The earliest versions of instant film appeared in the 1940s and, thanks to a recent resurgence, it’s still popular even today. This fun yet practical technology allows people to view their photos a mere 60 seconds after taking them, and even now, it’s one of the quickest ways to get a photo onto paper.
In this article, we explore what instant film is, how it works, and how you can keep your old Polaroid images alive for as long as possible.
WHAT IS INSTANT FILM?
Instant film is exactly what it sounds like — film that develops instantly. Unlike typical film cameras that require you to take your negatives to a dark room and put them through a delicate chemical process to develop them and turn them into photos, instant film cameras instantly print and develop a photo.
Polaroid was the first company to introduce instant film cameras to the consumer market in 1972, and the product was so popular that many now refer to instant film shots as “Polaroid pictures” or “Polaroids.”
When first released, instant film was largely used for practical reasons when an instantly developed photo was desirable. Common examples include documenting evidence in law enforcement, taking passport photos, and documenting injuries and symptoms in healthcare.
Modern instant cameras are less about practicality and more of a fun product with a retro aesthetic. Companies like Kodak and Fujifilm make them in a range of colors and designs.
INSTANT FILM SIZES EXPLAINED
The most common size of instant film is 83mm x 108mm, which is used for consumer snapshots in both older and current cameras. The image itself is significantly smaller because it’s surrounded by a thick white border.
Instant film does come in other sizes, however, with sizes as small as 24mm x 36mm and as large as 50.8cm x 61cm available. In early cameras, the film came on a roll similar to normal film but more modern cameras work with sheets of film which come in small packs.
HOW DOES INSTANT FILM WORK?
For the most part, instant film works the same way as standard camera film.
Light-sensitive chemicals that change color relative to how much light hits them are applied onto a film and put inside a light-proof box (the camera) and then, when it’s time to take the picture, the film is exposed to light for a split second.
This starts a chemical reaction on the film and creates a negative. The areas hit with the most light show as the darkest on the film. The development process switches these colors around so light areas are light and dark areas are dark, as well as enlarging the image and printing it onto photographic paper.
With instant film, everything you need to develop the photo is already on the film sheet. Each sheet has a back layer, a light-sensitive layer, and a layer of reagent (the part that develops the image).
HOW DO INSTANT CAMERAS WORK?
On an unused sheet of instant film, the regent doesn’t touch the light-sensitive layer because, if it did, the film would start developing before a picture had even been taken. Instead, it’s the instant camera’s job to apply the reagent after the film has been exposed.
Similar to instant film, most Polaroid cameras work in mostly the same way as a standard film camera. Mechanisms inside hold the film in place so that when a person presses the button and opens the shutter, the right bit of film gets hit with light for just a fraction of a second.
Once the film has been exposed, it’s time to apply the reagent. This happens as the camera spits the film sheet out for the photographer to take. The regent is placed along the bottom edge of the film — enough of it to eventually cover the entire surface. Then, as the sheet leaves the camera, it passes through two rollers which flatten and push the reagent across the paper.
As soon as the reagent is applied, the development process begins and your image will begin to appear in just a few seconds. As the image develops, it still needs to be protected from light, so the reagent includes opacifiers which block the light and protect the film. The final chemical reaction in the development process slowly turns these opacifiers clear so you can see the image beneath.
DOES INSTANT FILM EXPIRE?
Instant film does expire, and you can find the expiry date on the packaging. To keep it in the best condition until you use it, keep it in its original packaging and store it somewhere cool and dry.
Once you’ve snapped your photo, it can last for many years if you look after it well. Keep it out of direct sunlight, humid conditions, and extreme temperatures to stop it from fading prematurely.
Eventually, chemical reactions within the film can start to change the color and quality of the image, so the photo won’t last forever.
INSTANT PRINTS TO DIGITAL: HOW TO DIGITIZE INSTANT FILM PHOTOS
The quickest way to digitize your Polaroids is to snap a photo of them with your smartphone or digital camera. Because these instant snapshots are so iconic, there’s actually quite a lot of photography of Polaroids.
If you want to preserve the image in the best quality you can (and you’re not interested in an artsy shot), however, the best thing you can do is get your Polaroids scanned by professionals. At EverPresent, we have the best equipment and a team of experts who can scan your collection, whether it’s 50 photos or thousands.
Get in touch with us today to see how we can help you or to get a free estimate.
