Instant Photography

Experiments with instant photography, primarily using Fuji Instax media.

Cameras

3D printed pinhole

Designed and 3D printed a custom Instax Mini format 3D camera.

Adding custom lenses to existing Instax camera

Disassembled an Instax camera and 3d printed parts to fit manual lenses.

Film

Transparencies

Modify the film stock to create image transparencies.

Existing work

All methods seem to involve manually scrubbing off the film layers (see Film Composition section below). This is time consuming, inconsistent, and can leave scratches or blank spots in the resulting image.

Desired Method

A non-mechanical process (likely chemical) that removes the unwanted layers without damaging the image.

Film Composition and Function

Instax film uses "Direct positive sigma crystal emulsion technology". The film layers are listed below from back (exposure side) to front (image side). See the last page of the datasheet for a diagram.

Backing layer
- Magenta tinged clear plastic (daylight temperature correction?)
Base
Acid Polymer Layer
Neutralization timing layer
Processing Fluid
- Black paste stored in pouch, spread across image by rollers
- Alkali (potassium hydroxide)
- Opacifier (to block light during development)
- Other developer chemicals (potassium thiosulfate and uracil)
UV absorbing layer
Development layers
- Three layers of light sensitive silver (halide) (blue, green, and red)
- Three layers of oppositely colored hydroquinone dyes (yellow, magenta, and cyan)
- Dyes paired with unexposed, developed silver halide transfer to the image receiving layer
- Intermediate layers between colors
Light shielding layer
Light reflective layer
- Opaque white pigment (titanium dioxide?)
Image receiving layer
Base
Glossy surface backing layer