It has been discovered that when polyalkylene oxide compounds or block polymeric or block oligomeric surface active compounds comprising at least a polyoxypropylene (POP) block and a polyoxyethylene (POE) block are added to conventional dispersions of yellow couplers (that is dispersions in which the dispersed particles have a particle size of 0.1 to 0.6 .mu.m), such dispersions in a coated silver halide photographic element produce substantially higher dye yield compared to the conventional dispersion without any additive. Further, the yellow dye formed from such dispersions containing the addenda of this invention are substantially more light stable compared to dispersions that does not contain such addenda.The invention is carried out just by adding required amounts of the said polyoxyethylene (POE)--polyoxypropylene (POP) compound to a preformed milled coupler dispersion prior to coating the photographic element.