There are described color-providing compounds having at least two cyclic 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen moieties and one complete dye or dye intermediate. The color-providing compound is stable in the photographic processing composition but capable of undergoing cleavage in the presence of an imagewise distribution of silver ions and/or soluble silver complex made available as a function of development to liberate a complete dye or dye intermediate in an imagewise distribution corresponding to that of the silver ion and/or the soluble silver complex. The color-providing compounds are useful as image-forming materials in color photographic, photothermographic, thermographic, and other processes.