How to Do a Polaroid Emulsion Lift

Polaroid manipulation can be one of the most fun and versatile avenues of alternative process photography. One of the trickiest (but coolest) methods involves lifting the top layer off of the picture and transferring it to another surface like watercolor paper, glass, or even rocks. Here is how to do a Polaroid emulsion lift.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 35mm color slides, processed
• Polaroid Daylab or slide printer
• Polaroid film, type 669
• Water, perpetually heated to 180 degrees
• Tray of lukewarm water
• Surface of choice for transfer

1. Begin by loading the 669 film into either the Daylab or the slide printer, whichever you have chosen for this project. Be sure that the equipment is snapped back into place once the film has been loaded to avoid unnecessary exposure to the film.

2. Load the slide you have chosen into the Daylab or slide printer. Press the button to expose the film and remove the Polaroid film from the machine. Do not pull the picture apart until a full minute has passed.

3. Set your image aside and allow to dry completely. For the absolute best results, let the picture rest for about 24 hours.

4. Heat water to about 180 degrees. Place the picture into the hot water with the image facing up. Allow the picture to remain in the water until the image begins to lift up from the corners of the paper and small bubbles begin to form. This usually takes between 2 and 4 minutes.

5. Remove the picture carefully from the hot water using a pair of tongs. Immediately place the picture into a tray of lukewarm water. Using your forefinger, gently push at the top emulsion layer, starting at the edges and working through to the center until the entire image is lifted off of the paper backing. Remove the backing and throw away. During this process, do your best to remove the jelly-like layer of chemicals from the back of the emulsion layer.

6. Take the surface on which you've chosen to place the emulsion lift and immerse it into the water below the image. Allow the image to rest on its new surface while gently manipulating the emulsion layer to smooth out wrinkles.

7. Lift the image and its new surface out of the warm water, being careful not to move or tear the fragile emulsion layer. Allow the emulsion transfer to dry overnight.

8. Make any other alterations once the picture is dry using scratches, color pencils.