Author Topic: Nuke your Polaroids (Read 5263 times)

Francois · « **on:** May 08, 2014, 09:15:23 PM »

This one's a bit off the wall but nice in a way.
Photographer Oliver Blohm was sick and tired of having to wait for Impossible Project's films to develop.
He then took a bit of science knowledge in the sense that chemical reactions accelerate as you raise the temperature and turned it into something a bit scary.
He actually develops his 'roids in the microwave!
I just can't imagine both the smell and the fact that it would make anyone's better half very happy, but it works.
Check out the article
http://petapixel.com/2014/05/08/photographer-oliver-blohm-processes-polaroid-portraits-using-microwave

Bryan · « **Reply #1 on:** May 08, 2014, 10:46:52 PM »

As long as you don't mind the burnt look.

tani.P · « **Reply #2 on:** May 09, 2014, 12:22:45 AM »

Hm...why not a hair-dryer?

Francois · « **Reply #3 on:** May 09, 2014, 12:57:48 PM »

Beats me...
I guess that the microwave is probably a lot faster... or at least more spectacular in a way.
I can just imagine the sparks and the arcing...

ManuelL · « **Reply #4 on:** May 09, 2014, 06:27:49 PM »

When I was working in the lab we did some enzymatic reactions in the microwave - worked a treat (few minutes instead of 1.5 hours). With somthing large like the polaroid I guess the problem is the uneven distribution of the heat with peaks every few centimeters (you can see it when you put a "carpet" of marshmellows in the microwave without the rotation plate; they will expand at the points with more heat).

Edit: if you try this, don't blame me for goop in your microwave

jojonas~ · « **Reply #5 on:** May 09, 2014, 06:35:28 PM »

oh, trippy!

I thought you were gonna talk about this quick developing trick:
Developing Impossible Project film in under 10 minutes on Vimeo

moominsean · « **Reply #6 on:** May 09, 2014, 07:40:03 PM »

Tried this a few years ago...

Untitled by moominsean, on Flickr

There is a flickr group for it, don't know how much activity it gets.

ManuelL · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2014, 08:52:55 AM »

Quote from: moominsean on May 09, 2014, 07:40:03 PM

Tried this a few years ago...

Untitled by moominsean, on Flickr

There is a flickr group for it, don't know how much activity it gets.

If it is a photograph of an exploding Hello Kitty, it came out pretty good....

I like it

Francois · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2014, 02:10:56 PM »

My only question is what was photographed?
I can't figure it out... the only things I can come up with are just too kinky to be said online

zapsnaps · « **Reply #9 on:** May 13, 2014, 12:05:15 PM »

Looks like a pair of Y-fronts to me, male by the shape?

Anyway, Polas/Impossible film also works in the toaster. But I wouldn't recommend using your breakfast-making toaster. Oh - and did I mention that they catch fire really quickly?

Ed Wenn · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2014, 05:00:58 PM »

What about mobile options for increasing the speed of development? When I was with Damion recently, wasting (his) Impossible film, we were oot and aboot and there was nary a toaster, nor microwave to be had :-)

Indofunk · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2014, 05:24:29 PM »

How aboot a cigarette lighter? Barring that, a full-on campfire?

Ed Wenn · « **Reply #12 on:** May 19, 2014, 07:14:32 PM »

Burning your images before anyone sees them?

Art!

Indofunk · « **Reply #13 on:** May 19, 2014, 07:29:42 PM »

Francois · « **Reply #14 on:** May 19, 2014, 08:51:03 PM »

Quote from: Ed Wenn on May 19, 2014, 05:00:58 PM

What about mobile options for increasing the speed of development? When I was with Damion recently, wasting (his) Impossible film, we were oot and aboot and there was nary a toaster, nor microwave to be had :-)

Well, a small box with a packet of this stuff in it should keep it warm enough to process them pretty fast
Create HOT ICE Hand Warmers! A Simple Tutorial.

I'm thinking putting the hand warmer in between two aluminum plates (aluminum is great at transferring heat) and putting one print on each side held with a rubber band... or something like that.

Or maybe replacing the chemical packet with this ebay

Or doing a custom job using an electronics hotplate like used for 3D printing...

gothamtomato · « **Reply #15 on:** May 19, 2014, 09:50:35 PM »

I'm wondering if you couldn't use a method used to warm up real SX70 film to help manipulate it: Get a couple of ceramic, terra cotta tiles and let them sit out in the sun to get hot, then sandwich the fauxlaroid between them.

Francois · « **Reply #16 on:** May 19, 2014, 10:20:59 PM »

With summer coming, I see no reason for it not to work. Just look at the temperature of the pavement.
Black tiles would be even warmer. And setting it in the car could make it even warmer. Yesterday it was 94°F in the car yet it was cool outside.

jakelovesphoto · « **Reply #17 on:** June 13, 2014, 01:38:57 AM »

I nuked a Polaroid once! They spark like crazy! Terrifying experience. But on a realistic note, those old Cold-Clips you get with peel apart cameras work well for speeding up integrals.

Francois · « **Reply #18 on:** June 13, 2014, 03:26:03 PM »

It's not surprising when you look at all the burn marks they develop when in the microwave!

And welcome

Indofunk · « **Reply #19 on:** June 14, 2014, 06:41:43 AM »

I've been using that heat gun on IP film, as I have alluded to before. Here's my first semi-scientific test on the technique. It's a 1500W heat gun on the "low" setting, and I hold the picture in my hand at about arm's length from the heat gun so I can feel how much heat the picture is feeling. I try to keep it around 100^oF, which is a temperature my hands kinda know because that's the temperature I keep my water bath to process C41

Anyways, the results! Pictures taken pretty much at the same time.

Ten minutes later. Picture on the left just developed on its own, picture on the right hit with the heat gun for said 10 minutes.

And here are the fully-developed pictures (scanned 2 days later):

Admittedly, to make it more scientific I'd have to take the exact same picture, same exposure, to see how the color balance is affected by the heat gun. I suspect that heat gun development increases the yellows a bit.

Francois · « **Reply #20 on:** June 14, 2014, 08:45:04 PM »

Quite possible... we don't really know the effects of accelerated development on the chemistry.

ManuelL · « **Reply #21 on:** June 15, 2014, 08:40:06 AM »

Hmmm, microwaves, hand warmers, heat guns....
Has anyone tried a toaster yet? And the barbecue season also has started.....

Edit: just found the answer to my toaster question:
http://www.knusperfarben.de/2014/03/14/pola-toast/

Seems it works, but the emusion starts to peel off.

Francois · « **Reply #22 on:** June 15, 2014, 02:13:16 PM »

Not surprising!
I measured the temperature of my toaster a while ago using an infrared thermometer and it was cooking at close to 400°F...
I did that simply out of curiosity... wouldn't everybody want to know at what temperature their toaster operates?

SLVR · « **Reply #23 on:** June 15, 2014, 11:18:56 PM »

ahem, toaster oven can have its temp set!

Francois · « **Reply #24 on:** June 15, 2014, 11:42:45 PM »

I know... but it's probably not quite as fun as having your Polaroids "pop" in a real toaster!

tkmedia · « **Reply #25 on:** June 16, 2014, 09:15:03 PM »

In offset printing, I used to put business name cards into a toaster oven to raise the typography or logo.