Disclosed is a photographic element having a reduced rate of crystal formation comprising a silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith:(a) a phenolic cyan dye-forming "NB coupler";(b) a first high boiling solvent having Formula (IV):G--C--OO--R.sup.1 (IV) wherein:R.sup.1 is an alkyl or aryl groups; andG is an alkyl (including cycloalkyl and aralkyl) containing linking group; and(c) one or more second high boiling solvents selected from phosphates, phosphonates, phosphine oxides, sulfoxides, and carbonamides, said second high boiling solvent being present in amounts (by weight) sufficient to reduce crystal formation in a dispersion of the coupler compared to a dispersion of the same coupler in a dispersion where the second solvent is replaced with a like amount of the first solvent.