Method for providing conductive silver film elements

A method for providing an electrically-conductive silver image on a transparent substrate in a conductive film element, the method comprising, in order:

• imagewise exposing a conductive film element precursor comprising a transparent substrate having a first supporting side and an opposing second supporting side, and the conductive film element precursor comprising on the first supporting side, in order, a first non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer comprising photosensitive silver halide, and optionally a first hydrophilic overcoat disposed over the first non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer, to provide an imagewise exposed precursor comprising a first latent silver image in the first non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer,
• processing the imagewise exposed precursor in a silver halide developing solution having a pH of at least 8 and up to and including 13, and comprising:
• (a) a primary developing agent that is a hydroquinone or ascorbic acid or derivative of either, in an amount of at least 0.01 mol/l and up to and including 1 mol/l, and (b) a catalytic developing agent that is a p-aminophenol or a phenidone or derivative of either, in an amount of at least 0.001 mol/l and up to and including 0.1 mol/l, for at least 10 seconds, to provide a first silver image corresponding to the first latent silver image in the first non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer,
• after only a washing of the imagewise exposed precursor with the first silver image, processing the imagewise exposed precursor in a silver halide solution physical developing solution comprising:
• (a) a primary developing agent that is a hydroquinone or ascorbic acid or derivative of either, in an amount of at least 0.01 mol/l and up to and including 1 mol/l, and (c) a silver halide dissolution catalyst in an amount of at least 0.001 mol/l and up to and including 0.1 mol/l, and substantially no (b) catalytic developing agent, for at least 30 seconds at a temperature of at least 20° C., to provide a conductivity of the first silver image that is at least 2 times the conductivity of the first silver image provided by processing the first latent silver image with the silver halide developing solution,
• processing the imagewise exposed precursor in a fixing solution to remove remaining silver ions and to provide a conductive film element containing the first silver image,
• treating the conductive film element to enhance electrical conductivity of the first silver image, and
• optionally washing and drying the conductive film element.