Incredible

[RattyMouse]

So, Polaroid, with a large R&D staff and many millions of dollars, managed to produce stable SX-70 film in 1966 and onwards with other integral films.

Was this process described in a patent? Probably not, as it would've expired by now and be available to copy. So it remained a trade secret. Still, I'm surprised that Impossible has gotten this far, yet cannot get that final crucial step of image stability.

Considering the extreme cost of this film, and the short term image quality, I'm amazed that they can stay in business.

 

[Prof_Pixel]

As P T Barnum supposedly would have said, "There's a sucker born every minute"

 

[Theo Sulphate]

... FP100c ... $29.99/ea ...egregious profiteering ...

A certain company I won't name is asking $39.99 for FP-100C and $45.99 for FP-3000B. In comparison, $29.99 almost looks reasonable.

There are deals to be found. Last week I made a special trip to a store for their last six boxes of FP-100C at $16.50 each.

As P T Barnum supposedly would have said, "There's a sucker born every minute"

Yet, many people like myself want to support Impossible and have them succeed in this Quixotic venture. I want to continue to use my nice SX-70, SLR690, and Spectra. Perhaps I'm delusional thinking that my own prints won't fade. Anyway, I continue to use it.

 

[jeffreyg]

Bring back the good OLD days.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[monkowa]

Everybody sounds so entitled and whiny in this thread. Don't use the film if it's that much of a problem. I have shot the crappy first gen IP film and just recently finished a color and B&W pack of the new 3.0 formula. I have run into no problems with color shifting in the newer B&W shots and I find their color stuff is now pretty decent. The earlier film was definitely an R&D process. Wasn't that what was advertised at the time? I'll try to post some examples later on but I think Ip is doing some admirable work in trying to keep this format going.

 

[RattyMouse]

Everybody sounds so entitled and whiny in this thread. Don't use the film if it's that much of a problem. I have shot the crappy first gen IP film and just recently finished a color and B&W pack of the new 3.0 formula. I have run into no problems with color shifting in the newer B&W shots and I find their color stuff is now pretty decent. The earlier film was definitely an R&D process. Wasn't that what was advertised at the time? I'll try to post some examples later on but I think Ip is doing some admirable work in trying to keep this format going.

You'd be singing a different tune if your "stability" lasted all of 3 weeks. That's what I got from 2.0 Impossible film. I guess I'm not entitled to more than 3 weeks of image stability.

 

[darkosaric]

RattyMouse - you should contact Impossible and send them a scans (or even better - send them originals for analyses), and ask is this normal. If they say no - and they will - you can ask to get new packs of films free of charge. It is possible that you got bad batch somehow.

 

[guangong]

To sum up all the above:Impossible makes a great instant film so long as nobody ever looks at the images under light but only in complete darkness.

 

[RattyMouse]

RattyMouse - you should contact Impossible and send them a scans (or even better - send them originals for analyses), and ask is this normal. If they say no - and they will - you can ask to get new packs of films free of charge. It is possible that you got bad batch somehow.

I could do that, but to me (and only me) it's not worth the effort. I have lost all interest in Impossible Film due to this issue, which from what I read here and elsewhere, is in fact quite normal. I just have to accept that my needs are not met by this film and so have to move on. At least I only paid $70 for my SX-70, so not a huge loss. I was almost going to buy a refurbished one for $400!! OUCH that would have hurt.

 

[MrBrowning]

I know this doesn't help but I have an image I took with Impossible Color film (I think it was Gen 1 but may have been Gen 2) that I used for an emulsion lift and applied to watercolor paper. It's been move around a few times (On the wall, off the wall, back to the wall and currently off the wall). It looks the same as I remember it looking when I lifted it.

 

[mooseontheloose]

I know this doesn't help but I have an image I took with Impossible Color film (I think it was Gen 1 but may have been Gen 2) that I used for an emulsion lift and applied to watercolor paper. It's been move around a few times (On the wall, off the wall, back to the wall and currently off the wall). It looks the same as I remember it looking when I lifted it.

The same with me - anything lifted is fine, it's the images that remain intact that have the problem. As I mentioned before, I think it has to do with latent chemical reactions after the image is formed. I wish I could find the information - if I do I'll post it here.

 

[skorpiius]

I know this doesn't help but I have an image I took with Impossible Color film (I think it was Gen 1 but may have been Gen 2) that I used for an emulsion lift and applied to watercolor paper. It's been move around a few times (On the wall, off the wall, back to the wall and currently off the wall). It looks the same as I remember it looking when I lifted it.

I would love to know the step by step directions to doing this

 

[Prof_Pixel]

I would love to know the step by step directions to doing this

Here is one (of several) on YouTube

 

[skorpiius]

Thanks! Have tons of ideas for this.

 

[RattyMouse]

What a strange process. The image is heavily damaged during removal.

 

[MrBrowning]

What a strange process. The image is heavily damaged during removal.

It doesn't have to be. With practice and care you can get some pretty decent lifts. This was one of my first attempts.

 

[RattyMouse]

It doesn't have to be. With practice and care you can get some pretty decent lifts. This was one of my first attempts.

View attachment 160777

Well, I'm glad that you and others have a process that allows you to enjoy this film. At least there is that. Something like this doesnt appeal to me so it wont save my SX-70 from its imminent departure.

 

[MrBrowning]

Well, I'm glad that you and others have a process that allows you to enjoy this film. At least there is that. Something like this doesnt appeal to me so it wont save my SX-70 from its imminent departure.

Can't say I blame you. I haven't shot any impossible film in quite a while and I don't plan to be in the market anytime soon.

 

[Truzi]

I've given most my B&W Impossible shots away, so I've not seen how well they age. The color film has been stable for me over a years' time, but they were pretty bad to begin with as I'd not quite gotten the hang of Impossible v. Polaroid.

As far as removing the photo to "stabilize" it. Do you have to lift the emulsion, or is separating the top from the rest of the pack sufficient.

I gave a OneStep SX-70 to a friend at work, and he's going to get some film. I'd explained the contrast issues under harsh lighting to him, and showed him one example in B&W. We went out with my folding SX-70 during lunch, and with never having used Impossible film, he took 3 shots with no contrast issues, lol. He's far better than me - he does pro work, so I guess he's a ringer (he started with film, but necessities of the industry made him move to digital).

 

[Theo Sulphate]

... The color film has been stable for me over a years' time ...

My Impossible SX-70 color prints so far still look good after a month. I'm encouraged enough to support Impossible and buy their film. I haven't tried their B&W.

I still have some original unused Polaroid SX-70 film and Polaroid 600 film. The SX-70/Time Zero film always looked different from 600 and Spectra film. The SX-70 film seemed more subdued, with more pastel-like shades - sort of a watercolor effect. I really liked it. The 600/Spectra had more contrast and saturation by comparison. The Impossible films are like this as well.

 

[mooseontheloose]

As far as removing the photo to "stabilize" it. Do you have to lift the emulsion, or is separating the top from the rest of the pack sufficient.

Truzi, I believe both will work, but I've only ever done the lifts so far.