Polaroid Copy Negatives
Many of our clients know that Photo Impact offers the best possible copy negatives from original artwork. However, not many know that we also offer Polaroid copy negatives.
What's so special about Polaroid copy negatives?
First, they offer an alternative to your current approach to copy work. The final prints take on a completely different look - an "artsy" feel that would enhance your personal style or add a new dimension to a photograph that you've printed many times in the past.
Second, if you like sloppy borders, you'll love the Polaroid borders of the negative. You may have seen this type of border before, but not have known how it was achieved. Now you have the answer!
Third, Polaroid Internegs are a great way to convert your Color Transparencies to black and white prints. Polaroid film holds more tonal ranges in the black and white copy process than the standard black and white copy films.

What a deal! For $20.00 you get a Polaroid copy negative that will have clients asking, "How did you do that?"  

Please e-mail us with your Technical Questions or share with us technical tips that you have found helpful. If we post your questions or photo tips on the following Bulletin Board, we will send you a coupon for two free rolls of processing and proof sheets.

Joseph Paradiso, Studio Paradiso, writes in with another suggestion on how to store Polaroid type 55 negatives, if you don't have access to the buckets with the rack that separates them:

"Place them in a tupperware container with water and place a damp sponge between each negative."

Question: Hello, a lab I work with in Lakeville said I don't need to rinse my negatives in a solution of sodium sulfite, rather I can use a solution of rapid-fix, or fixer, then wash and dry. Is there any truth to this? Does it create another problem? Thanks for the help.

Don Heiny, Lakeville

Answer: Dear Don,

That information is incorrect. We recommend that you only use a 17% sodium sulfite solution to clear your type 55 negs.
The sodium sulfite is a salt, which is designed to dissolve the "goo" that is on the negative that contains the developing agent for the type 55 film. The rapid-fix, or fixer is not designed to do that. It does not create problems, however, polaroid negatives are easily damaged, and unless you use a solution that is diluted correctly, why risk any possible streaking or emulsion damage?
Another hot tip: After pulling your polaroid negatives, put them in water and hold them out in the sunlight for a few seconds. Then place them in sodium sulfite to clear them. This will create interesting solarization effects.
Have fun with this!


Question: Dear Technical Staff at Photo Impact,

When blue-toning by fiber based prints, I have experienced a problem with the prints gaining a "yellow-ish" cast! Have you experienced this? Do you have any advice?

Hans Muller, Frankfurt, Germany



Answer: Dear Hans,

As you are experiencing, toning fiber based prints in general can often lead to staining, streaking, and with blue toner, an unwanted "yellowish" cast. We have found the following answer to what you are experiencing: First, after toning, rinse your prints with very warm to hot water to clear the print as much as possible. Second, rinse with a solution made of 1 tablespoon of salt mixed with 1 gallon of water. This should clear any remaining yellow cast that you might be experiencing. Air dry your prints as you normally would. Hope this helps!