Polaroid Transfer
What Is A Polaroid Transfer / Emulsion Lift?
A Polaroid transfer is an image manipulation technique in which you transfer the image from a Polaroid instant print onto paper, wood, or other substrate. Similarly, a Polaroid emulsion lift involves separating the top layer (emulsion layer) from a Polaroid and placing it on paper or other substrate. These Polaroid transfers and lifts were made with the pull-apart Polaroid film #669 using a daylab machine. I use slides (photos taken on slide film) and put the slide into the daylab that then projects the image onto the polaroid film and after I pull the film through the rollers instead of allowing full development so the image adheres to the film paper I release the image when it is half developed and transfer the image to hot press #140 wet watercolor paper. If I do an emulsion transfer I let the image develop either fully or not and after the emulsion dries I put it in a pan of hot water and let it separate from the print paper. Then I can place the emulsion image on the watercolor paper. The edges of both types are interesting because for the transfer the chemicals/emulsion can stick to the paper or tear off unevenly. The process creates a painterly look that I find appealing. For the emulsion lift you can create movement with the edges, arranging them anyway that enhances the image. Sometimes if I want more color I handcolor the image with colored pencils.