Solarizing Polaroid Type 55 Negs Sabattier Effect

[buggy]

I tried this technique today with only partial, or no success. I've got the negs drying now so I'll evaluate them later. A couple images appeared to have that mottled look however, the print also looked the same so I'm not sure if I got the sabattier effect or if it's just a result of peeling early.

One question, an article I read said to peel the envelope but leave the p/n sandwich together and fire the flash at the neg side. Alex, you indicated you peeled the p/n apart.

After your flash bursts are you putting the p/n back together or just leaving them apart waiting for the dev. time to end?

Thanks.

 

[Alex Hawley]

Buggy,

I got the mottling on the print too. I suspect it is from incomplete print development.

One question, an article I read said to peel the envelope but leave the p/n sandwich together and fire the flash at the neg side. Alex, you indicated you peeled the p/n apart.

I peeled the p/n apart and layed the negative flat, then blasted it with the flash. It would seem leaving them together would require a more powerful flash since the paper substantially reduce the light intensity reaching the negative. I'm using a Sunpak 333 and don't have anything more powerfull. But with a powerfull enough light source, I can see where this technique would work.

After your flash bursts are you putting the p/n back together or just leaving them apart waiting for the dev. time to end?

No, I haven't tried this yet but intend to. As I understand, putting the p/n back together causes the swirly effects like you got on the example you posted. So far I've just gone for the basic Sabattier effect.

Thanks for the update Buggy. Hopefully, I may get to try some more this weekend.

Alex

 

[buggy]

Thanks Alex.

Another quick question, I am not using a black background. Mine is an off white wall. I figured it would solarize the opposite as a black background but I probably don't understand the physics of it.

Are you using a black background with a light toned subject? Is a black background necessary to achieve the effect?

I hope you can get to some more of these this weekend and post some.

Later, buggy

 

[buggy]

I tried this again today and finally got it to happen. The first image I did had what looks like total, or almost total reversal. The minute I flashed it I could tell it had worked because the image on the negative changed immediately. One burst did the trick.

I had my best results peeling the p/n at 5 seconds. At 10 seconds the negative doesn't appear to have any reversal but it may be hard to see looking at the negative.

When the negs. dry I will scan and post a couple in another thread in the next couple of days just for informational purposes.

 

[Mr.Clicky]

I tried this again today and finally got it to happen. The first image I did had what looks like total, or almost total reversal. The minute I flashed it I could tell it had worked because the image on the negative changed immediately. One burst did the trick.

I had my best results peeling the p/n at 5 seconds. At 10 seconds the negative doesn't appear to have any reversal but it may be hard to see looking at the negative.

When the negs. dry I will scan and post a couple in another thread in the next couple of days just for informational purposes.

I realise this is a somewhat old forum and sadly Type 55 is no more (or at least won't be shortly) but this exchange has been the most useful find on the Internets so in order to add to the body of knowledge I've been trying this too and have found that the deciding factor is, in my humble opinion, temperature.

I tried rating at 25 ASA @ 60 secs etc but no go. I went back to 50 ASA, exposed as normal then peeled apart at 5 secs like buggy and flashed the bejesus out of the emulsion side with a Nikon SB800 at +3 (I was frustrated :-0), let develop for another 40 or so secs and...solarization-city! Ambient temperature was around 25 degrees celsius (77F) so the higher the temp the less dev time required and the more you flash (at least for me).

I'm going to miss this film (Fuji please take this up, pretty please...)

 

[A.C.]

Hey, there are still you and I looking at it! ;-)