This invention relates to a method of bleaching silver images and to solutions therefor. The photographic silver halide image forming process is well known. Sometimes it is desirable to retouch the silver image formed thereby and, specifically, it is sometimes desired to remove parts of the image such as unwanted spots. It is known, for example from British specification 2 107 889 that a thickened solution containing, for example, iodine and an iodide can achieve the desired result. A problem with this approach is that a brown stain is produced which is unsightly. In addition the compositions of 2 107 889 are only suitable for printing plates which do not have any gelatin layers. It is therefore desirable to be able to delete the silver image without causing any stain and to delete the silver image in a gelatin- containing layer.

The present invention provides a method of removing silver images without causing any stain. According to the present invention there is provided a method for bleaching a silver image wherein the image is treated with a first solution comprising iodine and an iodide salt and then the iodine stain is ..emoved by treating it with a second solution comprising ascorbic acid and sulphite ions.

The image is bleached rapidly and permanently, there is no stain and the solutions have a long life. The silver image to be treated may be on an imagewise exposed and fully processed photographic film or paper or on a printing plate made by the photographic silver salt diffusion transfer process. Such materials are described in Research Disclosure

Item 308119, December 1989 published by Kenneth Mason Publications, Emsworth, Hants, United Kingdom.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the solutions are applied to the silver image using "felt tipped" pens, preferably ones with a fine tip to ensure accurate application.

The first solution, used to delete the silver image preferably contains a mixture of water and butyrolactone. The ratio of aqueous to organic solvent is optimised to provide sufficient water for rapid penetration of the solute into the gelatin layer on the image-bearing material, together with sufficient butyrolactone to obtain high complexing power for silver iodide so that the image is removed in a conveniently quick time. The first may also contain other solvents used alone or in combination including alcohols eg ethyl or butyl alcohol.

The iodide may be provided by an ammonium or alkali metal iodide, eg sodium or potassium iodide. The first solution preferably contains from 2 to 50g, especially from 20g to 45g, of iodine and from 50g to 250 g, especially from 150g to 200g, of iodide ions per litre. The solvent preferably comprises from 10 to 60% by weight of water, the exact figures being dependent on the considerations outlined above.

Preferably the first solution also contains a wetting agent and an acid.

The second solution preferably contains from 10 to lOOg, especially from 40 to 80g, ascorbic acid and from 10 to lOOg, especially from 30 to 70g, of potasium sulphite per litre. The solution is preferably aqueous.

The invention further provides a deletion fluid kit comprising the first and second solutions as

defined above. Preferably the solutions are each contained in a felt tip pen.

The following Example is included for a better understanding of the invention. The words KODAK and PMT are trademarks.

EXAMPLE

The following solutions were made up:

SOLUTION A

Iodine 26 g

Potassium iodide 170 g

ETHOQUAD C25 (surfactant) 1 g

Butyrolactone 510 g Water 270 g

Acetic acid 18 g

SOLUTION B

Ascorbic acid 60 g Potassium sulphite 50 g

Water 1 litre

Each solution was filled into a felt tip pen.

Images were produced using Kodak PMT3 KNP negative paper, exposed on a Kodak Imagemaker Camera and processed in a Kodak 43DT Imagemate Processor onto a variety of Kodak PMT receivers. Images were deleted successfully from the following receivers in an average time of 20 secc"ds.

PMT 3 KRPM Matt receiver paper

PMT 3 KRPT Thin receiver paper

PMT 3 KRPTA Adhesive thin receiver paper PMT 3 KRPG Glossy receiver paper

PMT 3 KRF Receiver film

PMT 3 KRFT Thin receiver film PMT II Metal litho plates

Other materials tried were Kodak PMT II Paper Litho plates and Kodak Pagiset Phototypesetting paper. Images could be successfully deleted from both, but the deletion time was greater than 1 minute.