The invention is generally accomplished by providing a method of chemical sensitization comprising providing a silver halide emulsion, and adding to the silver halide emulsion aqueous solid particle dispersion of a chemical sensitizing agent having a water and organic solvent insolubility (i.e., 50 mg/100 ml or less), and heating said emulsion wherein said chemical sensitizing agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of gold compounds represented by Formula I: {AuS.sub.2 X}.sub.n I wherein X is PR.sub.2 (dithiophosphinates), P(OR).sub.2 (dithiophosphates), COR (xanthates), CNR.sub.2 (dithiocarbamates), CR (dithiocarboxylates) R is alkyl or aryl n=1-6, tellurium compounds represented by Formula II: TeL.sub.n X.sub.2 wherein L is thiourea or substituted thiourea, n is 2 or 4, X is Cl, Br, I, OCN, SCN, SeCN, TeCN, or N.sub.3 and Formula IIA ##STR1## wherein X is COR, CSR, CNR.sub.2, CR, CAr, PR.sub.2, P(OR).sub.2, (PR.sub.2).sub.2 N R is alkyl or aryl, and palladium compounds represented by Formula III: PdX.sub.2 (TeR.sub.2).sub.2 wherein X is Cl, Br, I, NCO, NCS, NCSe, NCTe, or N.sub.3 R is alkyl or aryl.