Abstract: The covering power efficiency (CPE) of dye images formed by substantive hydrophobic color couplers was determined and the light absorption characteristics of the dye images were investigated. It was found that the CPE decreases with increasing optical density and the absorption bands were broader at higher densities. These are in accordance with the theory of Gledhill and Julian. It was also found that the dis-persity of the color coupler has some influence on the absorption bands of the images, whereas it has practically no effect on the CPE of the dye images.