An aqueous-developable photographic color diffusion transfer element is disclosed where this element comprises one and only one dimensionally stable support and one or more layers comprising radiation sensitive silver halide, thermal solvent for facilitating the thermal diffusion of dyes through a hydrophilic binder, a methine-dye releasing coupler, and hydrophilic binder, wherein said dye is heat diffusible in said binder and thermal solvent, and wherein said methine-dye releasing coupler is of the structure (I)Cp--L--M (I)whereCp is a coupler radical substituted in the coupling position with a divalent linking group, L;M is a methine-dye radical exhibiting selective absorption in the visible spectrum; and where the --L--M group couples off upon reaction of said coupler radical with the oxidation product of a primary amine developing agent, and where said methine-dye radical M is released from said --L--M group subsequent to the coupling off of said --L--M group.Also disclosed in this invention is a diffusion transfer process for forming a color photographic image comprising the steps of:exposing said element to actinic radiation; processing said element by immersing said element in an external aqueous bath containing color developer of the primary amine type;washing said element;drying said element to remove the imbibed water; andheating said element to effect dye diffusion transfer to an image receiving layer.