculation. Regarding the analytical concentration, H. James, Ed., The Theory of The Photographic Process, Macmillan, New York, p. 524-529 (1977), which can be determined with reference to this. A useful embodiment of the present invention is a system using a silver halide photosensitive material having a reflective support. In this case, it is preferable that the analytical density is also represented as the reflection density. From the point of handling of numerical values, a numerical value converted from the original analytical density may be used, and it is preferable to multiply the analytical density by 100 and convert it to an integer, since it is easier to handle and it is preferable.

  In the present invention, the relationship between the exposure amount of the silver halide light-sensitive material and the amount corresponding to the amount of the image dye (here, the analytical density) is described. The light-sensitive material characteristic TBL in FIG. 2 is an example of this. For the relationship between exposure and density, create a color patch in all combinations where the exposure is changed in arbitrary increments, and use this measurement as a database to refer to this database when given any color. By doing so, the exposure amount of each layer can be obtained. However, in this case, in order to improve the accuracy, it is necessary to perform an enormous amount of measurements and create a database. On the other hand, in the method of expressing by the analytical density, by determining the relationship between the exposure amount of each of the Y, M, and C layers and the color density, the required exposure amount can be accurately obtained with a small amount of data. There is an advantage that it is easy to respond to a change in the color stage of the photosensitive material at the design stage or the like. The analytical density here does not need to particularly define the spectral conditions and the like, and it suffices if the data that defines the desired density and the density that describes the characteristics of the image forming material have the same definition. The status T generally used in the field of printing may be used, and in order to improve the accuracy, it is preferable to use the status A from the relationship between the spectral density distribution and the spectral product.

  In the present invention, the relationship between the color of the pixel and the amount corresponding to the amount of the image dye (in this case, the analytical density) is described. The density TBL of the photosensitive layer for each color in FIG. 2 is an example.

  Next, a processing operation for editing image data into exposure data will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the number (counter: i) of a pixel from which data is to be read is set to 1, and Y, M, C, K, and special color image data of pixel 1 are read. Next, the color of the pixel is determined by combining which color is being developed. This is accomplished by referencing a table. For example, in pixel 1, since only Y is colored, the color of the pixel is determined to be Y in the column where only Y in the color discrimination TBL is 1. Since Y and M are colored in the pixel 3, the color of the pixel is R. Similarly, the color of the pixel 4 is also K because only K is colored, and the color of the pixel 5 is K + M, which is an overprint color, since the pixel 5 is colored by K and M. Image data for each pixel is created by such conversion. Next, an exposure amount to be applied to each of the Y, M, and C image forming layers is read from a table to create this color, and the exposure amount to be applied to each layer is arranged for each pixel as image data. Transfer to

  A specific flow of this operation will be described with an example in which the characteristics of a silver halide photosensitive material are represented by an analytical density (integrated by multiplying by 100). The analytical density of each layer is determined by referring to the density TBL of each photosensitive layer for each color from the color of the pixel. In this example, it can be seen that pixel 1 develops only Y at level 1 (analytical density 110). Based on this, it can be seen from the photosensitive material characteristics TBL that the exposure amount of Y is at the level (n-4). Similarly, the exposure level for M and C can be determined. Exposure data is created for each pixel.

  When the processing for each pixel is completed, the counter is incremented by 1 and the processing for the next pixel is performed. Hereinafter, this process is repeated to create exposure amount data for each pixel. The timing of data transfer to the image output means may be performed in pixel units, at the time when data processing required for one main scan is completed, or at the time when all data processing is completed. Good. The image output means converts this data into a signal for controlling the device as necessary, and performs exposure.

  The image output means converts the exposure amount data into a drive signal for an exposure device as necessary based on the exposure amount data, and performs exposure. The process of converting the exposure device into a drive signal may be included in the image processing means. In the image output means, a data buffer may be provided as needed to adjust the timing of exposure.

  FIG. 2 shows the data structure assumed at this time. It is assumed that the image data has only data on whether or not each color is colored in the order of pixels. The color of the pixel is determined by referring to the table from the pattern of the combination of Y, M, C, K and the presence / absence of the spot color. Next, the exposure amount to be given to each layer is determined with reference to the table of the pixel colors and the exposure amounts of the Y, M, and C image forming layers. Separating the place where the color of the pixel is determined and the place where the amount of exposure of each image forming layer is determined from the color of the pixel is such that, for example, R can be set independently of simple addition of Y and M of a single color. It may be expressed by simple addition according to the required specification. By being able to set independently, an image closer to printing can be obtained, and an image in the case of printing in two colors of green and red using two image data can be obtained. It can be used for checking, and a highly useful system can be realized.

  Although the above description has described a case where the number of exposure devices is one, if the number of exposure devices is ten in the sub-scanning direction, pixels 1 to 10 represent pixels arranged in the sub-scanning direction, Data that is shifted by one pixel in the main scanning direction may be read as being represented by pixels 11 to 20.

  In general, where the density is low, even a slight change in density tends to be noticeable as a color change. Although the system capable of changing the density of halftone dots has various advantages as described above, it is possible to use an area where the fluctuation is conspicuous, and it is desired to further stabilize the color. It is rare. The effect of the present invention that the hue fluctuation before and after the continuous development processing due to the change of the halftone dot percentage of the secondary color is small irrespective of the storage state of the silver halide photosensitive material is the effect of the color required by the system capable of changing the halftone dot density. It is useful as a means to increase stability.

  In the case of a laser light source, the beam diameter is preferably 25 μm or less, more preferably 6 to 22 μm. Although smaller than 6 μm is preferable in terms of image quality, adjustment is difficult and processing speed is reduced. On the other hand, if it is larger than 25 μm, the unevenness increases and the sharpness of the image deteriorates. By optimizing the beam diameter, writing of a high-definition image without unevenness can be performed at high speed.

  To draw an image with such light, it is necessary for the light beam to scan over the silver halide color photosensitive material, but the silver halide color photosensitive material is wrapped around a cylindrical drum and rotated at high speed. A cylindrical outer surface scanning method in which a light beam is moved in a direction perpendicular to the direction may be adopted, and a cylindrical inner surface scanning method in which a silver halide color photosensitive material is brought into close contact with a cylindrical recess and exposed is preferably used. A plane scanning method may be adopted in which a polyhedral mirror is rotated at a high speed, and a silver halide color photosensitive material conveyed thereby is exposed by moving a light beam at right angles to a conveying direction. In order to obtain a high-quality and large image, a cylindrical outer surface scanning method is more preferably used.

  In order to perform exposure by the cylindrical outer surface scanning method, the silver halide color photosensitive material must be accurately brought into close contact with a cylindrical drum. In order for this to be performed properly, it is necessary that the wafer be transported while being accurately aligned. The silver halide color light-sensitive material used in the present invention is preferably used when the surface on the side to be exposed is rolled outward, so that the alignment can be more accurately performed. From the same viewpoint, the support used for the silver halide color light-sensitive material used in the present invention has appropriate rigidity, and preferably has a Taber rigidity of 0.8 to 4.0.

  The drum diameter can be arbitrarily set in accordance with the size of the silver halide color light-sensitive material to be exposed. The number of rotations of the drum can be arbitrarily set, but an appropriate number of rotations can be selected according to the beam diameter of the laser beam, the energy intensity, the writing pattern, the sensitivity of the photosensitive material, and the like. From the viewpoint of productivity, it is preferable that scanning exposure can be performed at higher rotation speed, but specifically, 200 to 3000 rotations per minute is preferably used.

  The method of fixing the silver halide color light-sensitive material to the drum may be fixed by mechanical means, or by providing a large number of fine holes that can be sucked on the drum surface according to the size of the silver halide color light-sensitive material. Alternatively, the photosensitive material can be sucked and brought into close contact. It is important to bring the silver halide color photosensitive material as close as possible to the drum in order to prevent troubles such as image unevenness.

  In the image forming method of the present invention, white pixels in the image data are exposed so that the density of each of cyan, magenta and yellow is at least 0.01 or more larger than the density of the most obvious color. By doing so, the effects described in the present invention, that is, various colored printing papers other than white can be handled, and the color tone of the halftone image can be adjusted in response to variations in manufacturing and various conditions during exposure and development. An image forming method that can be stabilized can be provided.

  Regarding the above-mentioned exposure conditions, it is preferable to perform exposure so that the density of each of cyan, magenta, and yellow is in the range of 0.01 to 0.8 with respect to the density of the most obvious color. The range is from 01 to 0.5, and particularly preferably from 0.01 to 0.3.

  Here, the density may be any of spectral conditions such as status A and status T known to those skilled in the art, and among others, status T known to those skilled in the art and used for evaluating printed images is preferable. The geometric conditions may be any of the conditions a to d defined by the geometrical conditions of illumination and light reception specified in JIS Z 8722-2000, 5.3.1, but the condition b Is preferred.

On the other hand, here, the most obvious color means the color of a white background when developed without exposure when a negative silver halide emulsion is used, or the exposure amount when a positive silver halide emulsion is used. And the color of a white background obtained with the highest L ^* .

In the image forming method of the present invention, when a white pixel in image data is obtained by independently developing each of cyan, magenta, and yellow, each of cyan, magenta, and yellow in the CIELAB color space is obtained. In the book, the exposure is performed such that each of the cyan, magenta, and yellow forms a color that is reduced by 0.1 or more in terms of L ^* in the CIELAB color space. In addition to the effects described in the invention, it is particularly preferable as a proof when printing on colored printing paper. In this case, each of cyan, magenta, and yellow is converted to L ^* in the CIELAB color space for the most obvious color. Then, it is more preferable to perform exposure so as to form a color which is reduced by 0.1 to 25, more preferably to perform exposure so as to form a color which is reduced by 0.1 to 15; It is most preferable to perform the exposure so that the color is reduced by 1 to 10 colors.

Here, the CIELAB color space refers to CIE 1976 (L ^* a ^* b ^* color space), and how to obtain the coordinates is described in JIS Z 8729-1994. In this color measurement, any of conditions a to d defined by JIS Z 8722-2000, 5.3.1 geometric conditions of illumination and light reception may be used, but condition b is preferable. . As for the spectral colorimetry, the first and second types of spectral colorimeters described in 5.2 Spectrophotometer may be used, or a spectral colorimeter according to these may be used. .

When the L ^* a ^* b ^* coordinates and the numerical values of density are limited in the present invention, the spectral condition is status T, the geometric condition is condition b, and standard light D50.

  Known compounds can be used as the aromatic primary amine developing agent used in the present invention. Examples of these compounds include the following compounds.

CD-1) N, N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine CD-2) 2-amino-5-diethylaminotoluene CD-3) 2-amino-5- (N-ethyl-N-laurylamino) toluene CD-4 ) 4- (N-Ethyl-N- (β-hydroxyethyl) amino) aniline CD-5) 2-Methyl-4- (N-ethyl-N- (β-hydroxyethyl) amino) aniline CD-6) 4 -Amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N- (β- (methanesulfonamido) ethyl) aniline CD-7) N- (2-amino-5-diethylaminophenylethyl) methanesulfonamide CD-8) N, N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine CD-9) 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-methoxyethylaniline CD-10) 4-amino-3-methyl -N-ethyl-N- (β-ethoxyethyl) aniline CD-11) 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N- (γ-hydroxypropyl) aniline Although it can be used in an arbitrary pH range, it is preferably pH 9.5 to 13.0 from the viewpoint of rapid treatment, and more preferably used in the range of pH 9.8 to 12.0.

  The processing temperature of color development according to the present invention is preferably 35 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less. The higher the temperature, the shorter the processing time is possible, which is preferable. However, from the viewpoint of the stability of the processing solution, it is preferable that the temperature is not too high.

  Conventionally, the color development time is generally about 3 minutes and 30 seconds, but in the present invention, it is preferably within 40 seconds, and more preferably within 25 seconds.

  A known developer component compound can be added to the color developing solution in addition to the above color developing agent. Usually, an alkali agent having a pH buffering action, a chloride ion, a development inhibitor such as benzotriazoles, a preservative, a chelating agent and the like are used.

  The silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention is subjected to bleaching and fixing after color development. The bleaching process may be performed simultaneously with the fixing process. After the fixing process, a washing process is usually performed. Further, as an alternative to the water washing treatment, a stabilization treatment may be performed.

  In the method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention, the compound represented by the general formula (S) can be added to any of a developing solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution, a bleach-fixing solution and a stabilizing solution. , A developer, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution, and a bleach-fixing solution. The amount of addition is not particularly limited as long as it can be dissolved and the desired effect can be obtained, but it is preferable to use the replenisher in the replenisher tank in a range of 0.1 g / L to 30 g / L. . More preferably, it is in the range of 1 g / L to 20 g / L, and more preferably in the range of 5 g / L to 10 g / L.

  The developing apparatus used for developing the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention includes a roller transport type in which the silver halide color light-sensitive material is transported between rollers arranged in a processing tank, and a belt. An endless belt system in which a silver halide color photosensitive material is fixed and transported may be used, but a processing tank is formed in a slit shape, a processing liquid is supplied to the processing tank, and a silver halide color photosensitive material is supplied. A transport method, a spray method for spraying the treatment liquid, a web method by contact with a carrier impregnated with the treatment liquid, a method using a viscous treatment liquid, and the like can also be used. When processing in large quantities, it is usual to perform a running process using an automatic developing machine. At this time, the replenishment amount of the replenisher is preferably as small as possible. And the method described in JP-A-94-16935 is most preferable.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described specifically with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

Example 1
A high-density polyethylene on one side and a fused polyethylene containing anatase-type titanium oxide dispersed at a content of 15% by mass on the other side. = 3.5, PY value = 2.7 μm), and each layer having the layer constitution shown in the following Table 1 was applied on the side of the polyethylene layer containing titanium oxide, and further on the back side, gelatin was 6.00 g / m 2. ^2. A multilayer silver halide color photosensitive material sample 101 coated with a silica matting agent of 0.65 g / m ² was prepared.

The coupler was dissolved in a high-boiling-point solvent, ultrasonically dispersed, and added as a dispersion. At this time, (SU-1) was used as a surfactant. (H-1) and (H-2) were added as hardeners. Surfactants (SU-2) and (SU-3) were added as coating aids to adjust the surface tension. Further, (F-1) was added to each layer so that the total amount was 0.04 g / m ² .

SU-1: sodium tri-i-propylnaphthalenesulfonate SU-2: di (2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate sodium salt SU-3: di (2,2,3,3,4,4, sulfosuccinate) 5,5-octafluoropentyl) sodium salt H-1: tetrakis (vinylsulfonylmethyl) methane H-2: 2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-s-triazine sodium HQ-1: 2,5-di -T-octylhydroquinone HQ-2: 2,5-di ((1,1-dimethyl-4-hexyloxycarbonyl) butyl) hydroquinone HQ-3: 2,5-di-sec-dodecylhydroquinone and 2,5- Mixture of di-sec tetradecyl hydroquinone and 2-sec-dodecyl-5-sec-tetradecyl hydroquinone in a mass ratio of 1: 1: 2 SO-1: trioctyl phosphine oxide SO-2: di (i-decyl) phthalate SO-3: oleyl alcohol SO-4: tricresyl phosphate PVP: polyvinylpyrrolidone

(Preparation of blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion)
The following (Solution A) and (Solution B) were simultaneously added to one liter of a 2% aqueous gelatin solution kept at 40 ° C. while controlling pAg = 7.3 and pH = 3.0, and the following (Solution C) and (Solution D) was added simultaneously while controlling pAg = 8.0 and pH = 5.5. At this time, pAg was controlled by the method described in JP-A-59-45437, and pH was controlled using sulfuric acid or an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution.

(A liquid)
3.42 g of sodium chloride
Potassium bromide 0.03g
200 ml with water
(B liquid)
Silver nitrate 10g
200 ml with water
(Liquid C)
Sodium chloride 102.7g
Potassium hexachloroiridate (IV) 4 × 10 ^-8 mol Potassium hexacyanoferrate (II) 2 × 10 ^-5 mol Potassium bromide 1.0 g
600 ml with water
(D liquid)
Silver nitrate 300g
600 ml with water
After completion of the addition, desalting is performed using a 5% aqueous solution of Demol N and 20% aqueous solution of magnesium sulfate manufactured by Kao Atlas Co., Ltd., and then mixed with an aqueous gelatin solution to have an average particle diameter of 0.71 μm and a coefficient of variation of particle diameter distribution. A monodispersed cubic emulsion EMP-101 having a silver chloride content of 0.07 and a silver chloride content of 99.5 mol% was obtained.

  The above compound (EMP-101) was optimally subjected to chemical sensitization at 60 ° C. using the following compounds to obtain Em-B101.

Sodium thiosulfate 0.8mg / mol AgX
Chloroauric acid 0.5mg / mol AgX
Stabilizer STAB-1 3 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Stabilizer STAB-2 3 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Stabilizer STAB-3 3 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Sensitizing dye BS-1 4 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Sensitizing dye BS-2 1 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Potassium bromide 0.2 g / mol AgX
Next, in the preparation of EMP-101, the average particle diameter was the same as that of EMP-101, except that the addition time of (Solution A) and (Solution B) and the addition time of (Solution C) and (Solution D) were changed. A monodisperse cubic emulsion EMP-102 having 0.64 μm, a variation coefficient of the particle size distribution of 0.07, and a silver chloride content of 99.5 mol% was obtained. Em-B102 was obtained in the same manner except that EMP-102 was used in place of EMP-101 in the preparation of Em-B101, and a 1: 1 mixture of Em-B101 and Em-B102 was used as a blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion. Used as

(Preparation of green-sensitive silver halide emulsion)
In the preparation of EMP-101, except that the addition time of (Solution A) and (Solution B), (Solution C) and (Solution D) was changed, the average particle size was 0.40 μm, the variation coefficient was 0.08, A monodisperse cubic emulsion (EMP-103) having a silver chloride content of 99.5% was obtained.

  The above-mentioned EMP-103 was optimally subjected to chemical sensitization at 55 ° C. using the following compounds to obtain Em-G101.

Sodium thiosulfate 1.5mg / mol AgX
Chloroauric acid 1.0mg / mol AgX
Stabilizer STAB-1 3 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Stabilizer STAB-2 3 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Stabilizer STAB-3 3 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Sensitizing dye GS-1 2 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Sensitizing dye GS-2 2 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Sodium chloride 0.5g / mol AgX
Next, in the preparation of EMP-103, the average particle diameter was the same as that of EMP-103 except that the addition time of (Solution A) and (Solution B) and the addition time of (Solution C) and (Solution D) were changed. A monodispersed cubic emulsion EMP-104 having a particle size of 0.50 μm, a coefficient of variation of 0.08 and a silver chloride content of 99.5% was obtained. Em-G102 was obtained in the same manner except that EMP-104 was used in place of EMP-103 in the preparation of Em-G101, and a 1: 1 mixture of Em-G101 and Em-G102 was used as a green-sensitive silver halide emulsion. Used as

(Preparation of red-sensitive silver halide emulsion)
The EMP-103 was optimally chemically sensitized at 60 ° C. using the following compounds to obtain a red-sensitive silver halide emulsion (Em-R101).

Sodium thiosulfate 1.8mg / mol AgX
Chloroauric acid 2.0mg / mol AgX
Stabilizer STAB-1 2 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Stabilizer STAB-2 2 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Stabilizer STAB-3 2 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Stabilizer STAB-4 1 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Sensitizing dye RS-1 1 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Sensitizing dye RS-2 1 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Supersensitizer SS-1 2 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Next, in the preparation of (Em-R101), the following compounds were optimally subjected to chemical sensitization at 60 ° C. to obtain Em-R102.

Sodium thiosulfate 1.8mg / mol AgX
Chloroauric acid 2.0mg / mol AgX
Stabilizer STAB-1 2 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Stabilizer STAB-2 2 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Stabilizer STAB-3 2 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Stabilizer STAB-4 1 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Sensitizing dye RS-1 2 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Sensitizing dye RS-2 2 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX
Supersensitizer SS-1 2 × 10 ^-4 mol / mol AgX

STAB-1: 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole STAB-2: 1- (4-ethoxyphenyl) -5-mercaptotetrazole STAB-3: 1- (3-acetamidophenyl) -5-mercaptotetrazole STAB-4: A 1: 1 mixture of p-toluenethiosulfonic acid Em-R101 and Em-R102 was used as a red-sensitive silver halide emulsion.

  Samples 111 to 127 in which the yellow coupler in the seventh layer of the thus obtained sample 101 was replaced with those shown in Table 2 in equimolar amounts were produced.

  Here, the exposure method will be described.

(Exposure method A)
Through a wedge whose density is continuously changing, using an appropriate color filter and ND filter, exposure to blue light from a halogen lamp as a light source for an exposure time of 0.5 seconds, after the development processing, within the sample surface A method in which both a white background portion and a maximum color density portion can be obtained with a sufficient area.

(Exposure method B)
Five LEDs of B were arranged in the main scanning direction as a light source, and the timing of the exposure was gradually delayed so that the same location could be exposed by the five LEDs. Also, an exposure head was prepared in which 20 LEDs were arranged in the sub-scanning direction and exposure for 20 adjacent pixels could be performed at one time. For G and R, exposure heads were prepared by combining LEDs in the same manner. The diameter of each beam was about 10 μm, the beams were arranged at this interval, and the sub-scanning pitch was about 200 μm. The exposure time was 5.0 × 10 ⁻⁷ seconds. Using this exposure unit, an exposure method using an amount of light such that the density of 100% of a halftone dot of a single yellow color after development processing becomes 0.2.

(Exposure method C)
An exposure method using the exposure unit described in the exposure method B, using a light amount such that the density of 100% halftone dot of a single color of yellow after development processing becomes a density such that a color difference with respect to a print target described below is minimized.

(Exposure method D)
Using the exposure unit described in the exposure method B, the sample surface is exposed by an exposure method using a light amount such that the density of 100% halftone dot of a single yellow color after the development processing is a density that minimizes the color difference with respect to a print target described later. An exposure method in which an image of 20% halftone dot can be obtained over the entire area.

(Exposure method E)
Using the exposure unit described in the exposure method B, an exposure method using an amount of light such that the density of 100% of the neutral (black) halftone dots after the development processing becomes a density that minimizes the color difference with respect to a print target described below, An exposure method capable of obtaining a neutral image having a dot of 20% over the entire surface of a sample.

(Exposure method F)
Exposure to blue light using a halogen lamp as a light source with an appropriate color filter and ND filter for an exposure time of 0.5 seconds so that the yellow monochromatic density becomes 0.2 over the entire sample surface after the development processing. Exposure method with a large light amount.

(Exposure method G)
Using an appropriate color filter and an ND filter, exposure with a 0.5-second exposure time using blue light from a halogen lamp as a light source. An exposure method using a light amount that has a minimum density.

(Exposure method H)
Exposure with blue light using a halogen lamp as a light source with an appropriate color filter and ND filter for an exposure time of 0.5 seconds minimizes the color difference between a single yellow color and a target described later over the entire surface of the sample. An exposure method in which a halftone dot film such that an obtained image has 20% of halftone dots is brought into close contact with a photosensitive material and exposed in an exposure method using a light amount that becomes a density.

(Exposure method I)
Exposure with white light from a halogen lamp as a light source using an appropriate color filter and ND filter with an exposure time of 0.5 second, the neutral halftone solid image over the entire surface of the sample has a color difference with the target described later. An exposure method in which a halftone dot film such that an obtained image is a 20% halftone dot is brought into close contact with a photosensitive material in an exposure method using a light amount having a minimum density.

  As a target, Japan Printing Industrial Machinery Manufacturers Association, produced by the ISO / TC130 National Committee, Japan Color color reproduction printing 2001, art paper, and Y100% of ISO 12647 pattern Y were used.

  Using the obtained Samples 101 and 111 to 127, exposure was performed by the exposure method F described above.

  Next, a processing method will be described.

Processing step Processing temperature Time Replenishment amount Color development 37.0 ± 0.3 ° C 120 seconds 200 ml / m ²
Bleaching and fixing 37.0 ± 0.5 ° C 90 seconds 150ml / m ²
Stabilization 30-34 ° C 60 seconds 400ml / m ²
Drying 60 to 80 ° C for 30 seconds Color developer starting solution and replenisher Starting solution Replenisher Triethylenediamine 3.0 g 4.0 g
Diethylene glycol 6.0 g 8.0 g
Potassium bromide 0.15g 0.2g
Potassium chloride 3.5g 0.2g
Potassium sulfite 0.3g 0.4g
N-ethyl-N- (β-hydroxyethyl)
-4-Aminoaniline sulfate 3.0 g 4.0 g
N, N-disulfoethylhydroxylamine 15.0 g 20.0 g
Triethanolamine 6.0 g 8.0 g
Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid sodium salt 1.5g 2.0g
Potassium carbonate 30g 40g
The total volume is adjusted to 1 liter by adding water, and the tank solution is adjusted to pH = 10.2 and the replenisher is adjusted to pH = 10.5.

Bleach-fix solution and replenisher Ferric ammonium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate dihydrate 65g
3 g of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid
Ammonium thiosulfate (70% aqueous solution) 100ml
2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole 2.0 g
Ammonium sulfite (40% aqueous solution) 27.5ml
The total volume is made up to 1 liter by adding water and the pH is adjusted to 5.0 with potassium carbonate or glacial acetic acid.

Stabilizing solution tank solution and replenisher solution o-phenylphenol 1.0 g
5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one 0.02 g
2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one 0.02 g
1.0 g of diethylene glycol
1.8 g of 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid
0.5 g of zinc sulfate
Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate 0.2g
PVP (polyvinyl pyrrolidone) 1.0 g
Aqueous ammonia (25% aqueous solution of ammonium hydroxide) 2.5 g
Nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt 1.5g
The total volume is adjusted to 1 liter by adding water, and the pH is adjusted to 7.5 with sulfuric acid or aqueous ammonia.

  The above is referred to as processing method (a) -37. The processing method (a) -39 is a processing method (a) -39 in which the developing temperature is 39 ° C. as compared with the processing method (a) -37.

  A processing method using a developer in which the following compound WC-1 is added to the developer is described as (WC1) -37, and a processing method using a developer in which the following compound WC-2 is added is described as (WC2) -37. I do. Furthermore, they are similarly described as processing methods (W18) -37 and (W18) -39 using a developer to which compound (W) -18 is added. WC-1, WC-2, and (W) -18 were added at 8.8 g / L (replenisher). WC-2 is a compound described in JP-A-9-212821.

The samples exposed by the exposure method F were treated with processing methods (a) -37, (a) -39, (WC1) -37, (WC1) -39, (WC2) -37, (WC2) -39, and (W18), respectively. ) -37, (W18) -39. In the obtained low-density color exposure, the sample of A4 size was divided into 20 long sides × 15 short sides, and L ^* a ^* b ^* was measured over a total of 300 points to obtain an average value. With respect to the sample processed by the processing method of the developing temperature of 39 ° C. with respect to the processing method of the developing temperature of 37 ° C., the fluctuation of L ^* a ^* b ^* was evaluated. That is, for example, in each sample and the exposure method, the L ^* a when developed by the processing method (a) -39 is based on the average value of L ^* a ^* b ^* after the processing in the processing method (a) -37. The average value of ^* b ^* was determined, and the difference in color difference between each sample was determined. Further, a standard deviation indicating a total of 300 points of variation was obtained for each exposure method for each sample in the processing method (a) -37. Similar evaluations were made for other processing methods.

  The color tone was measured using a spectral colorimeter CM-2022 manufactured by Minolta Co., Ltd. Regarding colorimetry by CM-2022, the geometric condition of illumination and light reception was d-0, photometry was performed using a xenon pulse light source, and a 2 ° field of view and auxiliary standard light D50 were used. Regarding the density, a spectrodensitometer 508 manufactured by X-rite was used under the condition of 45 ° annular illumination and 0 ° light reception, and T was used as the spectral condition.

In addition, when the color was developed to the yellow density of 0.2, the decrease width of L ^* from the white background was about 0.3 to 1.5 in all the samples. Table 2 shows the results.

  (A), (A '), (B), (B'), (C), (C '), (D), and (D') in the table represent the following.

(A): Difference of average color difference of (a) -39 with respect to (a) -37 (A '): Standard deviation of color difference of 300 points in (a) -37 (B): (WC1) with respect to (WC1) -37 ) -39 difference of color difference average (B '): standard deviation of color difference of 300 points in (WC1) -37 (C): difference of color difference average of (WC2) -39 with respect to (WC2) -37 (C') : Standard deviation of color difference of 300 points in (WC2) -37 (D): Difference of average of color difference of (WC18) -39 with respect to (WC18) -37 (D '): Difference of color difference of 300 points in (WC18) -37 Standard Deviation In Table 2, portions surrounded by columns of processing methods (W18) -37 and (W18) -39 and columns of sample numbers 111 to 127 represent the configuration of the present invention, and the other portions represent the configuration of comparison. Represent.

  From the results shown in Table 2, in the case of the sample 101 using the comparative coupler, even if the developing treatment was performed using the developing solution to which the specific triazinylstilbene compound represented by the general formula (W) was added, the processing conditions were not changed. While the variation in color reproducibility in the low density portion with respect to the variation remains large, the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention is developed with a developing solution to which a specific triazinylstilbene compound is added. It can be seen that, in the sample exposed by the exposure method F, a change in color reproducibility in a low-density portion, particularly due to a change in processing conditions, is greatly suppressed, and an in-plane variation is improved. This is an important characteristic in obtaining a proof image similar to a pre-colored printing paper.

As described above, any of the silver halide color light-sensitive materials of the present invention is preferable from the viewpoint of improving the stability by the processing method of the present invention. In particular, the silver halide color photographic materials of the general formulas (2) and (4) are preferred. It turns out that the thing of is preferable. In the general formula (2), any type is preferable, but the substituent represented by R ₂ having a bulky substituent at the 2-position of the phenyl group (sample 116) is particularly preferable. Understand. In addition, any type is also preferable in the general formula (4). In particular, those having a substituent represented by R ₂ being a phenyl group and having a bulky substituent at the 2-position (sample 127) are preferred. It turns out to be favorable.

Example 2
Using samples 111 to 127 produced in Example 1, A4-size samples were exposed by exposure method B in the same manner as in Example 1. Subsequently, the processing methods (a) -37, (a) -39, (WC1) -37, (WC1) -39, (WC2) -37, (WC2) -39, (W18) -37, (W18) The developing process was performed at -39, and the same evaluation as in Example 1 was performed. WC-1, WC-2, and (W) -18 were added at 8.8 g / L (replenisher). Table 3 shows the results.

  (A), (A '), (B), (B'), (C), (C '), (D), and (D') in the table are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In Table 3, the portion surrounded by the columns of the processing methods (W18) -37 and (W18) -39 and the columns of the sample numbers 111 to 127 represents the configuration of the present invention, and the other portions represent the configuration of the comparison.

  From the results shown in Table 3, it was found that the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention was developed with a developing solution to which a specific triazinylstilbene-based compound was added. It can be seen that the variation in color reproducibility in the low density portion due to the variation is greatly suppressed, and the reduction in in-plane variation is improved.

  By comparing with Table 2, the stability due to the change in the processing conditions of the low density portion due to the short-time scanning exposure tends to deteriorate, but by using the processing method of the present invention, the deterioration is suppressed and the color is suppressed. It can also be seen that the effect of improving the variation in reproduction is maintained.

Example 3
Using the samples 101 and 111 to 127 manufactured in Example 1, color reproducibility was evaluated using the samples processed by the above-mentioned exposure method C and processing method (W18) -37. With respect to the obtained sample after the treatment, the spectral reflection density at 420 nm, 430 nm, and 500 nm was determined using the CM-2022 type colorimeter, and the color difference from the target was determined. Each sample measured a total of 300 points of 20 long sides × 15 short sides of a color sample obtained in A4 size, and calculated the average value. Table 4 shows the results.

From the results shown in Table 4, it is apparent that the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention is superior to the conventionally known comparative silver halide color light-sensitive material in color difference from the yellow printed matter. Among the silver halide color light-sensitive materials of the present invention, couplers represented by the general formulas (2) and (4) are preferable in that they provide a spectral spectrum with a sharp tail on the long-wave side, and are particularly preferable. Formula (4) is more preferred. In the general formula (2), both types are preferable, but it is understood that a substituent having a bulky substituent at the 2-position of the phenyl group in the substituent represented by R ₂ (sample 116) is preferable. . In general formula (4), any type is preferable. However, those in which the substituent represented by R ₂ is a phenyl group and has a bulky substituent at the 2-position (sample 127) are preferred. It turns out to be preferable.

  By combining with the results of Tables 2 and 3, the color reproduction is improved, more closely approximated to the printed matter, and even in the case of large-area color development of low density that reproduces the ground color of the actual printing paper, fluctuations in the processing conditions and It can be seen that the in-plane stability is greatly improved regardless of the exposure method.

Example 4
The compounds to be added and the amounts added were changed to those shown in Tables 5 to 7 with respect to the treatment method (W18) -37. Tables 5 to 7 show the names of the processing methods. The standard deviation of the color difference of 300 points at the developing temperature of 37 ° C. for the A4 size silver halide color photosensitive material exposed by the exposure method B and the exposure method F using the samples 101, 116, and 127 was compared with those in Example 2. I asked similarly. The results are shown in Tables 5 to 7. In addition, for example, (W3) -37 and (W3) -37b in Table 5 represent the difference in the added amount of (W) -3.

  It is apparent from Tables 5 to 7 that the silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention, the processing method and the image forming method of the present invention, when a low-density solid image was formed over the entire surface, a comparative silver halide color light-sensitive material was used. It can be seen that extremely excellent in-plane stability can be obtained as compared with the same solid image according to the material and the processing method. As the compound to be added to the treatment liquid, particularly, in the two amino groups on the triazine ring of the compound of the general formula (W), one of the amino groups has a substituent of sodium ethanesulfonate and the other amino group has Is preferably a polyoxyethylene group, and it is particularly preferable that the remaining two of the two substituents of both amino groups are unsubstituted, that is, hydrogen.

Example 5
For the samples 101, 116, and 127, the entire surface of each sample was exposed in the exposure method D and the exposure method H in the A4 size. Further, the samples 106, 116 and 127 were exposed by the above-described exposure methods E and I. Each of the exposed samples was developed by the processing method used in Example 4 and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 4.

  The densities of the 20% halftone yellow single-color images obtained by the exposure methods D and H were approximately 0.20, and the yellow densities of the neutral images obtained by the exposure methods E and I were all approximately 0.27. . The results are shown in Tables 8 to 10.

  It is apparent from a comparison of Tables 8 and 9 that the silver halide color light-sensitive material (sample 116) using the coupler of the general formula (2) can use any exposure method in forming an area gradation image by halftone dots. Also, it can be seen that the processing method is superior to the exposure method and processing method using the comparative silver halide color light-sensitive material (sample 101). In particular, it can be seen that the exposure method using the short-time scanning exposure using the LED is excellent in the uniformity of color reproduction in the plane during the development processing by the processing method of the present invention. In the case of a halftone dot, even when one of the YMCs constituting the neutral causes a slight change in the density at the time of reproducing the neutral rather than the single color, the effect on the neutral color tone is large. Appears remarkably.

  Regarding the difference between the treatment methods, any treatment method using a treatment solution to which the compound of the general formula (W) is added is preferable. In particular, in the two amino groups on the triazine ring of the compound of the general formula (W), More preferably, the substituent of the group is sodium ethanesulfonate and the substituent of the other amino group is a polyoxyethylene group. It can be seen that substitution, ie, hydrogen, is more preferred.

  When Table 9 and Table 10 are compared, it can be seen that both of them are excellent in the uniformity of color reproduction in the plane during the development processing by the processing method of the present invention. The silver halide color light-sensitive material using the yellow coupler (2) -21 and the silver halide color light-sensitive material using the yellow coupler (4) -22 are both excellent in the image forming method of the present invention. It is also found that particularly preferred are silver halide color light-sensitive materials using the coupler (2) -21.

Example 6
Using Samples 101 and 111 to 127 manufactured in Example 1, exposure was performed by the above-described exposure method B. Next, these samples were processed by processing methods (a) -37 and (a) -39. Further, a processing method using a bleach-fixing solution in which the compound (S) -4 is added to the bleach-fixing solution is described in a manner similar to (S4) -37 when the developing temperature is 37 ° C and (S4) when the developing temperature is 39 ° C. ) -39, and processing methods using a bleach-fixing solution to which compounds (S) -9 and (S) -15 were similarly added are described as (S9) -37, (S9) -39, and (S15) -37, respectively. , (S15) -39. The amount of each of the compounds (S) -4, (S) -9, and (S) -15 added to the bleach-fix solution was 8 g / L (replenisher). The samples 101 and 111 to 127 exposed by the exposure method B were also processed by these processing methods. The same evaluation as in Example 2 was performed on the obtained sample. Table 11 shows the results.

  (A), (A '), (B), (B'), (C), (C '), (D), and (D') in the table are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In Table 11, columns of processing methods (S4) -37, (S4) -39, (S9) -37, (S9) -39, (S15) -37, and (S15) -39 are surrounded by samples 111 to 127. The part shown represents the configuration of the present invention, and the other part represents the configuration of the comparison.

  From the results shown in Table 11, the samples exposed by the exposure method B by developing with the bleach-fixing solution to which the bistriazine-based compound represented by the general formula (S) of the present invention was added, were particularly resistant to fluctuations in processing conditions. It can be seen that the variation in color reproducibility in the low density portion is greatly suppressed, and the in-plane variation is also reduced.

  In particular, it can be seen that (S) -4 in which two triazine rings are bonded by a 1,3-phenylene group is more effective than (S) -9 in which the triazine ring is bonded by a 1,4-phenylene group. It can also be seen that a compound bonded with a phenylene group is more preferable than (S) -15 bonded with a naphthylene group. It can also be seen that a yellow coupler represented by the general formula (2) is more preferable.

Example 7
Using Samples 101 and 111 to 127 manufactured in Example 1, exposure was performed by the above-described exposure method B. Next, these samples were processed by processing methods (a) -37 and (a) -39. Further, a developing method in which the compound (W) -18 is added to the developing solution and the bleach-fixing solution in which the compound (S) -4 is added to the bleach-fixing solution is bleach-fixed. Is (WS) -37 when the temperature is 37 ° C., and (WS) -39 when the temperature of the developer is 39 ° C. The addition amount of compound (W) -18 and the addition amount of compound (S) -4 are 8.8 g / L and 8.0 g / L, respectively. The processing was performed using the samples 101 and 111 to 127 exposed by the exposure method B. The same evaluation as in Example 2 was performed on the obtained sample. Table 12 shows the results.

  (A), (A '), (B), (B'), (C), (C '), (D), and (D') in the table are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In Table 12, the portions surrounded by the columns of the processing methods (WS) -37 and (WS) -39 and the samples 111 to 127 represent the configuration of the present invention, and the other portions represent the configuration for comparison.

  From the results shown in Table 12, the developer containing the triazinylstilbene-based fluorescent whitening agent represented by the general formula (W) of the present invention and the bistriazine-based compound represented by the general formula (S) were added. By performing development processing with the bleach-fixing solution, in the sample exposed by the exposure method B, variation in color reproducibility in a low-density portion, particularly due to variation in processing conditions, is greatly suppressed, and in-plane variation is also reduced. You can see that. Further, it can be seen that a yellow coupler having a pyrimidone ring represented by the general formula (2) is more preferable.

Example 8
Further, the same evaluation as in Example 7 was carried out using a color developing solution in which compounds (W) -18 and (S) -4 were added to the color developing solution at 8.8 g / L and 8.0 g / L, respectively. As a result, it has been confirmed that the same effect can be obtained in the configuration of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart of a processing operation for editing image data into exposure data according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a processing operation of the present invention.

Claims (14)

A silver halide color light-sensitive material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one coupler represented by the following general formula (1) on a support is represented by the following general formula (W) A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, characterized by processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound.

(Wherein, R ₁ represents a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group, aromatic group, heterocyclic group, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, amino group, m represents an integer represented by 1 or 2, When m is 2, two R _{1 s} may be the same or different from each other, and may be bonded to each other to form a ring, and R ₂ represents a group that can be substituted with an oxygen atom, and forms a color together with the oxygen atom. upon reaction with an oxidation product of a developing agent is a leaving radicals .G is _{-CO -, - C = NR 3} -, - PO -, - SO -, - represents a group selected from any of - SO ₂ R ₃ represents the same group as R _2. )

(Wherein, R ₁₁ and R ₁₂ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, R ₁₃ and R ₁₄ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and R ₁₅ and R ₁₆ each independently represent represent a group represented by the following general formula (W-R), Rw represents a hydrogen atom, a group represented by the following general formula (W-R), or _{-CH 2 CH 2 SO 3 M,} M is Represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom, an alkaline earth metal atom, an ammonium group, or a pyridinium group. R ₁₃ and R ₁₅ , or R ₁₄ and R ₁₆ may be bonded to each other to form a ring.)

(In the formula, A represents any one of a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a hydroxymethyl group, a 2-hydroxyethyl group, a 1-hydroxyethyl group, a 3-hydroxypropyl group, a 2-hydroxypropyl group, and a 1-hydroxypropyl group. , A may be the same or different. F, h and j represent 1 or 2, and g, i and k represent 0 or 1.) A silver halide color light-sensitive material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one type of coupler represented by the general formula (1) on a support is represented by the following general formula (S) A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, which comprises processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of:

(Wherein, R _{21 to} R ₂₄ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and at least one of R _{21 to} R ₂₄ represents a group represented by the general formula (WR). R ₂₁ and R ₂₂ and R ₂₃ and R ₂₄ may be bonded to each other to form a ring. L represents a divalent linking group, and n represents an integer of 1 or more.) A silver halide color light-sensitive material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one type of coupler represented by the following formula (2) on a support is represented by the formula (W). A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, characterized by processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound.

(Wherein, R ₁ represents a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group, aromatic group, or heterocyclic group, and R ₂ represents a substituent. Z is a non-metal atom which forms a ring together with a nitrogen atom and a carbon atom. X represents a group which is eliminated by a reaction with an oxidized form of a color developing agent.) A silver halide color photographic material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one coupler represented by formula (2) on a support is represented by formula (S). A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, which comprises processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: A silver halide color photographic material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one type of coupler represented by the following formula (3) on a support is represented by the formula (W). A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, characterized by processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound.

(Wherein, R ₁ and R ₂ represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, r represents an integer of 0 to 4, and when r is 2 or more, a plurality of R _{2 s} may be the same or different, and are further bonded to each other. and may form a ring .T is -COOR _3, -CONHR _3, and represents a group selected from heterocyclic, R ₃ by reaction of .X representing a substituent with an oxidation product of a color developing agent Represents a leaving group.) A silver halide color light-sensitive material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one coupler represented by the general formula (3) on a support is represented by the general formula (S). A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, which comprises processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: A silver halide color photographic material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one type of coupler represented by the following formula (4) on a support is represented by the formula (W): A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, characterized by processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound.

(In the formula, R ₁ and R ₂ each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or heterocyclic group.) A silver halide color light-sensitive material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one coupler represented by the general formula (4) on a support is represented by the general formula (S). A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, which comprises processing with a processing solution containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: A silver halide color light-sensitive material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one coupler represented by any of formulas (1) to (4) on a support, A treatment solution containing at least one compound represented by the formula (W) and at least one compound represented by the general formula (S), or at least one compound represented by the general formula (W) A method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material, characterized by processing with a processing solution containing a seed and a processing solution containing at least one compound represented by the formula (S). The relationship between the amount of exposure to the silver halide color light-sensitive material and the amount corresponding to the amount of image dye before the method of processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material according to claim 1 is performed. A method for obtaining energy required for image formation using a relationship between a pixel color and an amount corresponding to the amount of image dye. Before the method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the substantial exposure time is 10 ⁻ based on digital data using the silver halide color light-sensitive material. A color image forming method, wherein image exposure is performed by short-time scanning exposure of ⁷ to 10 ^-3 seconds. Before performing the method for processing a silver halide color light-sensitive material according to any one of claims 1 to 9, an image is formed by using the silver halide color light-sensitive material so as to have an area gradation based on digital data. A color image forming method comprising exposing. 13. The color image forming method according to claim 11, wherein when performing image exposure based on the digital data, the image data is white in the image data after performing exposure for coloring white pixels in the image data. A color image forming method, wherein a pixel is exposed to an arbitrary color forming component so that the density is at least 0.01 or more larger than the density of the most obvious color. 13. The color image forming method according to claim 11, wherein when performing image exposure based on the digital data, white pixels in the image data are subjected to exposure for coloring white pixels of the image data. Is converted to a value obtained by developing an arbitrary color-forming component, and the white background or ground-color component obtained by forming the arbitrary color-forming component on the most obvious background is represented by L ^* in the CIELAB color space of 0. A color image forming method, which comprises exposing a color to one or more reduced colors.

Images