PHOTOTHERMOGRAPHIC MATERIAL CONTAINING A COMBINATION OF GY-SENSITIVE ORGANIC DYES AND PROCESS OF FORMING A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE E WITH THE MATERIAL

A non-silver halide photothermographic element comprises a conbination of certain energy sensitive organic dyes capable of forming or destroying an active species upon selective exposure to actinic radiation to give a positive or negative image after heat development of the element. The element also comprises an oxidation-reduction image-forming composition comprising a silver salt oxidizing agent and a non-radiation sensitive organic reducing agent. A method of developing a latent image in the photothermographic element to a negative image comprises overall heating the element. Alternatively a positive image can be produced in the photothermographic element by imagewise exposure of the element to ultr violet light and subsequent overall exposure to tungsten light followed by overall heating. None of the prior non-silver halide photothermographic materials provided such a capability.