Photographic silver halide developer composition and process for forming photographic silver images

A black-and-white aqueous alkaline photographic developer composition comprising

• (a) a p-aminophenol primary developing agent present in an amount of about 0.08 to about 0.3 moles per liter;
• (b) an auxiliary superadditive 3-pyrazolidone developing agent present in an amount of 0.001 to 0.2 moles per liter;
• (c) an inorganic antifogging agent present in an amount of 0.001 to 0.2 moles per liter;
• (d) an antioxidant compound present in an &mount of 0.001 to 1 moles per liter;
• (e) a buffering compound present in an amount of 0.1 to 1.5 moles per liter;
• (f) a sequestering agent present in an amount of 0.0001 to 0.2 moles per liter;
• (g) an organic antifogging agent present in an amount of 1.times.10.sup.-5 to 5.times.10.sup.-2 moles per liter;
• (h) an inorganic alkali agent to adjust the pH to a range of 9 to 13;
• and
• (i) water to make one liter.

A process for forming a black-and-white photographic silver image comprising the steps of (1) imagewise exposing a silver halide photographic element and (2) developing the exposed element, said developing being effected with a dihydroxybenzene free black-and-white aqueous alkaline photographic developer composition comprising a p-aminophenol primary developing agent and an auxiliary superadditive 3-pyrazolidone developing agent, wherein the p-aminophenol primary developing agent is present in an amount from about 0.08 to about 0.3 moles per liter and is represented by the formula:

• ##STR7## wherein R.sub.1, and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together represent the carbon atoms required to complete a 5-membered saturated ring;
• R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom an alkyl group or an alkoxy group;
• n represents 0 or 1;
• and HX represents HCl or 1/2 H.sub.2 SO.sub.4.