Abstract
Lith films and developers were developed in 1931 and advanced by the mid-1960s, In the early 1960s, automated processing of lith films was started using roller transport machines. Trying to adapt the unstable lith developer to a machine resulted in loss of image quality. Since the beginning of the 1970s, several kinds of lith system using a stabilized lith developer or the blend-replenishing method were introduced by some photographic film makers. Rapid-access system combined with high contrast films and a stable Phenidone-hydroquinone developer was born in 1970. This system gives moderatly contrast images suitable for certain types of line and contact work. For other applications requiring the highest contrast and image quality, lith system has been used. Recently, two types of new high-contrast rapid-access system with the image quality of lith system and the latitude of rapid-access system were developed. They have a bright future in the field of graphic arts.
