I recently remembered that I had done some Polaroid transfers in college, and I wanted to revisit the process. So I dug through my box of old negatives and discarded projects until I unearthed my original transfers. I was surprised how well they had weathered the years.
The Polaroid transfer process, if you’re unfamiliar with it, uses a slide (Ektachrome transparency film) and projects the image onto pull-apart Polaroid film. As the Polaroid develops, you pull it apart prematurely and transfer the image onto paper or fabric by placing the emulsion onto your chosen surface and rubbing it, so that the colors “transfer” to the surface. Basically, you interrupt the normal development of a Polaroid. If this description seems confusing, check out this site, which explains the process much better than I do: www.silverprint.co.uk/pola2.html
Detailed view of image above. Click to enlarge.
Here I printed the same image side by side on the same sheet of paper, with the right one reversed.
Detail of left transfer. Click to enlarge.
Detail of right transfer. Click to enlarge.
This is the most "pure" transfer, with little emulsion tearing and almost perfect color transfer.
Detail. Click to enlarge.
Lots of emulsion loss on this one, but I'm pleased to say that it was once exhibited in the gallery at my college as part of a student exhibition.
Detail. Click to enlarge.