A process is disclosed of preparing a high bromide tabular grain emulsion comprising (1) in a grain nucleation step creating in a dispersing medium tabular grain nuclei containing parallel twin planes and (2) in a grain growth step subsequently growing the grain nuclei into tabular grains by running into the dispersing medium high bromide silver halide grains having a maximum equivalent circular diameter of less than 40 nm, wherein (a) the high bromide grains are formed prior to the grain nucleation step and then held in the presence of a grain growth restrainer adsorbed to the grain surfaces to inhibit grain ripening and (b) during the growth step the restrainer is desorbed from the high bromide grains and silver and halide ions forming the high bromide grains are released by ripening into the dispersing medium in the growth step.