Polaroid Transfers and Lifts

Polaroid Transfers and Lifts
History
* The exact history of Polaroid transfers and lifts is unclear. Some say that this process came about in the 1960s with the creation of Polaroids. One story goes that a researcher from a Polaroid lab left a Polaroid negative face down on a lab counter and when he tried to remove it, he removed the negative part of the Polaroid while the photo part was embedded into the surface. This pleasant mistake launched a cult movement.

History

* The exact history of Polaroid transfers and lifts is unclear. Some say that this process came about in the 1960s with the creation of Polaroids. One story goes that a researcher from a Polaroid lab left a Polaroid negative face down on a lab counter and when he tried to remove it, he removed the negative part of the Polaroid while the photo part was embedded into the surface. This pleasant mistake launched a cult movement.

Before you being, you should have the following set-up for your Polaroid processes:
- slide film (35mm), if you are using a Day Lab processor
- Day Lab Polaroid film processor or Polaroid camera if you are taking shots within your manipulation set-up
- Polaroid film (Type 108, 559, 59, 64, 69, or 809)
- a squeegee, brayer or rolling pin
- scissors
- timer
- a kettle or coffee maker to boil hot water
- two (2) clean, uncontaminated trays (glass or plastic)
- acid-free moderate to heavy weight paper (watercolor or rag paper, for example)
- contact (adhesive) paper
- plastic acetate sheets

Before you being, you should have the following set-up for your Polaroid processes:

- slide film (35mm), if you are using a Day Lab processor

- Day Lab Polaroid film processor or Polaroid camera if you are taking shots within your manipulation set-up

- Polaroid film (Type 108, 559, 59, 64, 69, or 809)

- a squeegee, brayer or rolling pin

- scissors

- timer

- a kettle or coffee maker to boil hot water

- two (2) clean, uncontaminated trays (glass or plastic)

- acid-free moderate to heavy weight paper (watercolor or rag paper, for example)

- contact (adhesive) paper

- plastic acetate sheets

Tutorial for Polaroid Transfers
1. Prepare the paper for your transfer. You can either wet your paper or leave it dry. The style of the transfer will look different depending on the weight of the paper and how it was prepared. If you wet your paper, be sure you squeegee off any excess water so it is slightly damp.
2. Expose the Polaroid in Day Lab processor or make an exposure in Polaroid camera. Pull out image from processor or camera. After 10 or 15 seconds, pull the Polaroid apart.
3. Place the negative side face down onto your paper. Gently and evenly add pressure either with your hand or a roller. Let it sit for a minute or two. Carefully and evenly pull off the negative from the paper.

Tutorial for Polaroid Transfers

1. Prepare the paper for your transfer. You can either wet your paper or leave it dry. The style of the transfer will look different depending on the weight of the paper and how it was prepared. If you wet your paper, be sure you squeegee off any excess water so it is slightly damp.

2. Expose the Polaroid in Day Lab processor or make an exposure in Polaroid camera. Pull out image from processor or camera. After 10 or 15 seconds, pull the Polaroid apart.

3. Place the negative side face down onto your paper. Gently and evenly add pressure either with your hand or a roller. Let it sit for a minute or two. Carefully and evenly pull off the negative from the paper.

Tutorial for Polaroid Emulsion Lifts
1. Prepare your paper or surface.
2. Process a Polaroid print and let it sit preferably for a day.
3. Cover the back of your Polaroid with contact paper (clear, adhesive paper) and trim it evenly to the size of the Polaroid.
4. Set up a tray of hot water.
5. Soak image for 4 minutes. When small bubbles appear on the surface, it is ready to be taken out of the water.
6. Set image in a tray of cold water with a piece of acetate underneath.
7. Peel the emulsion carefully onto the acetate.
8. Transfer the emulsion from the acetate onto your surface under cool water.
9. Smooth the emulsion out onto the surface with your fingers or use a roller on a flat surface.
10. You can manipulate the image by pushing the edges to create wrinkles or tearing to add texture. Gently roll the image with a rubber brayer to remove air bubbles when you are finished and satisfied with your initial emulsion lift.

Tutorial for Polaroid Emulsion Lifts

1. Prepare your paper or surface.

2. Process a Polaroid print and let it sit preferably for a day.

3. Cover the back of your Polaroid with contact paper (clear, adhesive paper) and trim it evenly to the size of the Polaroid.

4. Set up a tray of hot water.

5. Soak image for 4 minutes. When small bubbles appear on the surface, it is ready to be taken out of the water.

6. Set image in a tray of cold water with a piece of acetate underneath.

7. Peel the emulsion carefully onto the acetate.

8. Transfer the emulsion from the acetate onto your surface under cool water.

9. Smooth the emulsion out onto the surface with your fingers or use a roller on a flat surface.

10. You can manipulate the image by pushing the edges to create wrinkles or tearing to add texture. Gently roll the image with a rubber brayer to remove air bubbles when you are finished and satisfied with your initial emulsion lift.


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Polaroid Emulsion Lift	Polaroid Transfer	Polaroid Emulsion Lift