Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a method of processing color photographic film that has been imagewise exposed in a camera, said film having at least three light-sensitive units which have their individual sensitivities in different wavelength regions, each of the units comprising at least one light-sensitive silver-halide emulsion, one or more organic silver salts, a binder, and dye-providing coupler, which method in order comprises: (a) thermally developing the film step without any externally applied developing agent, comprising heating said film to a temperature greater than 80 DEG C in an essentially dry process, such that an internally located blocked developing agent in reactive association with each of said three light-sensitive units becomes unblocked to form a developing agent, whereby the unblocked developing agent forms dyes by reacting with the dye-providing couplers to form a color image; and (b) scanning the color image to provide a digital electronic record capable of generating a positive color image in a display element, wherein the silver halide and the organic silver salts in the film are removed and/or stabilized before or after step (b), such that the film is in an archival state. Typically, a positive-image color print from the desilvered film. Optionally, the developed metallic silver can also be removed.
Abstract:
One embodiment is a system for the development of a film includes an infrared light source and a visible light source. The system also includes at least one sensor operable to collect a first set of optical data from light associated the infrared light source and a second set of optical data from light associated with the visible light source. The system further includes a processor in communication with the at least one sensor, the processor operable to determine an image on the film in response to the first and second sets of optical data.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a method of processing color photographic film that has been imagewise exposed in a camera, said film having at least three light-sensitive units which have their individual sensitivities in different wavelength regions, each of the units comprising at least one light-sensitive silver-halide emulsion, one or more organic silver salts, a binder, and dye-providing coupler, which method in order comprises: (a) thermally developing the film step without any externally applied developing agent, comprising heating said film to a temperature greater than 80 DEG C in an essentially dry process, such that an internally located blocked developing agent in reactive association with each of said three light-sensitive units becomes unblocked to form a developing agent, whereby the unblocked developing agent forms dyes by reacting with the dye-providing couplers to form a color image; and (b) scanning the color image to provide a digital electronic record capable of generating a positive color image in a display element, wherein the silver halide and the organic silver salts in the film are removed and/or stabilized before or after step (b), such that the film is in an archival state. Typically, a positive-image color print from the desilvered film. Optionally, the developed metallic silver can also be removed.
Abstract:
A method of developing a latent image on a photographic element (such as imagewise exposed photographic film) by absorbing a dye precursor into the film, applying a developer solution to the film to develop the latent image and form a dye in the film, scanning the film with light, and detecting at least one of light reflected away from and light transmitted through the film.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a method of processing color photographic film that has been imagewise exposed in a camera, said film having at least three light-sensitive units which have their individual sensitivities in different wavelength regions, each of the units comprising at least one light-sensitive silver-halide emulsion, binder, and dye-providing coupler, which method in order comprises (a) thermally developing the film step without any externally applied developing agent, comprising heating said film to a temperature greater than 80 DEG C in an essentially dry process, such that an internally located blocked developing agent in reactive association with each of said three light-sensitive units becomes unblocked to form a developing agent, whereby the unblocked developing agent forms dyes by reacting with the dye-providing couplers to form a color image; (b) scanning the color image in the film without desilvering; (c) desilvering said film in one or more desilvering solutions to remove at least silver halide, thereby forming an improved color image suitable for scanning or optical printing, and (d) either optically printing or scanning the color image in the film following desilvering. In one embodiment of the invention, the film is scanned a first time in step (b) to obtain a relatively low quality scan and then scanned a second time after step (c) to obtain a relatively high quality scan that is used for making the positive image print.
Abstract:
One aspect of the invention is a digital dye color film processing system. In one embodiment, the digital dye color film processing system includes a developer station, a processing station, a scanning system, and a data processing system. The developer station applies a developer solution to a silver halide based film to produce metallic silver grains and at least one dye image within the film. The processing station then applies at least one processing solution to the film to substantially oxidize the metallic silver grains and to substantially dissolve the silver halide within the film. In the preferred embodiment, neither the developer solution nor the processing solutions are removed from the film. The scanning system then scans the coated film and produces sensor data that is communicated to a data processing system that processes the sensor data to produce a digital image. The digital image can then be output to an output device, such as a printer, display monitor, memory device, and the like.
Abstract:
One aspect of the invention is a system for digital dye color film processing. In one embodiment, a developer station applies a processing solution to film to initiate development of metallic silver grains and at least one dye image within the film. A scanning system illuminates the coated film with light having at least one frequency within the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The light interacts with the silver and at least one dye image within the film. The scanning station measures the light from the film and produces sensor data that is communicated to a data processing system. The data processing system processes the sensor data to produce a digital image. The digital image can then be output to an output device, such as a printer, monitor, memory device, and the like.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a method of scanning silver-halide-containing color photographic and photothermographic film. In particular, the present invention comprises record shifting by means by employing at least one infrared dye in a color unit of the film, thereby forming at least one image record in the infrared. This expedient leads to the formation of high quality images, especially when scanning photothermographic elements in which the silver halide, metallic silver, and/or any organic silver salts have not been removed.
Abstract:
This invention relates to packaged photographic film that is capable of being alternately processed, according to individual consumer choice, by either (1) a traditional wet-chemistry process with a developer solution followed by desilvering in one or more subsequent solutions to obtain a color negative film, or (2) a dry thermal process without the use of aqueous solutions in which a blocked developing agent located within the photographic element is thermally activated or unblocked, optionally followed by electronic scanning of the developed film without desilvering. This invention enables a single film stock to be developed in both a conventional deep tank process and in a dry thermal process.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a method of processing color photographic film that has been imagewise exposed in a camera, said film having at least three light-sensitive units which have their individual sensitivities in different wavelength regions, each of the units comprising at least one light-sensitive silver-halide emulsion, binder, and dye-providing coupler, which method in order comprises (a) thermally developing the film step without any externally applied developing agent, comprising heating said film to a temperature greater than 80 DEG C in an essentially dry process, such that an internally located blocked developing agent in reactive association with each of said three light-sensitive units becomes unblocked to form a developing agent, whereby the unblocked developing agent forms dyes by reacting with the dye-providing couplers to form a color image; (b) scanning the color image in the film without desilvering; (c) desilvering said film in one or more desilvering solutions to remove at least silver halide, thereby forming an improved color image suitable for scanning or optical printing, and (d) either optically printing or scanning the color image in the film following desilvering. In one embodiment of the invention, the film is scanned a first time in step (b) to obtain a relatively low quality scan and then scanned a second time after step (c) to obtain a relatively high quality scan that is used for making the positive image print.