Method for forming a direct positive image

A photographic light-sensitive material composed of a support having thereon at least one unprefogged internal latent image type silver halide light-sensitive emulsion layer, at least one coupler and at least one nucleating agent represented by formula (N-I);

• ##STR33## wherein Z.sup.1 represents nonmetal atomic group necessary for forming a 5-membered or 6-membered heterocyclic ring, a 5-membered or 6-membered heterocyclic ring fused with an aromatic ring, or a 5-membered or 6-membered heterocyclic . ring fused with another heterocyclic ring;
• R.sub.1 represents an aliphatic group;
• X represents ##STR34## Q represents a nonmetallic atomic group necessary for forming a 4-membered to 12-membered nonaromatic hydrocarbon ring or a 4-membered to 12-membered nonaromatic heterocyclic ring;
• provided that at least one of R.sup.1, Z.sup.1 and Q is substituted with an alkynyl group;
• Y represents a counter ion required for charge balance;
• and n is a number required for charge balance, or Z.sup.1 contains a heterocyclic quaternary ammonium salt completed by said Z.sup.1 via a linkage group;
• said coupler is at least one of a yellow coupler represented by formula (I), a magenta coupler represented by formula (II), and a yellow coupler represented by formula (C-1):
• ##STR35## wherein Z represents a group capable of splitting off upon the coupling reaction with the oxidation product of a developing agent;
• G.sub.1 represents a halogen atom, or an alkoxy group;
• G.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituent;
• n represents 0 or an integer of from 1 to 4, when n is 2 or more, groups represented by G.sub.2 may be the same or different;
• ##STR36## wherein Za and Zb each represents ##STR37## R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituent;
• X represents a hydrogen atom, or a group capable of splitting off by the coupling reaction with the oxidation product of an aromatic primary amine developing agent;
• when the bond formed by Za and Zb is a C--C double bond, it may constitute a part of an aromatic ring;
• and further the coupler may form a polymer or a bis-compound, via R.sup.1, R.sup.2 or X;
• ##STR38## wherein R.sub.1 represents an aliphatic group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an arylamino group, or a heterocyclic amino group;
• R.sub.2 represents an aliphatic group containing 2 to 20 carbon atoms;
• R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an aliphatic group, an aliphatic oxy group, or an acylamino group;
• and Y.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom, or a group capable of splitting off upon the coupling reaction with the oxidation product of a developing agent;
• and further, which may form a polymer of a grade not lower than a dimer or a bis-compound via R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 or Y.sub.1.