Polaroid / Instant Film
1948–presentSelf-developing photographs — peel apart or integral. Unique chemical palette, imperfect, irreproducible. Each print one of a kind.
Sealed pod of developer chemicals spread between negative and positive by rollers. Colors form in minutes outside the camera.
American
Invented by Edwin Land. SX-70 integral film became the democratic art medium. Andy Warhol's Polaroids are iconic. Now Polaroid Originals / Impossible Project.
Integral film (SX-70/600) develops under clear plastic. Peel-apart (Type 55, FP-100C) gives both print and negative. Colors shift and fade uniquely.
SX-70 blue
Slightly muted, cool blue characteristic of integral Polaroid.
Material: Cyan dye-developer in integral pack
RGB(58, 106, 138)
Polaroid warmth
Warm overall cast of aging Polaroid chemistry.
Material: Yellow dye-developer, aged/expired
RGB(201, 160, 112)
Iconic border white
The signature white border frame — slightly warm, not pure white.
Material: Titanium dioxide in polyester casing
RGB(236, 224, 216)
Polaroid skin
Slightly orange-shifted skin tones.
Material: Magenta + yellow dye-developers on flesh
RGB(216, 168, 120)
Faded green
Slightly desaturated green with yellow shift.
Material: Cyan + yellow dye-developers, partly faded
RGB(106, 138, 106)
Expired magenta
Magenta color shift of expired or badly stored packs.
Material: Degraded dye-developers, expired film
RGB(170, 106, 138)
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