Polaroid transfer

Polaroid transfer is a photographic image-transfer process, or printmaking technique, which uses Polaroid film. This way an image can be put on textiles, cups, glass and many other surfaces.

Brief How-To

Using a camera, enlarger, slide printer or Day Lab expose Polaroid film. Develop by pulling the film from the holder. Wait about 10-15 seconds and quickly pull the film apart, not letting the two sides (the picture and the negative) touch. Put the pulled apart negative face down on paper (or other material). Place pressure over negative and let sit for about 20 minutes. Then pour hot water over each side of the negative/paper sandwich. Gently peel the negative from the paper. Allow transfer to dry, face up.

Tips

• Watercolor paper is generally a good paper to use for this process. Keep in mind that you can use any paper surface, as well as other surfaces like wood, cloth, ceramic, etc.
• Wet the paper with hot water prior to transferring, the paper should be damp and may need to air dry or blotted with blotter paper.
• Bright light or sunlight can cause fading of transfer over time.

See also

• Holly F. Dupre's online book Polaroid Image Transfers: Tools & Techniques
• Book: Polaroid Transfers by Kathleen Carr
• Book: Polaroid Manipulations by Kathleen Carr
• Photo emulsion
• Photographer's Guide to Polaroid Transfer Step-By-Step by Christopher Grey
• Fuji transfer
• Inkjet transfer
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