A diffusion transfer process is disclosed for forming a color photographic image comprising the steps of:providing an aqueous-developable photographic color diffusion transfer element of two or more layers comprising a single dimensionally stable support, radiation sensitive silver halide, an aqueous solid particle thermal solvent dispersion for facilitating the thermal diffusion of dyes through a hydrophilic binder, a dye-releasing or dye-forming coupler compound, and hydrophilic binder, wherein said dye is heat transferable in said binder and said thermal solvent, said thermal solvent has a melting point between 50.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C., said dispersion contains a dispersing aid, and said thermal solvent is incorporated at 5 to 200% by weight of said hydrophilic binder;exposing said element to actinic radiation;processing said element by contacting said element to an external aqueous bath containing compounds selected from the group consisting of conventional color developer compounds of the primary amine type, compounds which activate the release of incorporated color developers, and compounds which activate development by incorporated dye developers;washing said element;drying said clement to remove imbibed water; andheating said element to effect dye diffusion transfer to an image receiving layer, wherein bleaching and fixing steps are absent in said diffusion transfer process.