Dyes are described corresponding to the following formula for use as light-absorbing dyes in silver halide photographic material: ##STR1## wherein: Z represents the atoms necessary to form a barbituric acid nucleus (p=1 or 2), a phenyl group (p=0 or 1) or a pyrrole ring (p=0) Each of L.sup.1, L.sup.2 and L.sup.3 represents a methine group, R.sup.3 represents an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group, R.sup.1 represents hydrogen, alkyl, acyl or amino and R.sup.2 represents hydrogen, alkyl or aryl, or R.sup.1 together with R.sup.2 represents the atoms necessary to complete a heterocycle.