Polaroid Image Transfer

[Carl Gilman]

My name is Carl Gilman… I am a professional video cameraman (www.freelancecameracrew.com). This year I retired from the run-and-gun life… in and out of city after city… shooting all over the world. After over 40 years of film/video movie making it’s time to relax. But of course, I have a few things to keep me busy!
I started out as a still photographer… then to 16mm news cameraman at local TV station (here in San Diego, CA)… then onto U.S. Networks… in video.

One of my recent interests is trying “Polaroid Image Transfer”. I purchased a Polaroid SX-70 camera on eBay and ordered some film. So, I’ll try this system out once it’s all arrives.

However, I can see now… that if it works out (Image Transfer)… that I would be better off with a 4 x 5 camera and use a Polaroid back!
My question to you is:
Which 4 x 5 camera?
I was thinking of purchasing a Speed (or) Crown Graphic on eBay. The price seems reasonable. Maybe $2-300.00 for a camera/lens and a back.
Checking around I know there are nice 4 x 5 camera systems… Linhof, Toyo, Calumet, Arca-Swiss etc.
Am I wasting my money by going this route…???
Would you advise me to look at another camera… (other than Speed Graphic)... Would I be better off with a view camera…???
Most of the work would be in the field... landscapes, old buildings and some people shooting too!
No hiking... most near the car...
I've asked some of your members and many say... get a field camera like... oh, Horseman, Toyo etc...
I hope I made sense.

Thank you very much

Carl Gilman
E-Mail: CarlCam@gmail.com

[Thomas Nutter]

First of all.. I don't think you can do transfers with SX70 film. You need tyhe peel-apart type of film--in 4x5 that would be type 59, in "pack film" that would be type 669.
As far a s a graphic view for this application-that would be an excellent choice--cheap and effective. Try to get one where the viewfinder actually works, so you can focus without the ground glass. You could also get one of those polaroid Pro-pack cameras pretty cheap in the used market these days, Probably for about 25.00. Just make sure you get one of those that runs on "AA" batteries instead of those old weird batteries they don't make anymore.

[John Bolgiano]

Would I be taking my life in my hands on this forum by suggesting an entry route other than LF? ;-)

I've played with both the image and emulsion transfers for a few years. The process is far from foolproof and at least in the learning stages you will probably encounter some problems. If you use a Polaroid back on a LF camera, you will have one chance and one chance only at making an image transfer of a particular scene. A less expensive alternative which would give you "do overs" for the bumps in the learning curve would be to use one of the Polaroid printers which enlarge a 35mm slide on to Poalroid 669 pack film. If you make an error during the transfer process, you haven't lost a precious image, you just print another from the slide. Both Daylab and Vivitar Polaroid printers turn up occasionally on eBay, though they are often bid up to and sometimes beyond the cost of a new unit. Neither costs that much more than a Polaroid back and is certainly a smaller investment than even a battered Speed Graphic. There are versions of the Daylab which can be adapted to print on 4x5 and even 8x10 Polaroid film, should the 669 pack prove too small for your tastes.

Once you have a handle on the process, by all means give it a go with a LF camera. There is a thrill and challenge to successfully making an image transfer when you know you have only one chance at it and the uniqueness of the image makes the result all that more charming.

[Donald Brewster]

Good advice above for getting your feet wet in the process. You don't need a view camera, and certainly not an expensive one, but most any will do.

For inspiration and instruction, have a look at the following two books by Kathleen T. Carr: Polaroid Transfers: A Complete Visual Guide to Creating Image and Emulsion Transfers; and Polaroid Manipulations: A Complete Visual Guide to Creating Sx-70, Transfer, and Digital Prints

Also take a look at:
http://www.pacificsites.com/~hdupre/trans.html (http://www.pacificsites.com/~hdupre/trans.html)

[tim atherton]

Having tried transfers etc before there was much by way of printed info apart from a polaroid booklet and a couple of magazine articles (and very little internet...) , I'd second the Kathleen T. Carr book - it basically has most of what you need to know in there.

I also did most of the transfers and emulsion "lifts" using an old vivitar unit with 35 transparancies. The most expensive part of the equation is the polaroid film - and you'll probably waste quite a bit both seeing what images "work" (often a suprise as to what does or doesn't work visually) as well as getting a handle on the "knacks" of the process.

If you manage to get a vivitar or daylab unit (the latter is probably preferable and came in various versions/sizes?) you could then decide if you want to get a 4x5 camera and wander around making images on the spot.

A good online resource with free downloadable manual is at:


http://www.pacificsites.com/~hdupre/ (http://www.pacificsites.com/~hdupre/)


http://www.pacificsites.com/~hdupre/image.pdf (http://www.pacificsites.com/~hdupre/image.pdf)



One of my better efforts from a good few years ago at:


http://www.theedge.ca/timatherton/Naparutalik.jpg (http://www.theedge.ca/timatherton/Naparutalik.jpg)

[Sharon S.]

Also, there is a free instructional CD that Polaroid makes available on it's website. It gives you the basics.

[John Bailey]

Carl

You will definitely enjoy transfers and manipulations. Besides websites, there are several books published on the subject.

There are any number of sites you may wish to look at including:


http://users.frii.com/uliasz/photoart/polaroid/ (http://users.frii.com/uliasz/photoart/polaroid/)


http://www.johnreuter.com/ (http://www.johnreuter.com/)

Also, look on Polaroid's own site-they also occasionally do road tours so check your local pro-camera store.

Regards,

John Bailey