Process for forming a color image employing a color developing solution free from benzyl alcohol

A process for producing a dye image which comprises processing with a color developing solution free from benzyl alcohol an exposed silver halide color photographic material comprising a support having thereon a silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one coupler represented by formula (C-I), at least one compound represented by formula (A-I), and at least one compound represented by formula (IX):

• ##STR22## wherein Q.sub.1 represents an atomic group containing at least one nitrogen atom required to form a 5- or more membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring together with the carbon atoms to which it is bonded;
• said atomic group being represented by the formula --NR.sub.C-3 CO--Q.sub.1 '--, wherein Q.sub.1 ' is selected from the group consisting of a divalent amino group, an ether group, a thioether group, an alkylene group, a vinylene group, an imino group, a sulfonyl group, a carbonyl group, an arylene group, a divalent heterocyclic group, and combinations thereof, and R.sub.C-3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl groups;
• Z.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a coupling-off group;
• R.sub.C-1 represents an acyl group or a sulfonyl group;
• and R.sub.C-2 represents a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-8 aliphatic group;
• or the substituents for R.sub.C-1', R.sub.C-2', Z.sub.1 or Q.sub.1, form a dimeric or polymeric coupler;
• ##STR23## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group, a heterocyclic group, or a hydrolyzable protective group;
• R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.3 is an alkyl group, an amino group, an alkylamino group, an acylamino group, a sulfonamido group, or a group --O--R.sub.0 wherein R.sub.0 represents an aliphatic group, an aromatic group, or a heterocyclic group, or the substituent represented by R and R.sub.1 or two of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 which are in a ortho-position relation are bonded to each other to form a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered ring;
• ##STR24## wherein R represents an alkyl group or aryl group which may be further substituted by substituents.