PHOTOSENSITIVE SILVER HALIDE MATERIAL

PURPOSE:To improve the tone, graininess and color reproducibility of an image by incorporating a specified dihydroxynaphthalene deriv. having a photographically active group such as a mercaptoazole residue into a photosensitive silver halide material. CONSTITUTION:A compound represented by formula I (where each of A and A' is H or a group hydrolyzable with alkali, X is an electron withdrawing group, and PUG is an optionally substituted mercaptoazole or benzotriazole residue), e.g., a compound represented by formula II is incorporated into a silver halide emulsion layer. The PUG group is released in a developing stage and has a development retarding effect. Since a development retarding substance is released from the photosensitive silver halide material obtd. by forming the silver halide emulsion layer when the material is developed, the sensitivity is hardly reduced, a significant softening effect is produced, and control of the tone of an image and the sharpness are improved.