Blocked competing developers for color transfer

An integral photographic assemblage comprising:

• (a) a photosensitive element comprising a transparent support having thereon the following layers in sequence:
• a dye image-receiving layer;
• an alkaline solution-permeable, light-reflective layer;
• an alkaline solution-permeable, opaque layer;
• a red-sensitive, direct positive silver halide emulsion layer having a ballasted redox cyan dye releaser associated therewith;
• a green-sensitive, direct positive silver halide emulsion layer having a ballasted redox magenta dye releaser associated therewith;
• and a blue-sensitive, direct positive silver halide emulsion layer having a ballasted redox yellow dye releaser associated therewith;
• (b) a transparent sheet superposed over said blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and comprising a transparent support coated with, in sequence, a neutralizing layer and a timing layer;
• and
• (c) a rupturable container containing an alkaline processing composition and an opacifying agent, said container being so positioned during processing of said assemblage that a compressive force applied to said container will effect a discharge of the container's contents between said transparent sheet and said blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer;
• said assemblage containing a silver halide developing agent, the improvement wherein said assemblage contains a hydroquinone ester either in said timing layer or in a layer which is adjacent thereto, said adjacent layer being so located with respect to said timing layer that said processing composition must first permeate said timing layer before contacting said adjacent layer, said hydroquinone ester having the following formula:
• ##STR10## wherein:
• G is hydrogen, COR or SO.sub.2 R;
• G.sup.1 is COR or SO.sub.2 R;
• R is an alkyl group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or an aryl group having from 6 to about 12 carbon atoms;
• and
• Z is hydrogen, an alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having from about 6 to about 8 carbon atoms;
• and wherein said timing layer has an activation energy of penetration of the layer by an aqueous alkaline solution of greater than 18 kcal/mole.

In a process for producing a photographic transfer image in color from an imagewise-exposed photosensitive element comprising a support having thereon at least one photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a dye image-providing material, said process comprising treating said element with an alkaline processing composition in the presence of a silver halide developing agent to effect development of each of said exposed silver halide emulsion layer, said processing composition contacting said emulsion layer prior to contacting a neutralizing layer;

• whereby an imagewise distribution of dye image-providing material is formed as a function of development and at least a portion of it diffuses to a dye image-receiving layer to provide said transfer image, whereby a timing layer associated with said neutralizing layer is permeated by said alkaline processing composition after a predetermined time, said timing layer being disposed between said neutralizing layer and said photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer so that said processing composition must first permeate said timing layer before contacting said neutralizing layer, said neutralizing layer being located on the side of said timing layer which is farthest from said dye image-receiving layer;
• whereby said alkaline processing composition is neutralized by means of said neutralizing layer associated with said photographic element after said predetermined time;
• the improvement wherein a hydroquinone ester is employed either in said timing layer or in a layer adjacent thereto, said adjacent layer being so located with respect to said timing layer that said processing composition must first permeate said timing layer before contacting said adjacent layer, said hydroquinone ester having the following formula:
• ##STR12## wherein:
• G is hydrogen, COR or SO.sub.2 R;
• G.sup.1 is COR or SO.sub.2 R;
• R is an alkyl group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or an aryl group having from 6 to about 12 carbon atoms;
• and
• Z is hydrogen, an alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having from about 6 to about 8 carbon atoms;
• and wherein said timing layer has an activation energy of penetration of the layer by an aqueous alkaline solution of greater than 18 kcal/mole.

In a dye image-receiving element comprising a support having thereon, in sequence, a neutralizing layer, a timing layer and a dye image-receiving layer, the improvement wherein a hydroquinone ester is employed in a layer between said dye image-receiving layer and said support, said hydroquinone ester having the following formula:

• ##STR13## wherein:
• G is hydrogen, COR or SO.sub.2 R;
• G.sup.1 is COR or SO.sub.2 R;
• R is an alkyl group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or an aryl group having from 6 to about 12 carbon atoms;
• and
• Z is hydrogen, an alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having from about 6 to about 8 carbon atoms;
• and wherein said timing layer has an activation energy of penetration of the layer by an aqueous alkaline solution of greater than 18 kcal/mole.

In a cover sheet comprising a transparent support having thereon, in sequence, a neutralizing layer and a timing layer, the improvement wherein said cover sheet contains a hydroquinone ester having the following formula:

• ##STR14## wherein:
• G is hydrogen, COR or SO.sub.2 R;
• G.sup.1 is COR or SO.sub.2 R;
• R is an alkyl group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or an aryl group having from 6 to about 12 carbon atoms;
• and
• Z is hydrogen, an alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having from about 6 to about 8 carbon atoms;
• and wherein said timing layer has an activation energy of penetration of the layer by an aqueous alkaline solution of greater than 18 kcal/mole.