Method for processing roomlight handleable radiographic films using two-stage development

A method for providing a black-and-white image comprising:

• A) contacting an imagewise exposed black-and-white photographic silver halide element with an aqueous black-and-white developing composition in a processing container, said developing composition having a pH of from about 11 to about 12, and comprising:
• from about 0.25 to about 0.4 mol/l of a black-and-white developing agent,
• from about 2 to about 10 mmol/l of a co-developing agent, and
• from about 0.4 to about 0.6 mol/l of a sulfite,
• B) within from about 10 to about 20 seconds of the beginning of step A, introducing into said processing container, from about 1.5 to about 3 mol/l of a fixing agent that is a thiosulfate, thiocyanate or mixture thereof, and continuing processing for an addition time of from about 20 to about 40 seconds, and
• C) washing said element with a wash solution having a pH of less than 7,
• said method requiring a total of less than 75 seconds,
• said element comprising a film support having on both sides thereof, at least one silver halide emulsion layer comprising tabular grains comprising at least 85 mol % silver bromide, and an overcoat layer over each emulsion layer,
• said element further comprising on each side of said support from about 0.7 to about 1.5 g/m.sup.2 of a nonionic polymethine dye, and from about 1.7 to about 3 mg/m.sup.2 of an azomethine desensitizer.