Instant film Totally Explained

Everything about Instant Film totally explained

Instant film is a photographic film that's designed to be used in an instant camera (and, with accessory hardware, with many professional film cameras). The film pack contains the chemicals needed for developing, and the instant camera automatically initiates the developing process after a photograph has been taken. In most types of Polaroid instant cameras, the film is pulled out through rollers which break open a pod containing the chemicals. The chemicals spread out over the surface of the film, and the positive image appears a few seconds to minutes later. The chemicals have time delays built into them so that each layer of the film can be processed in the correct order. Instant film is available in sizes from 24 mm x 36 mm (similar to 135 film) up to 20" x 24" size, with the most popular film sizes for consumer snapshots being approximately 3¼" x 4¼" (the image itself is smaller as there's a border surrounding the image). Early instant film was distributed on rolls, but currently is typically distributed folded into film packs of 8-10 exposures that allow each image to be removed from the camera after it has exposed. Some modern film packs also contain a flat electrical battery to drive motors in the camera. This inclusion of the battery with the film ensures that a properly charged battery is always available for use. Single sheet films are also available for use in large format cameras.
Instant film is frequently used in situations where it's necessary to validate soon after taking a photograph that the resulting image was suitable, such as in documenting evidence in law enforcement, in health care and scientific applications, and producing photographs for personal identification, such as for use in passports. Instant film is also used by artists to achieve effects that would be more difficult to accomplish with traditional photography, by manipulating the emulsion during the developing process, or separating the image emulsion from the film base. Instant film is being rapidly supplanted by digital photography and printing (using home dye sublimation, inkjet, and laser printers.)
Instant film is notable for having had a wider range of film speeds available than other negative films of the same era: instant film has been produced with ASA 4 to ASA 20,000. Current instant film formats typically have an ASA between 80 and 3000.

Film types

Polaroid

End of production

In February 2008, Polaroid (under the control of Thomas J Petters of Petters Group Worldwide) announced it would cease production of all instant film; the company will shut down three factories and lay off 450 workers. Sales of chemical film by all makers have dropped by at least 25% per year in this decade, and the decline is likely to accelerate. Fujifilm is now the only remaining supplier of instant film in the United States.
At the time of the announcement, Polaroid's instant film offerings included the following:
Type 600 cameras (integral film, develops automatically, 3.1 x 3.1 inch)

Type 600, ISO 640 (consumer cameras)
Type 779, ISO 640 (professional color, high definition)

Spectra / 1200 cameras (integral film, develops automatically, 3.6 x 2.9 inch)

Spectra / Image, ISO 640 (consumer cameras)

Type 990, ISO 640 (professional color, high definition)

Spectra Grid, ISO 640 (has a grid for technical use) Type 100 series packfilm for Land cameras (timed peel-apart development, sometimes called type 660, 4.25 x 3.25 inch)

Type 664, ISO 100 black and white

Type 667, ISO 3000 black and white

Type 669, ISO 80 color (consumer grade, but used for art purposes such as image transfer and emulsion lifts)

Type 672, ISO 400 black and white

Type 690, ISO 100 color (professional grade) Type 50 series sheetfilm for 4x5 inch large format (time peel-apart development, all professional grade)

Type 51, ISO 640 print, ISO 80 negative, black and white (very high contrast print, reusable negative)

Type 52, ISO 400 black and white (wide tonal range)

Type 53, ISO 800 black and white

Type 54, ISO 100 black and white

Type 55, ISO 50 print, ISO 25 negative, black and white (extremely high resolution, reusable negative)

Type 57, ISO 3000 black and white

Type 59, ISO 80 color (consumer grade, used for art, such as image transfer and emulsion lifts)

Type 72, ISO 400 black and white (medium tonal range)

Type 79, ISO 100 color, high color fidelity, "Polacolor Pro" Type 800 series sheetfilm for 8x10 inch cameras, processors, Daylabs and other purposes

Type 803, ISO 800 black and white

Type 804, ISO 100 black and white

Type 809, ISO 80 color for art purposes

Preservation

Polaroids have the same storage standards under ISO 18920:2000 as any other photograph. Regular storage conditions should be less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit and between 50% and 30% relative humidity (RH). Cold storage (0 degrees Fahrenheit optimum) isn't helpful unless RH can be controlled and cold storage RH is generally drier than required. RH below 30% will create an environment that's too dry and may cause the photograph to curl.

Fujifilm

Current Fuji instant film offerings include:
Compatible with Polaroid Type 100 packfilm (also known as "Type 660")

FP-100C, ISO 100, pro grade color, comparable to Polaroid Type 690

FP-100C Silk, ISO 100, pro grade color

FP-100B, ISO 100, black and white, comparable to Polaroid Type 664

FP-3000B, ISO 3000, black and white, comparable to Polaroid Type 667

FP-400B45 Super, ISO 500, black and white For use in the Fujifilm PA-45 holder. Compatible with the old Polaroid Type 500 series packfilm versions of Type 50 sheetfilm

FP-100C45, ISO 100, pro grade, comparable to Polaroid packfilm Type 579 and sheetfilm Type 79

FP-100B45 Super, ISO 100, black and white

FP-3000B45 Super, ISO 3000, black and white, comparable to Polaroid type 667

FP-500B45 Super, ISO 500, black and white Note: In order to use FP-100c45 large format packfilm, one needs to have an old Polaroid Type 550 film back, or Fuji PA-45 film back. They are the only film backs that can hold Fuji's large format packfilm, as Fuji is the last company still making this format of film.

Kodak

Kodak manufactured Polaroid's instant film from 1963 to 1969, when Polaroid decided to manufacture its own. Kodak introduced its own instant film, which was different from Polaroid's in several ways:

Kodak instant film developed itself from the back layer forward, the opposite of Polaroid's film.

Kodak used a matte finish on the front, made possible by putting the chemical pack on the back. Kodak was prohibited in 1986 from further selling instant cameras and instant film. The patent infringement came about when Kodak tried to avoid the patent by placing the emulsion layers in the reverse order. The courts ruled that this was in fact an infringement on the patents held by Edwin H. Land and the Polaroid Corporation.

Polavision

An instant motion picture film, Polavision, was introduced by Polaroid in 1978, with an image format similar to Super 8 mm film, and based on an additive color process. Polavision required a specific camera and tabletop viewer, and wasn't a commercial success, but did lead to the development of an instant 35 mm color slide film. Polavision film has been taken off the market.

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