Polaroid


		When in a pinch for a quick image, Polaroid offers an instant solution. Take a picture of your subject with a Polaroid camera, scan it into your computer and voila - you've captured your image! Polaroid's new professional Polacolor Pro 100 instant print film is extremely accurate and provides highly detailed results. However, be careful when using Polaroid B&W instant film -- it requires a special liquid coating to prevent the image from deteriorating. You'll want this coating to have plenty of time to dry before putting the image down on the glass platen -- it's very sticky and hard to remove!
			Take your picture, remembering to keep the exposure even, the camera steady and subject(s) in focus. Compose the subject matter to completely fill the image area of the film to minimize the need for cropping when you scan. This particular print was made using Polacolor type 59 instant print film, a standard for "everyday" use with a 4x5 camera. After making sure your print is completely dry, place it on the glass platen of your scanner.


	Scan at 300 spi at 100% -- about the maximum resolution limit of Polacolor instant print film. (It should be noted that Polacolor Pro 100 can handle up to 500 spi since it is much sharper than "ordinary" Polacolor film). This 200% enlargement of my original 1:1 scan shows that the detail available in a Polacolor Type 59 print is quite good. I have even used Polacolor prints for full-bleed 8-1/2 x 11 backgrounds! If necessary, bring the completed scan into a photoediting program and tone correct as you would for any other scanned image.
	Polaroid even has a new "all-in-one" technology called Print to Press, which includes a calibrated mini-desktop scanner for their 4"x5" Polacolor 100 Pro film. Shoot your image, scan it, and place it into your DTP program -- with calibrated results! Pretty neat stuff. Related topics: Polaroid homepage