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Believed to be discovered by accident by a researcher at Polaroid Corporation's Cambridge
headquarters in the Sixties, the timeless and somewhat surreal quality of images produced by
this creative process make it very alluring to photographers wishing to blur the distinction
between photography and handcrafted art.
There are two types of Polaroid Transfers - image and emulsion transfers. However, I have
only experimented with image transfers.
In a nutshell, the way I created the image transfers was by taking photographs using 35 mm
slide film, then with the aid of a slide printer, exposed the slides onto Polaroid instant print
film. The Polaroid film was peeled apart before the image had developed fully onto the
positive side of the film, and the negative was pressed face down onto dampened good
quality hot-pressed watercolor paper. The paper was then laid on a tray of warm water for a
couple of minutes. During this time the dyes from the negative side of the film transferred to
the watercolor paper, and when the film was peeled back, a delightful and often surprising
image was laid before my eyes.
I allowed the images to dry for a day, then agitated them in a vinegar bath made from one
part distilled white vinegar and four parts water for approximately 45 seconds. This really
brings out the colors of the image and helps fix the image. The final step was to rinse them
for 5 minutes under a gentle stream of water to remove the excess vinegar, then leave the
finished transfer to dry.
I have always found it a therapeutic and rewarding way to spend my time and hoped to
continue to enjoy and experiment further with the process, but sadly, Polaroid discontinued
the production of instant film in 2008. Unless an alternative is found, it will very soon be
impossible to create Polaroid Image Transfers.
It makes the wonderful and soon to be rare images already lovingly created, all the more
precious and a must for any discerning collector of photographic art.
headquarters in the Sixties, the timeless and somewhat surreal quality of images produced by
this creative process make it very alluring to photographers wishing to blur the distinction
between photography and handcrafted art.
There are two types of Polaroid Transfers - image and emulsion transfers. However, I have
only experimented with image transfers.
In a nutshell, the way I created the image transfers was by taking photographs using 35 mm
slide film, then with the aid of a slide printer, exposed the slides onto Polaroid instant print
film. The Polaroid film was peeled apart before the image had developed fully onto the
positive side of the film, and the negative was pressed face down onto dampened good
quality hot-pressed watercolor paper. The paper was then laid on a tray of warm water for a
couple of minutes. During this time the dyes from the negative side of the film transferred to
the watercolor paper, and when the film was peeled back, a delightful and often surprising
image was laid before my eyes.
I allowed the images to dry for a day, then agitated them in a vinegar bath made from one
part distilled white vinegar and four parts water for approximately 45 seconds. This really
brings out the colors of the image and helps fix the image. The final step was to rinse them
for 5 minutes under a gentle stream of water to remove the excess vinegar, then leave the
finished transfer to dry.
I have always found it a therapeutic and rewarding way to spend my time and hoped to
continue to enjoy and experiment further with the process, but sadly, Polaroid discontinued
the production of instant film in 2008. Unless an alternative is found, it will very soon be
impossible to create Polaroid Image Transfers.
It makes the wonderful and soon to be rare images already lovingly created, all the more
precious and a must for any discerning collector of photographic art.
Copyright 2009 Julie Penman. Photography and Nautical Photography, Polaroid Transfers