Minimization of ripple by controlling gelatin concentration

A method for reducing the tendency toward formation of ripple imperfections in the coating of a multilayer photographic element comprising the steps of:

• preparing coating compositions for upper, middle, and lower gelatin-containing layers of a layered mass suitable for coating on a moving web which follows a path from a coating application point to a set point and where said web path has a vertical component not equal to zero, wherein said layered mass has a ripple value X of greater than 20 as determined by the formula:
• ##EQU3## where .rho. is the critical density g is a constant representing the acceleration due to gravity, d.sub.T is the total thickness of said layered mass, L.sub.VT is the total vertical distance of said web path, .mu. is the critical viscosity, and V.sub.w is the speed of said moving web, and said middle layer has a gelatin concentration within three weight percent of the gelatin concentration of said upper layer and said lower layer and each of said upper, middle and lower layers has a viscosity which differs from a norm by no more than 15 percent;
• forming a laminar flow of the layered mass which includes said compositions as distinct layers, said middle layer being contiguous to said upper and lower gelatin-containing layers;
• and
• receiving said layered mass as a layered coating on a moving support at a coating application point.