Non-hydroquinone photographic developer composition with lith quality and its method of usage

The non-hydroquinone photographic developer composition comprising:

• (a) a developer selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid and sugar-type derivatives thereof, or alkali metal salts and mixtures thereof, in an amount of 0.1 to 0.4 mol/liter (mol/l);
• (b) an effective amount of an auxiliary developing agent comprising a 3-pyrazolidone compound, an aminophenol or a mixture thereof;
• (c) an alkali metal sulfite in an amount less than or equal to 0.32 mol/l;
• (d) an alkali metal carbonate in an amount of 0.1 to 0.4 mol/l;
• (e) an alkali metal hydroxide in an amount of from 0.08 to 2.0 mols/l;
• (f) with the developer composition having a pH of from 11.8 to 13.5 at 25° C.;
• and
• (g) said developer composition does not contain an alkanolamine.

A method of obtaining an image comprising developing an image-wise exposed black-and-white silver halide photographic material with a non-hydroquinone developer composition comprising:

• (a) a developer selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid and sugar-type derivatives thereof, or alkali metal salts and mixtures thereof, in an amount of 0.1 to 0.4 mol/liter (mol/l);
• (b) an effective amount of an auxiliary developing agent comprising a 3-pyrazolidone compound, an aminophenol or a mixture thereof;
• (c) an alkali metal sulfite in an amount less than or equal to 0.32 mol/l;
• (d) an alkali metal carbonate in an amount of 0.1 to 0.4 mol/l;
• (e) an alkali metal hydroxide in an amount of from 0.08 to 2.0 mols/l;
• (f) with the developer composition having a pH of 10.3 or higher at 25° C.;
• and
• (g) said developer composition does not contain an alkanolamine or contains an alkanolamine in an amount of less than 5 g/l,
• wherein said photographic material does not contain an internally boosted silver halide emulsion and nucleator compound.

A non-hydroquinone photographic developer composition consisting essentially of:

• (a) a developer selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid and sugar-type derivatives thereof, or alkali metal salts and mixtures thereof, in an amount of 0.1 to 0.4 mol/liter (mol l);
• (b) an effective amount of an auxiliary developing agent comprising a 3-pyrazolidone compound, an aminophenol or a mixture thereof;
• (c) an alkali metal sulfite in an amount less than or equal to 0.32 mol/l;
• (d) An alkali metal carbonate selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate in an amount of 0.1 to 0.4 mol/l;
• (e) an alkali metal hydroxide in an amount needed to adjust the developer composition to a pH of from 10.3 to 12.5;
• and
• (f) with the developer composition having a pH of from 10.3 to 12.5 at 25° C.