Method for processing color motion picture print film

Abstract

A method for processing imagewise exposed silver halide light sensitive motion picture photographic print film elements, the method comprising: i) classifying imagewise exposed print film elements containing cyan, magenta and yellow dye-forming couplers present at levels sufficient to provide Visual densities of at least 3.3 when completely consumed as either a relatively high silver containing element or a relatively low silver containing element; ii) providing a developer solution comprising greater than 2.1 g/l Color Developing Agent CD-2, greater than 0.3 and less than 2.1 g/l of Sodium Bromide (Anhydrous), and a buffering agent to maintain pH in the range of from about 10 to about 12; iii) developing imagewise exposed print film elements which have been classified as relatively low silver containing elements in a development step wherein the exposed print film is first processed in the developer solution provided in step ii) above, and in a subsequent development amplification step wherein the exposed print film is processed in an amplifier solution comprising bromide salt and an oxidizing agent; and iv) developing imagewise exposed print film elements which have been classified as relatively high silver containing elements in a development step wherein the exposed print film is processed in the developer solution provided in ii) above. In preferred embodiments, elements which have been classified as relatively high silver containing elements and which have been imagewise developed in step iv) by processing in the developer solution provided in ii) are not subjected to a subsequent development amplification step as defined in step iii). The invention provides increased stability of development amplification processing solutions by the use of separate development and amplification baths. The invention also enables commercial operations of motion picture print film continuous processors to capture the advantages of development amplification, and permits flexibility of commercial operations to practice both amplified and unamplified processes with minimal disruption.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.