Second attempt at ‘Polaroid Emulsion lift’ with polaroid ‘Zink’ media.

Second attempt at ‘Polaroid Emulsion lift’ with polaroid ‘Zink’ media.


This time I used this image:

I’m using a plastic dish with about 1 cm of water in. The water was at about 35 degrees when I put the image in. I also put a square of 350 gram watercolour paper in to get really wet. This is going to be the backing for the lifted emulsion. This is how it looks after 15 minutes.

After about 30 minutes in the water, the image looks opaque. It’s the top layer which nearly peels off by itself. It’s very, very thin and has no image on it – I think it’s the protective outer layer. As soon as you touch it, it comes off the image and sticks to itself.

If you attempt to take it out of the water it just clings to itself and it won’t unravel. You don’t need it anyway, so can discard it. I left it in the water but next time will remove it as soon as it’s off.

The next layer is the main image layer – it will be red when it comes off. This layer will be lifted off and transferred to the watercolour paper. From one side you can push it across the image with your finger – don’t use your nail as it will tear.

Do it in small parts, up and down the image until you get it off all the way across. Once it’s free of the image, it will float about in the water.

When you try to pick it up it seems ok but as soon as it comes out of the water it rolls together and is very difficult to unravel. When you try to push it around the edges seem to stick to the paper and then the rest of it sort of rolls over the edges and becomes very difficult to move.

I decided to put it back in the water and try again.

If you get it near to the paper and then on it (in the water) then hold 2 corners with both hands and lift them out of the water. Tip it up as you do it so the water is running away from your fingers and the image will not roll up as much. Put them down flat in another dish and sprinkle a few drops of water on top.

I am using 2 stiff bristled artists paint brushes to move it about. The best way seems to be to try and get an edge of the layer over to where you want it then work on spreading the rest out evenly. The edges still want to go under the layer, so keep sprinkling water on it. Once in position, carefully tilt it up so that the water runs off and stand it up to dry.

Seperating the previous (red) layer and the blue one is a sheet of plastic that you don’t need. It should peel off in one go.

Now I’m left with the blue layer and attempt to get it off. It would not come off but small bits of it did. I cut 2 corners off so I could try and start the peel but it would not come off. Using my fingernail I scrape the corner to try and get it started but it won’t move.

I decide to leave it for another half hour. Going back it comes off quite easily, but seems even thinner than the red layer. It peels off quite easily.

If you attempt to pull it out of the water it sticks together worse than the red layer so use your paper to place it on before lifting out of the water, using the same technique as before. (If you get it right to the edge before pulling completely off, you have to flip it on to the paper or it will be the wrong way round). This image should explain it.

Once out of the water and onto the plate it seemed easier than the red layer to move around.

That’s it. Stand it up to dry. Here’s both, standing next to each other, the red one is nearly dry.

Actually, they are better off drying flat as they will bow.