The photographs above show how i have lifted the image from a Polaroid 600 film. This technique is simple when you get the hang of it. I just have to reiterate that when handling these films you are coming into contact with toxic chemicals and you should refrain from putting your hands near your face or coming into contact with food as they can make you quite poorly.

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Firstly i would recommend lifting a Polaroid film as soon after you have taken it as the developing paste is easier to remove, the above images are a few days old and the developer had set making it next to impossible to remove. I dont think it makes the image any less attractive though.

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The tools you will need are water colour paper, the heavier the better, water colour brushes, i use three two thick and one thin for refining the image. A sharp scalpel and a pair of scissors, a dish, either a developing dish or one out of your cupboard just wash it after use and a kettle as you will need plenty of boiling water.

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A Polaroid film is made up of the following, 

Three layers sensitive to different colours of light, with a developer layer under each layer, there is a reagent which sits just above the light sensitive layers and just below the image layer.

The reagent material is all collected in a blob at the border of the plastic film sheet, away from the light-sensitive material. This keeps the film from developing before it has been exposed. After you snap the picture, the film sheet passes out of the camera, through a pair of rollers.

The rollers spread the reagent material out into the middle of the film sheet, just like a rolling pin spreading out dough. When the reagent is spread in between the image layer and the light-sensitive layers, it reacts with the other chemical layers in the film.

The acid layer in the film reacts with the alkali and opacifiers in the reagent, making the opacifiers become clear. This is what finally makes the image visible. The timing layer slows the reagent down on its path to the acid layer, giving the film time to develop before it is exposed to light.

One of the coolest things about instant photography, watching the image slowly come together, is caused by this final chemical reaction. The image is already fully developed underneath, but the opacifiers clearing up creates the illusion that it is forming right before your eyes.

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Now that's out of the way how do you actually 'lift' the image?  

1, Using a sharp scalpel slice down the edges on three sides of the film, carefully!

2, Open the wide end of the film and cut the little black tags on each side of the film.

3, Carefully peel back the front of the film from the black back and cut off the back with the scissors. You now have two pieces, you don't need the black back part so put it to one side. Trim the edges of the film leaving a small amount of white around the edge. Oh and boil the kettle.

4, Pour the boiling water into the dish to the depth of about one inch. Remember this is boiling water so watch your fingers!

5, Put the film into the water face down, if the film is newly developed the white developing chemical should have been left behind on the back of the film, if not this is the time to try and remove it.

6, The film will start to come away from the front plastic film sheet leaving behind the plastic and a slightly yellowish jelly like material. This can be taken off by hand if it doesn't remain stuck to the plastic film sheet but is a real pain to do as the film rips so easily.

7, Once the film is free of the plastic you can slide a piece of the water colour paper under the image. Using the paint brushes to straighten out the film then gently hold onto two corners of the film and lift the paper from the water.

Once the film is on the paper you can gently swish the edges through the water to straighten them and using the small paint brush, this is where you get creative, you can either complete the image by gently manipulating the edges and adding creases to the image, repairing rips and tears because you will get them, or just straightening everything out. Blot off any excess water and leave to dry on some paper towel.

8, Lastly don't forget to TIDY UP. Put everything in the bin, wipe the surfaces down and wash the dish and your hands well, then go check on your newest creation.

Good luck and if you feel like it why not post some of your images in the comments.

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