System and method for latent film recovery in electronic film development
AssigneeApplied Science Fiction, Inc.
InventorAlbert D. Edgar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Recovering the dye image on film in electronic film development following a latent holding stage obviates the problem common in prior art electronic film development of film image destruction. Recovery of the image is accomplished using a developing agent containing couplers to form a dye image. These dyes do not affect the infrared scans of the image. Upon complete development of the dye image, further dye formation is halted by the application of a coupler blocking agent, while silver development and electronic scanning may continue or halt. After halting dye formation, the film is stable for an arbitrary time in a latent stage and may be dried and stored. Following this latent stage, silver is removed from the film with a bleach-fix leaving a conventionally usable film image.
Claims25
A system for processing film comprising:
- a film receiving station operable to receive the film;
- a developing station operable to apply a developer solution to the film that develops at least one silver image and a corresponding dye image within the film;
- a halt station operable to substantially halt the development of the dye image within the film;
- and
- a scanning station operable to scan the film containing the at least one silver image and corresponding dye image to produce at least one digital image.
A system for latent film recovery in electronic film development comprising:
- a feed spool operable to feed film;
- an application station for applying a first developing agent to the film;
- at least one scanning station for scanning the film under infrared light;
- and
- a coupler inactivation station for applying a solution to the film which halts further dye coupling.
A system for latent film recovery in electronic film development comprising:
- means for exposing a color sensitive film containing a silver halide to a first developing agent containing no couplers;
- means for forming a silver image from interaction between the first developing agent and the film;
- means for electronically scanning the film;
- means for applying couplers to the film after a development time;
- and
- means for reducing the silver halide to silver in the presence of the couplers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.