How to Transfer Images to Stone or Metal Using Polaroid Transfer Technique

How to Transfer Images to Stone or Metal Using Polaroid Transfer Technique

Introduction

Instructions

Prepare the Surface

Steps

1

Step One

Choose your stone or piece of metal. Keep in mind that an image will show up better on a light surface.

2

Step Two

Prepare the surface: Wash or wipe it down; scrub it if necessary to remove loose particles. Degrease it with rubbing alcohol if necessary.

3

Step Three

Coat a metal surface with two coats of spray polyurethane and allow it to dry fully to seal the surface and prevent it from rusting.

4

Step Four

Coat a stone surface or sealed metal surface with two coats of acrylic matte medium and allow it to dry fully.

Prepare the Image

Steps

1

Step One

Take a Polaroid photo using a camera, or use a slide printer to take a Polaroid photo of a slide you've shot. Make sure you're using Polaroid film that can be transferred, such as 669, SX70, 559, 59 or 809.

2

Step Two

Let the Polaroid photo cure for 24 hours. (If you're using an old photo, you're ready to go - provided it's on transferable film. If you don't know what kind of film was used, go ahead and try, as long as you don't mind losing the picture.)

3

Step Three

Cover the back of the Polaroid print with contact paper (stick it down).

4

Step Four

Trim the edges of the Polaroid, cutting slightly into the image on all sides.

Transfer the Image

Steps

1

Step One

Heat a tray of tap water to 160 degrees F, or pour hot water into a tray.

2

Step Two

Soak the image for 4 minutes.

3

Step Three

Take it out of the hot water and place it in a tray of cold water.

4

Step Four

Push the emulsion gently from the edges of the print toward the center.

5

Step Five

Lift the emulsion carefully, and slowly peel it away from the paper substrate, leaving the emulsion floating in the water.

6

Step Six

Discard the paper. You'll have an image membrane floating in the water, sticky side down.

7

Step Seven

Slip a piece of waxed paper under the floating image. Guide it onto the waxed paper (the first step in flipping the image membrane over).

8

Step Eight

Use the waxed paper to lift the emulsion out of the water, flip it over, and put it back in the water. (The sticky side will be up, which gets the image ready for transfer.)

9

Step Nine

Repeat the lifting (not the flipping) to unwrinkle the image if necessary.

10

Step Ten

Use the waxed paper to lift the image from the water. Hold the edges of the image carefully (to make sure it doesn't slip off the waxed paper), and gently flip the image over and onto your transfer surface, sticky side down.

11

Step Eleven

Smooth it out with your hands (on a flat surface, you can use a roller) working from the middle of the image out to the edges.

12

Step Twelve

Coat with acrylic matte medium as it is drying to help seal it onto the surface.

Tips & Warnings

• If the image slides off, try putting it back in the water and straightening it out - it may be salvageable. If not, you'll have to start again.

Overall Things You'll Need

• Polaroid Cameras
• 2 Trays Or Pans
• Polaroid Film For Transfers
• Polaroid Photos
• Spray Polyurethane Finish (for Metal)
• Waxed Paper
• Scissors
• Acrylic Matte Medium
• Rubbing Alcohol (if Necessary)
• Contact Paper