Scratch resistant-water resistant overcoat for photographic systems

An imaged photographic element having a water-resistant protective overcoat thereon, the protective overcoat formed by the steps comprising;

• providing a photographic element having at least one silver halide light-sensitive emulsion layer;
• applying a first coating comprising hydrophobic polymer particles having an average size of 0.01 to 1 microns, a melting temperature of from 55 to 200° C. at a weight percent of 30 to 95, and gelatin at a weight percent of 5 to 70 to form a first layer over the at least one silver halide light-sensitive emulsion layer;
• imagewise exposing the photographic element to light;
• developing the at least one silver halide light sensitive emulsion layer to provide an imaged photographic element;
• applying a second coating in which particles are present and consist essentially of non-conductive abrasion resistant particles having an average size of from 0.01 to 1 microns to form a second layer over the first layer;
• and
• fusing the first and second layers to form a water-resistant protective overcoat.

A photographic element comprising;

• a support;
• at least one silver halide light-sensitive emulsion layer superposed on a side of the support;
• a first layer overlying the at least one silver halide emulsion layer comprising hydrophobic polymer particles having an average size of 0.01 to 1.0 microns, a melting temperature of from 55 to 200° C. at a weight percent of 30 to 95, and gelatin at a weight percent of 5 to 70;
• a second layer overlying the first layer in which particles are present and consist essentially of polymer particles for providing abrasion resistance which particles have an average size of from 0.01 to 1 microns and comprise greater than 40 percent of a monomer precursor having modulus that is higher than that of polyethylene.

A method of making a water-resistant photographic print comprising:

• (a) providing a photographic element comprising a support, a silver-halide emulsion layer superposed on a side of said support a processing-solution-permeable coating overlying the silver-halide emulsion layer, said coating comprising a first layer comprising hydrophobic polymer particles having an average size of 0.01 to 1 microns, a melting temperature of from 55 to 200° C. at a weight percent of 30 to 95, and gelatin at a weight percent of 5 to 70 and a second layer comprising abrasion-resistant particles having an average size of from 0.01 to 1 microns, wherein the first layer and second layer allow permeability for processing solution to diffuse in and out for image development;
• (b) imagewise exposing the photographic element to light;
• (c) developing the at least one silver halide light sensitive emulsion layer to obtain an imaged photographic element;
• and
• (d) fusing the first and second layers together to form a water-resistant protective overcoat.