Ciera Rhoades Photography

Listed below are detailed instructions for Polaroid Lifts and Dye Transfers (though now I suppose it's Fuji!) The basic idea is taking an image and applying it to another surface (paper, fabric, wood, glass, metal, etc.)  Both processes use Polaroid 669 film or the Fujifilm FP-100c equivolent. There are other steps that are required when using Fujifilm.  There are a couple types of Daylabs. One uses slides (shot with slide film) and the other is for the collage technique which is what I use. There are also ways to convert regular Polaroid cameras and Holga cameras to shoot onto this film instead of regular film. 

Images:

-Can be very colorful and incorporate 2-D (photos, drawings, scrapbook paper, collages) and 3-D (lace, buttons) objects.

Materials needed:

            Plexiglas

            Hot Pot to heat water

            Small tray for paper to soak in

            Squeegee to remove excess water

            Brayer to smooth waste side onto paper

            Scissors to cut open film quickly

            Brick to apply even pressure

            Mat board to place between film and brick

Process:

            -Heat water and pour into tray

            -Let paper soak

            -Get image/collage ready on Daylab window             and turn machine on

            -Squeegee water from paper and place on                 Plexiglas

            -Adjust contrast if need/want, PRINT and pull             tab and film out

            -Count to 10 and immediately cut apart and                 discard Emulsion side

            -Place Waste side face down on paper and                 smooth with thumb

            -Place mat board over it and go over it with                 brayer 10-15times

            -Place brick on top and let sit for 4 minutes

            -After 4 minutes, remove brick and matboard             and lift corner to check the image.

            -Peel up slowly from corner and discard

            -Let image and paper dry.

For this process, you interrupt the development process. The pigments finish developing in the fibers of the surface you place it.

POLAROID EMULSION LIFT

Images:

-Can be very colorful and incorporate 2-D (photos, drawings, scrapbook paper, collages) and 3-D (lace, buttons) objects.

Materials needed:

            Plexiglas

            Hot Pot to heat water

            2 Small trays

            Brayer to smooth image

Process:

            -Put image/collage on Daylab                         window, turn machine on and PRINT

            -Pull small tab, then film out.  Let it                 develop 4 minutes

            -Peel back corner to check

            -Separate emulsion from waste                     side and discard

            -Get the water boiling

            -Blow-dry to harden the emulsion

            -Place film in small tray then pour the             water in, let it soak

            -Pull film back out and discard, hold             emulsion in corner and drain water.

            -Refill tray with clean water as                         needed, remove all gelatin from                     emulsion.

            -Slide paper under emulsion and                 arrange, hold corners and pull from             water and arrange more by dipping             sides/corners back into water so                     they unfold if desired.

            -Emulsion may be wrinkled,                             shredded with xacto knife

            -Use brayer to remove water from                 under emulsion, start from center                 and lightly roll out to edges. Let dry.

For this process, you let the film develop completely. The images sits on top of whatever surface you place it on.