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Polaroid Image Transfer is one of the first popularized processes that an artist can use the Polaroid process & carry it beyond what the company had intended.  Many beautiful painting-like images have been created with this simple to do instant photographic procedure. The Polaroid print is actually doing exactly what it is designed to do, except that the development timing is altered and the substrate that the image migrates has been substituted by a different material.  Below is a brief description of this process.

Basic Materials: Polaroid peel-apart Types 669 (3x4 inch), 59(4x5 inch), or 809 (8x10 inch) are recommended.  Other Polaroid peel-apart films do not work very well.  Hot water, trays, soft rubber brayer roller, squeegee, a hard smooth surface & 100% rag hot press watercolor paper.

Step one: Expose an image using any of the three films mentioned above. Cameras from Four Designs work well, as do existing Polaroid cameras, view cameras with Polaroid Instant backs, or enlargers. My favorites are the Daylab Systems products. These allow you to work with your existing 35 mm & 120 transparencies. Expose your image, but do not process it yet!

Step two   Prepare the receptor sheet (watercolor paper) by soaking in hot water (100 degree F). On the hard flat surface, squeegee all of the excess water from the receptor sheet.

Step three: Next, process the exposed Polaroid instant film and let it develop for 10-15 seconds (rather than 60+).  Then. peel the negative (what you want) from the positive (the trash this time).  After carefully removing any excess paper material from the negative (4x5 has a metal clip & paper border, 3x4 film has a paper border, as does 8x10 film), place the negative on the wet paper & carefully roll it into the paper with your brayer.

Step four: After approximately two minutes, carefully peel the negative diagonally away from the paper. This can be tricky, so be patient. This is not an exact science!

Step five: Viola! Finished masterpiece. Let your masterpiece dry.  It can then be enhanced with water soluble paints, dyes or even inks if you like.  Protect the finished art from UV exposure and enjoy.

Please visit Polaroid's Web site or call them for more details & tricks about this fun & exciting creative process.

Thanks to Polaroid for the above process description..