Photographic processes comprising cross-linking of thiol polymers

Claim 1

A PHOTO-REPRODUCTION PROCES WHICH COMPRISES IRRADIATING WITH A VISIBLE LIGHT IMAGE A POLYMER HAVING A MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF AT LEAST 10,000 AND THIOLATED WITH SUFFICIENT SYNTHETICALLY PRODUCED SULFHYDRYL GROUPS TO CROSSLINK THE POLYMER BY FORMATION OF DISULFIDE BONDS UPON OXIDATION CONTAINING A DISSOLVED ORGANIC PHOTO-REDUCIBLE DYE INCAPABLE OF BEING REDUCED BY SAID POLYMER IN THE ABSENCE OF LIGHT, BUT CAPABLE OF BEING REDUCED BY THE SULFHYDRYL GROUPS OF SAID POLYMER WHEN PHOTO-EXCITED WITH VISIBLE LIGHT, SAID PHOTO-REDUCIBLE DYE BEING PRESENT IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO, UPON BEING IRRADIATED WITH VISIBLE LIGHT, CAUSE OXIDATION OF SULHYDRYLGROUPS OF SAID POLYMER CONVERTING SAID GROUPS TODISULFIDE GROUPS CROSS-LINKING THE POLYMER SAID IRRADIATION BEING OF SUFFICIENT DURATION AND INTENSITY TO PHOTO-EXCITE AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID DYE, THEREBY CROSS-LINKING SAID POLYMER AND THEREAFTER WASHING OUT THE UNCROSS-LINKED PORTIONS.