Polaroid Transfer

Polaroid Transfer You won't need chemicals to simulate the classic Polaroid transfers, but Photoshop is required as you need the color channels to recreate it. This not a step by step tutorial but a guide with tips on how to achieve this classic effect. Keywords: transfert, SX-70, image, emulsion, pinhole, toy camera, photograms, sabbattier, Etchings, bromoil, silver gelatin
1. Make a duplicate of your original image. 2. Desaturate the colors a bit.
3. Add Noise to each Channel (use different values for each one). 4. You might want to the Blur, Median or Reticulate Filters on one or many Channels.
5. You can also erase the borders on each Channel, using a grunge brush to create the borders.
6. You could also add a circle pattern strip to create the metal part found inside the polaroid photo.

Polaroids template

Here's a small gift for e-scrappers. Click below to download this Photoshop file (685KB). If you're having trouble sending me an email or would like a png version of this file, you can reach me at denisgermain@quatrom.com

The file only contains the basic elements, but you could add a semi-transparent gradient to simulate the plastic reflection, add a drop shadow. For a more realistic look desaturate the images a bit or play with the contrast on your photo (time to apply that "s" shaped curve!). To bend it (like the one on the right) rotate the image and apply Filter>Distrort>Shear. If you are doing a before/after layout... do it like the magazines: desaturate and darken the "before" photo, so the "after" shot looks so much better! If you prefer to create your own template, here the official dimensions for the SX70: 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" for the frame 3 1/8" x 3 1/8" for the photo itself And for the Spectra format: 4" x 4 1/8" for the frame 3 5/8" x 2 7/8" for the photo.