Roomlight-stable ultraviolet-response photothermographic imaging material

A method for preparing a roomlight handleable photothermographic dry silver sheet material which comprises a dry silver dispersion coated on a substrate, halide ion being present in said silver dispersion or in a separate topcoat layer, said sheet material being capable of forming graphic arts images having a contrast of at least 2.5, said method comprisng the steps of:

• a. admixing, to prepare said dry silver dispersion coating layer,
• (1) at least 5 weight percent of the total weight of a polyvinyl acetal resin, and
• (2) a blend of organic silver full soap and half soap to provide in said layer a total silver to silver soap weight ratio in the range of 1:7 to 1:4.2,
• said total resin to silver soap weight ratio being in the range of 0.6:1 to 2:1,
• b. adding subsequently and further admixing, when said halide ion is to be present in said silver dispersion, 0.5 to 20 mole percent of halide ion compared to silver in said silver dispersion coating layer, at least 96 mole percent of said halide ion being chloride ion, or providing said halide ion in said separate topcoat layer,
• c. coating said dispersion on said substrate, and
• d. incorporating an effective amount of at least one antihalation agent in at least one of said silver dispersion layer, said substrate, said topcoat layer, or in a separate layer between said substrate and said silver dispersion layer.