Polaroid art

An example of an SX-70 film manipulation.

Polaroid film is particularly suitable for various forms of alternative processing. One of the most predominant forms amongst artists and photographers was the manipulation of SX-70 using various tools; this was done before the emulsion dried and created an oil painting effect. SX-70 is no longer in production, and similar films currently in production by the Impossible Project do not have the same manipulable qualities as SX-70 did. Emulsion lifting is rapidly growing in popularity amongst the art and photography world and can be achieved by soaking any polaroid or Fuji peel-apart films (as well as some Impossible Project's film intended for use with 600, Spectra and SX-70 cameras) in water and then carefully transferring the emulsion to a new surface like wood metal or paper. Image Transfers are another method of transferring the image from instant peel-apart film to a new surface. this is done by peeling the negative positive sandwich apart early in development (around ten seconds) and pushing the wet negative side down firmly onto a sheet of print-making paper and applying an even pressure with a roller transferring it to the new surface. Both of these methods can create varied and fascinating effects that are a lot of fun to play around with.

Instant film is one of the largest-growing analogue materials in terms of popularity in the current renaissance that traditional analogue photography is experiencing .

The Belgian Danny Matthys is a pioneer in Polaroid art.

Stefanie Schneider is an artist who uses polaroid material exclusively .

Polaroid SX-70 - Augusto De Luca, (International Polaroid Collection)

The Emulsion Lift

Films and materials that can be used include:

• Polaroid peel-apart films
• Fuji peel-apart films
• Polaroid Pogo inkless paper
• The Impossible Project's integral films

These days due to availability most emulsion lifts are created using FUJI FP-100c; a colour 3.25"x4.25" sized peel-apart instant film. Firstly the picture is taken on a compatible camera or a 35mm slide may be enlarged onto the instant film using a Daylab or Vivitar instant slide printer after the exposure is made the film is "pulled" spreading the reagent and is allowed to develop to completion at which point it is peeled apart and the positive side removed from the sandwich and allowed to dry for a while. It is then placed in a warm water bath above a similarly sized sheet of glass of clear plastic and allowed to soak for around 5 minutes. At around this time the emulsion will start to separate from its backing and can be gently scraped off, starting at a corner, using something like a driving license or debit card, the now blank backing of the image is then removed from the water and the emulsion placed onto the plastic or glass where it can be spread out and adjusted easily under water. From here it can be placed onto a surface that is damp and when the emulsion has been adjusted to how you want it a thin layer of acrylic medium or ever so slightly watered down PVA glue is applied over the top to fix it in place

The image transfer

Films that can be used include Polaroid colour peel-apart films and Fuji colour peel-apart films only for example Polaroid 669 or Fuji FP-100c.

These days due to availability most emulsion lifts are created using FUJI FP-100c; a colour 3.25"x4.25" sized peel-apart instant film. Similarly to the emulsion lift, an exposure must first be made on the film but after it is pulled it is allowed to develop for a minimal amount of time, often around 10 seconds, although rumour has it that for un-sized print-making paper 14 seconds is the perfect time, at which point in darkness the film is peeled apart and the inner side of the negative is placed wet side down onto a sheet of print-making or handmade paper and firmly rolled down in multiple directions for around a minute at, which point the negative is carefully lifted away, revealing your print.

External links

• Polaroid SX-70 Art gallery
• POLAROID MANIPULATION video showing an artist manipulating a Polaroid live
• Photo Manipulation video presenting some ways to manipulate Zink paper and PoGo Polaroid
• New55 Film blog on a new instant film
• Artist Stefanie Schneider
• Stefanie Schneider's feature film done with Polaroids