A diffusion transfer photographic element containing a lipophilic, non-diffusing color former in a silver halide emulsion layer, or in a layer adjacent thereto, is developed by using a water- and alkali-soluble color developer capable of coupling with the color former to form a diffusible coupled product, the color developer being coated with the silver halide emulsion layer or in any layer of the photographic element or being in an alkaline developing solution.