Polaroid Emulsion Transfer Process
My Process
The Emulsion Transfer Process is a very fragile technique by which, Polaroid peel- apart film is used to create an emulsion transfer on a range of non-photographic surfaces. Arches hot-pressed watercolor paper is my favorite paper for emulsion transfers.
After the film has been exposed by one of many different method types, a Polaroid print is made. This print must dry for at least 24 hours, then is placed in a very hot water bath for a few minutes. After the soak, the emulsion begins to lift off of the paper backing, the Polaroid is then placed carefully into a room-temperature water bath. The emulsion is then gently peeled or rubbed off the paper backing of the Polaroid. The emulsion is a thin membrane, with an image on it floating in the water. The emulsion is now free to be transferred to the receptor surface of choice. After it is on the receptor surface the emulsion can be wrinkled, torn, and distorted. It is then hung up or laid out to dry. After the transfer is dried, I usually hand color or hand paint it with Primacolors or Watercolors. Followed by a UV protection spray to keep the transfer safe from the sunlight.
Polaroid Image Transfer Process
My Process
The Polaroid Image Transfer Process is an arcane, time consuming art technique by which Polaroid peel-apart film is used to create an original print on a broad range of traditionally non-photographic surfaces. Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper is my paper of choice.
While the film can be exposed and developed by any one of a myriad ofprocessing methods, I prefer to utilize a Day Lab Slide Printer and 35mm slides.Usually a Polaroid would go through the roller process, and then the developer would then wait sixty seconds before separating the print from the negative, discarding the negative as useless.
In the Polaroid Transfer Process, the two parts of the Polaroid itself are separated prematurely, interrupting the process by which the dyes migrate from the negative to the positive print. By peeling the negative component from the print in this premature manner, the dye on the negative piece can be transferred to the receptor surface, and the print is then discarded, not the negative.
The back of the negative is then rolled on the receptor surface and placed in a warm water bath for a few minutes. The negative is slowly and subtly peeled away from the receptor surface revealing the resultant image. The process requires artist confidence, and a deft, yet sensitive touch, to avoid the slightest of mis-steps, which would ruin the delicate art works that result.
Upon completion of this process, the image is rinsed in a vinegar bath, whichreturns the PH value to neutral, and then hung up to dry. Upon drying, the image is usually hand colored or hand painted utilizing Prismacolors or Watercolors. The last step is to cover the transfer by a UV protection spray to shield it from sunlight damage.
The very nature of this process produces ‘one of a kind’, original pieces, as the final image is a function of a series of variables that include temperature, humidity, and the actual hand peeling process.