How to Make a Polaroid Image Transfer

You will learn how to take an image from a color slide and transfer it to a polaroid, and then to water color paper. It is a fun and artistic way to display your photography.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Slide printer: Example Vivitar slide printer
• Type 669 Polaroid film
• Water color paper, or transfer surface of your choice
• Slides
• Coffee maker or electric "hot pot"
• Scissors
• Soaking tray
• Rolling pin
• Paper towels

1. Cut water color paper to a desired size, at least 4 inches by 5 inches. The water color paper tends to work best if it is a heavier type paper with less texture, to get the clearest image. But it is fun to experiment with different types of papers and textures to get a different feel with the image.

2. Heat water in coffee maker or hot pot. Then pour into a soaking tray.

3. Immerse water color paper in warm water, and let it soak all the way through. Then take the paper out, and lay on a paper towel and blot it with another paper towel.

4. Now we need to transfer an image from a slide to a Polaroid. First place the slide in the Vivitar transfer machine (or other transferring device). Make sure your type 669 Polaroid film is loaded into the top of the Vivitar correctly. When you are ready to transfer image, press the expose button. Then pull the Polaroid out steady and fast.

5. Wait 5-10 seconds to allow the image to begin developing. We will interrupt the full developing process by peeling the back of the Polaroid off after the 5-10 second wait. Yellow is the first color to transfer in that wait. You can experiment with waiting different lengths of time to get different colors to transfer. I often try using a beige or yellow toned paper to bring out the yellows in the image that transfer to the photo side of the Polaroid during the exposing time.

6. Immediately take the negative side of the film and place directly on the water color paper that you soaked. The negative side looks black, and you can vaguely see your image; it is sticky so don't touch it. The side that does not transfer is the Polaroid photo, that is glossy and will have a white boarder.

7. Using your rolling pin, with a steady movement roll over the back of the Polaroid to help transfer the image. Do not press too hard, and be careful not the move the back from the paper while rolling.

8. Let the paper and negative sit for one minute, then slowly peel the Polaroid from the water color paper. If the image does not seem to be transferring, lightly immerse the paper side into the warm water, careful not to let the water leak between the Polaroid and paper. The warmth will help the image to transfer completely.

9. Now you have made your first Polaroid image transfer. You will need to let the image dry overnight. It will take about 24 hours. The paper will tend to rumple a little after drying. Just place the image underneath something heavy (like a stack of books) for a day or two to flatten.

10. Final artistic additions to your Polaroid transfer: You can water color paint on top of the image. Or you can scan the photo to enlarge or add colors etc. in Photoshop. You can get very creative with the types of surfaces you transfer onto and what you do with the final image. Just let your imagination go wild and experiment to your hearts content!

Tips & Warnings

• Polaroids are hard to find in stores now a day. Look on EBay or Amazon, for type 669 film. There is often expired film being sold for cheap. If you don't mind inconsistent photos expired film will work fine. The film will often be discolored. I love to use it to get a look that no one else can. It usually looks light green or blue and sometimes will be a darker magenta when printed.
• Also find a Vivitar, and other Polaroid transfer machines on EBay or Amazon.
• Make sure you wash hands after transferring images. The Polaroids have chemicals on them that are harmful if ingested, or get in your eyes.