Fig. A: Aside from the photo, you can find everything you
need for this project in the kitchen. Fig. B: Snipping the
white border off the photo will make it easier to remove
the emulsion from the paper. Fig. C: Pour enough hot
water into your tray to completely cover the photo.
Fig. D: Submerge the photo into hot water for about
1 minute. Fig. E: The photo emulsion will begin to wrinkle
and lift up from its backing.
Materials
» Developed print on Polaroid 559 or
669 or Fuji 100C film that has dried
for at least a few hours
» Object to put the image on
» Very hot water recently boiled
» Cold water
» Small tray for the hot water
» Bigger tray or bowl for the cold
water. The object you’re putting
the image onto must fit into this
container.
» Chopsticks, fork, or spatula
to remove the photo from the hot
water
» Acrylic clear coat (optional)
1. Find your object.
It could be anything, but it’s best if it’s white or light-colored, because the colors in the photo will display
better. You could always paint the area where the
photo will go with white acrylic paint if your object
isn’t white.
2. Cut the white edges off
your print.
This isn’t absolutely necessary, but it makes it
easier to get the emulsion off the paper (Figure B).
3. Get your water ready.
Begin by boiling some water, enough to cover the
photo in the small tray. Put cold water in your big
bowl. When the hot water is ready, pour some in
the small tray (Figure C).
Photography by Ty Nowotny
NOTE: Polaroid has discontinued man-
ufacturing these films but Fuji makes a
comparable film called Fuji FP-100C.
4. Transfer!
Submerge your print in the hot water for about
1 minute (Figure D); you’ll see the photo emulsion
begin to wrinkle up and rise off the backing paper
(Figure E). Using your chopsticks, move the print
to the cold bath (Figure F, following page).
