METHOD OF PROCESSING A SILVER HALIDE COLOR PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL AND A COLOR DEVELOPER WHERE THE DEVELOPER CONTAINS A HYDRAZINE COMPOUND

A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material including the step of developing the silver halide color photographic material with a color developing solution containing at least one aromatic primary amine developing agent and at least one hydrazide represented by the following formula (I) or (II) R1-X1-NHNH-R2(I) in which X1 represents -CO-, -SO2- or R1 represents a hydroxyl group, a hydroxyamino group, carbamoyl group, a hydrazinocarbonyl group, an amino group, or a hydrazino group; and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group; provided that the R1 or R2 groups of at least two of the hydrazide groups may be linked to form a dimer or higher polymer of the hydrazide. R3-X2-NHNH-R4(II) in which X2 represents -CO- or -SO2-; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an alkoxy group, or an aryloxy group; and R4 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; provided that the R3 or R4 groups of at least two of the hydrazide groups may be linked to form a dimer or higher polymer of the hydrazide. The method provides increased developer stability and reduced fog formation, particularly in continuous processing.