Don't let a beautiful photograph remain unseen in a drawer or photo album. Instead, display the image by transferring it to wood, glass, paper or tile with instructions from Polaroid representative Ron Gulaskey.
Guest Ron Gulaskey suggests decorating posters, wall art, postcards, stationery, vases, wooden boxes and more using this photo emulsion transfer technique.
Materials:
Polaroid Emulsion Image Transfer Kit - includes two trays, water color paper; timer; Mylar sheet; thermometer; print tongs and Contact paper.
Polaroid film - Polacolor ER (108, 669, 59, 559, 809) or Polacolor 64 Tungsten
160-degree water
room temperature water
brayer roller
squeegee
thermometer capable of reading high temperatures
hair dryer
clear acetate or Mylar
dry-mount press
Steps:
- Process the exposed Polaroid film and let dry for eight to 24 hours or force dry with hair dryer. Cover the back of the print with Contact paper to prevent the back coating from dissolving.
- Fill a tray with 160-degree tap water (figure A). Fill another tray with room temperature tap water, and place a sheet of acetate or Mylar on the bottom of this tray.
- Immerse the print face up in the 160-degree water tray for four minutes (figure B). Agitate the tray to keep the print under the surface of the water. It is not necessary to keep the water heated during this time. Using tongs, remove the print from the hot water and place in room temperature water tray.
- Lightly push the image from the edges of the print slightly toward the center. Lift the image and slowly peel it away from the paper, keeping the image under water. Bring the image back and over itself (like turning down a bed sheet), thus reversing it. Leave the image floating in water. Discard the paper backing.
- With your fingers, grab the corners of the image and clamp it to the acetate on the bottom of the tray. Hold the image and lift the acetate in and out of the water to stretch the image and remove the wrinkles. Repeat this on all four sides, always holding the top two corners. Then, dunk the stretched image to purposely let the water curl and fold it. When you are satisfied with the image, remove it from the water and place it onto your transfer surface. Make sure the acetate or carrying material is on top.
- Carefully remove the acetate (figure C). Use your fingers to push and stretch the image. At this time, dunking your image in and out of the cold water will allow you to further manipulate it. When finished, roll the image with a soft rubber brayer from the middle outward to remove water and air bubbles. Let dry.
- Flatten the transfer in a warm dry-mount press. If desired, spray with protective coating. Finish with pastels, watercolor paints, dyes, or pencils if desired. To guarantee the stability and permanence of your image, keep it out of direct sunlight.
Note: This project requires specific equipment. In order to transfer a color photo image, you must have either a ProPack camera or any Polaroid camera where a 60-second developing time and peel-apart film pack is required, or a 35 mm slide and a slide printer, such as the Daylab II or Daylab Jr., that creates a color print from a slide. The new Daylab 120 uses medium format transparencies to create a color print.
You may also want to go to your local copy or photography store and ask if they have a slide printer that could transfer the slide. Other products may be found at camera stores.
If you do not own a dry-mount press, look for one in your local art store, craft outlet or framing store. Many of these businesses will do the mounting for you for a nominal fee.
Resources emulsion image transfer kit, Daylab II
Vivitar Instant Slide Printer has been discontinued by the manufacturer and replaced with the Daylab II.
Polaroid Corporation
Toll Free Phone: 800-343-5000
URL:
www.polaroid.com
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