PURPOSE: To improve solubility and stabilities of storage and photographic performance by incorporating at least one kind of compound selected from a specified compound and its salt as an alkali agent and a p-phenylenediamine type color developing oping agent.

CONSTITUTION: This color developing agent contains as the alkali agent at least one kind of the compound selected from the compounds I-V and their salts and the p-phenylenediamine type color developing agent. The compound I is 4-phenolsulfonic acid, 2-aminoethylsulfonic acid, alanine, and the like, the compound II is 1-aminopropan-3-ole, aspartic acid, phenol, β-alanine, and the like, the compound III is 5-amino-N-phenylsulfonic acid, 4-aminophenol, 5-amino- N-valeric acid, and the like, the compound IV is murexide, L-proline, piperidine, and the like, and the compound V is 3-ethylpentan-2,4-glycoascorbic acid, glucose, and the like.