DIY Network

DIY People: Polaroid Transfers

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DIYer Mary Jo Brezny prepares a Polaroid slide for transfer. Figure A Figure B Here's a sample of one of Mary Jo's image transfers. Here's one more transfer to whet your appetite for this fun craft.

Since it's film debut the Polaroid has captured the imagination of photographers and given rise to an art form all its own. Polaroid transfers can be found hanging in coffee shops and trendy restaurants across America. "Actually, there are two types of transfers," explains Mary Jo Brezny, who instructs Polaroid transfer art at the John C. Campbell Folk Art School. "An image transfer, which is peeling the image away from it's backing and transferring it to another smooth surface such as water color paper. And emulsion transfer, which involves submerging the developed print in water and actually lifting the image from the print."

Mary Jo creates her Polaroid prints with a slide copy machine (figure A) and Polaroid 669 or Polaroid ER film. She advises that slide copy machines can be a bit difficult to find, however, some diligent research on the Internet or at a used camera supply store should yield a slide copier for less than $150. Polaroid film will cost around $20 for 20 prints, and Mary Jo recommends using watercolor paper if you're making an image transfer. Watercolor paper will cost approximately $75 for 25 sheets.

Whether you're creating an image transfer or an emulsion transfer, the first step is to create a Polaroid print. Mary Jo chooses a favorite slide, places it into her slide copier and exposes the film. What she does next depends on which transfer she's planning. For an emulsion transfer Mary Jo allows the print to develop for one minute. She immerses the print in 160-degree water for three minutes, then places the print in cool water. Working with the submerged print, she peels off the emulsion (figure B) that makes up the picture portion of the Polaroid print of the backing. She's then able to transfer that emulsion to another surface.

With the image transfer, Mary Jo develops the print for just 20 seconds. She moistens her watercolor paper by dunking it into a tray or spraying it, and then removes the excess water. She then cuts the chemical pod from the print, peels it apart, and places it facedown on her paper.

Mary Jo rolls the print with a brayer (a printer's roller), and places the paper on a warming tray for about two minutes. Then she slowly peels the backing from the paper. "And, if you're lucky," says Mary Jo, "you won't get lift-off." This is when a portion of the image sticks to the backing and lifts off the paper, leaving a hole in the image.

Polaroid transfers are a fun way to express your creativity. And, they have the added benefit of giving your home the same look you'll find in those trendy restaurants.