Process for the production of a multicolor image by image-wise dye diffusion transfer

A process for the production of a multicolour dye image by dye diffusion transfer comprising the steps of:

• (1) image-wise multicolour photo-exposing a photographic multilayer multicolour material, which contains at least one developing agent and which is free from development nuclei for the silver complex diffusion transfer process and comprises a support carrying at least two differently spectrally sensitized alkali-permeable silver halide hydrophilic colloid emulsion layers each of which contains in operative contact therewith or therein a different non-diffusing dye or dye precursor compound that when contacted with an aqueous alkaline liquid remains immobile in an alkali-permeable colloid layer and is capable of being reduced by the said developing agent at a rate slower than the reduction of image-wise developable silver halide and in reduced state under alkaline conditions is capable of releasing a diffusible dye or dye precursor moiety, and
• (2) applying an alkaline liquid to said photoexposed material, thus effecting development of the photoexposed material and image-wise diffusion-transfer therefrom of said diffusible dye or dye precursor moiety to a receptor layer,
• characterized in that said alkaline liquid during development contains a silver halide solvent which is set free in said alkaline aqueous liquid from a precursor compound incorporated in the photographic material corresponding to the following general formula:
• ##STR9## wherein:
• X represents the atoms necessary to complete a benzene or naphthalene nucleus,
• Y is hydroxy or a substituent that upon hydrolysis provides hydroxy,
• PHOTO represents a silver halide solvent moiety,
• BALLAST is a ballasting group rendering said compound less diffusible in a water-permeable hydrophilic colloid layer than it would be without said group, and
• n is 1 or 2;
• and said solvent is present in an amount sufficient to form an alkali-soluble and reducible silver complex compound.