Topic: Stupid question about Instax/Integral Polaroid

[lharby]

Hullo

Am I right in thinking that when instax is ejected it is not a requirement for the film to be pressed through rollers (as is the case with pack film)?

I have a Bel Air back with a hand crank, and I assume that the light exposing the image is all that is required for development? then one just ejects the print.

I ask as I am trying to work out if I can do colour photograms with Instax. I can do it with pack film but the Bel Air does not have a dark slide, which I am going to need (or I am not sure how to do this as yet).

TIA

[Francois]

All Instax films have a set of rollers just like Polaroid.
The only big difference between Polaroid and Instax film is that the Instax is actually exposed through the dark back while Polaroid relies on an opacifier that's in the goop.

[lharby]

Someone sell me another Belair back

[hookstrapped]

All Instax films have a set of rollers just like Polaroid.
The only big difference between Polaroid and Instax film is that the Instax is actually exposed through the dark back while Polaroid relies on an opacifier that's in the goop.

This always struck me as counter-intuitive -- why expose light sensitive chemistry through an opaque layer, whether physical or chemical, in instant integral film? I mean, regular negative film doesn't utilize an opacifier...

[Francois]

I don't believe instax has an opacifier layer. That's why you don't have the same artifacts as Polaroid... But I could be greatly mistaken as I've never ripped an Instax apart to try and figure out how it works.

[JoeV]

I believe with Instax the opacifier is spread by the rollers, else you couldn’t very easily have an ISO800 emulsion exposed through an opaque layer.

[Francois]

The opacifier could cover only the back of the film, that would explain the evenness of the front as you never really get to see the goop

[lharby]

Well I can now confirm that it doesn't matter, or rather that the system works, I have been able to create colour instant photograms using Instax.

[Francois]

Can't wait to see that.

[lharby]

Well I am pretty chuffed with this one.

[cs1]

Cool! Did you manually develop it by putting it through some sort of rollers?

[lharby]

I have a Belair back which has a crank handle to eject the film. And I've just had a dark slide 3d printed to fit the back.

Cool! Did you manually develop it by putting it through some sort of rollers?

[cs1]

Yes, sorry, you mentioned that in your first post. In any case, looking forward to seeing more of your results.

Im currently looking into instant photography options. I have a Bronica SQ-A and I'd really like to hack Instax Square onto it. There're Polaroid backs for the Bronica so I'm wondering whether or not that's an option.

[lharby]

I don't know a great deal about the backs. I bought the Belair to go onto my Polaroid GOOSE that mod was done by Instant8  but not having a dark slide seemed very limiting.

More recently i did check out these guys too https://www.rezivot.com/ but wasn't quite what I needed.