Homogeneous single-part color developer per color film processing and method of using same

An aqueous, homogeneous, single-part color developing concentrate having a pH of from about 10 to about 11 and comprising:

• a) from about 0.05 to about 0.2 mol/l of 4-(N,N-diethyl)-2-methylaniline hydrochloride (KODAK Color Developing Agent CD-2), 4-(N-ethyl-N-methanesulfonamidoethyl)-2-methylaniline sesquisulfate (KODAK Color Developing Agent CD-3), or 4-(N-ethyl-N-β-hydroxyethyl)-2-methylaniline sulfate (KODAK Color Developing Agent CD-4), each in free base form,
• b) from about 0.1 to about 0.4 mol/l of an antioxidant composition for said color developing agent that consists essentially of N,N-bis(ethylenesulfonato)hydroxylamine, N,N-bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)hydroxylamine, or N-isopropyl-N-ethylsulfonatohydroxylamine,
• c) a water-miscible or water-soluble benzoic acid or an alkali metal salt thereof that has a molecular weight of from about 120 to about 220, is present in said concentrate at a concentration such that the weight ratio of water to said organic co-solvent is from about 7:1 to about 30:1,
• e) a carbonate buffering agent, and
• f) from about 0.1 to about 0.50 mol/l of sulfite ions.

A photographic processing chemical kit comprising:

• I) an aqueous, homogeneous, single-part color developing concentrate having a pH of from about 9 to about 13 and comprising:
• a) at least 0.05 mol/l of an N,N-dialkyl-p-phenylenediamine color developing agent in free base form,
• b) at least 0.1 mol/l of an antioxidant composition for said color developing agent that comprises an N,N-dialkyl- or N,N-diarylhydroxylamine derivative having at least one solubilizing group, and
• c) a water-miscible or water-soluble organic co-solvent that has a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 400, is present in said concentrate at a concentration such that the weight ratio of water to said organic co-solvent is from about 7:1 to about 30:1, and is represented by the following Structure I:
• Y—Z−M+ (I)
• wherein Y is uncharged in the pH range of from 10 to 11 and is an alkyl group having 4 to 16 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 5 to 10 carbon atoms in the ring, an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms that is additionally substituted with a cycloalkyl group, a carbocyclic aryl group or a heterocyclic group containing 1 to 3 hetero atoms, or a carbocyclic aryl group having 6 or 10 carbon atoms in the ring, Z− is a monovalent group comprising a single negative charge or an acidic group that is ionized to a single negative charged group at pH of 10 or more, and M+ is a monovalent cation, and
• II) one or more of the following compositions:
• a photographic bleaching composition,
• a photographic bleach/fixing composition,
• a photographic fixing composition, or
• a photographic stabilizing or final rinsing composition.

A method for providing a color photographic image comprising contacting a color negative or color reversal photographic silver halide film with, upon dilution at least 2.5 times, an aqueous, homogeneous, single-part color developing concentrate having a pH of from about 9 to about 13 and comprising:

• a) at least 0.05 mol/l of an N,N-dialkyl-p-phenylenediamine color developing agent in free base form,
• b) at least 0.1 mol/l of an antioxidant composition for said color developing agent that comprises an N,N-dialkyl- or N,N-diarylhydroxylamine derivative having at least one solubilizing group, and
• c) a water-miscible or water-soluble organic co-solvent that has a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 400, is present in said concentrate at a concentration such that the weight ratio of water to said organic co-solvent is from about 7:1 to about 30:1, and is represented by the following Structure I:
• Y—Z−M+ (I)
• wherein Y is uncharged in the pH range of from 10 to 11 and is an alkyl group having 4 to 16 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 5 to 10 carbon atoms in the ring, an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms that is additionally substituted with a cycloalkyl group, a carbocyclic aryl group or a heterocyclic group containing 1 to 3 hetero atoms, or a carbocyclic aryl group having 6 or 10 carbon atoms in the ring, Z− is a monovalent group comprising a single negative charge or an acidic group that is ionized to a single negative charged group at pH of 10 or more, and M+ is a monovalent cation.

A method of photographic processing comprising the steps of:

• A) color developing an imagewise exposed color negative or color reversal photographic silver halide film with, upon dilution at least four times, an aqueous, homogeneous, single-part color developing concentrate having a pH of from about 9 to about 13 and comprising:
• a) at least 0.05 mol/l of an N,N-dialkyl-p-phenylenediamine color developing agent in free base form,
• b) at least 0.1 mol/l of an antioxidant composition for said color developing agent that comprises an N,N-dialkyl- or N,N-diarylhydroxylamine derivative having at least one solubilizing group, and
• c) a water-miscible or water-soluble organic co-solvent that has a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 400, is present in said concentrate at a concentration such that the weight ratio of water to said organic co-solvent is from about 7:1 to about 30:1, and is represented by the following Structure I:
• Y—Z−M+ (I)
• wherein Y is uncharged in the pH range of from 10 to 11 and is an alkyl group having 4 to 16 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 5 to 10 carbon atoms in the ring, an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms that is additionally substituted with a cycloalkyl group, a carbocyclic aryl group or a heterocyclic group containing 1 to 3 hetero atoms, or a carbocyclic aryl group having 6 or 10 carbon atoms in the ring, Z− is a monovalent group comprising a single negative charge or an acidic group that is ionized to a single negative charged group at pH of 10 or more, and M+ is a monovalent cation, and
• B) desilvering said color developed color negative or color reversal photographic silver halide film.