Polaroid Manipulation

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

EXPOSURE

PHOTOGRAMS

ALTERNATIVE METHODS

BASIC MANIPULATIONS

ADVANCED MANIPULATIONS

Introduction
SX-70 Style Manipulation
Microwaving the Film
Burning the Film
Scratching the Film
Washing the Transparency
Negative Lifts
Bleaching the Transparency
Bleaching the Negative
Spot Toning and Painting
-- The Positive Side of Transparency
-- The Negative Side of Transparency
-- The Negative

AFTERCARE

ARTIST GALLERY

Health and Safety Warning
Glossary
Additional Resources
Bibliography

ADVANCED MANIPULATIONS
SX-70 Style Manipulation

SX-70 manipulations have been a staple of creative Polaroid photography since the discovery of its manipulability shortly after its release in 1972. There are many resources for the various techniques employed in pushing the emulsion around so I will instead focus on how to make 600 and Spectra films malleable enough to use SX-70 manipulation techniques to create images in that style.

This manipulation requires speed on the part of the photographer as Polaroid 600 and Spectra films harden very quickly. The bulk of this technique (soaking the film in hot water) is to slow the hardening process of the film and to also make the film more malleable.

From the time the film ejects from the camera to the time the film will be too hard to manipulate is approximately 6-8 minutes. 600 and Spectra films are not gelatin-based films like SX-70/Time Zero film was and therefore, you cannot expect to achieve the exact same results with these films as you would from SX-70 film/Time Zero.

What you will need:

Latex or polyurethane gloves
Surgical mask
Film and camera
Scissors
Wax paper
Pointed (but not sharp) tools
5x7 or 8x10 tray
Hot water
Towel
Fiberboard
Clips

Before you begin, place a piece of wax paper over any surface you will be setting the images on to protect the surface, as well as make cleaning up easier, and also put the gloves on.

Fill the tray with hot tap water about half way.
Photograph you subject and allow the film to eject from the camera.
Cut all the way across the top and the bottom of the film but not the sides.
Place the film in the tray of hot water and wait for the image to develop.
Remove the image from the tray once you can see enough of the image to begin manipulating it.
Manipulate the image by pushing the emulsion around with the desired tools. When the emulsion begins to harden or when you have finished one section in a particular style (which ever happens first) re-submerge the film in the tray of hot water for 5-10 seconds.
Repeat steps 4 & 5 as necessary until you have finished the image or the emulsion has hardened.
Hold the image up and let as much water drain from it as possible.
Dry the outside of the film as much as possible by gently padding it with a soft towel.
Clip the film to a fiberboard and allow it to dry for at least 24-48 hours.

If you wish to manipulate the image further with processes that require the film to be wet, steps 8-10 may be skipped and you can continue with the next manipulation.

Suggested Reading:

Kathleen Carr - Polaroid Manipulations: A Complete Visual Guide to Creating SX-70, Transfer, and Digital Prints

Elizabeth Murray - Painterly Photography: Awakening the Artist Within

Troubleshooting:

The image breaks apart or cracks as I manipulate it.
Re-submerge the image in the hot water more often if it has been less than 6-8 minutes. The water is what keeps the image-receiving layer malleable. If more than 8 minutes have passed than the image should be too stable to manipulate.