What's the "print coater" tube for in type 55 package?

I'm about to use it for the 1st time... I'm gonna shoot a box and

leave it unprocessed until I have the perfect set up to mess with it

at home. I opened up the box to get the film and these crazy little

tubes were in there. Whats the dealio?

From what I remember using a Polaroid Swinger back in the 60's, we had to coat the print with the print coater ASAP. It's basically fixer.

 

Craig

Um...

 

Print coaters are for print coating. You just wipe the goo on.

 

They leave a sort of plastic film over the image (beware of dust while it's drying) to prevent oxidation. Uncoated prints will oxidize, losing tone in the highlights and bronzing in the shadows. It's not really like fixer, more a preservative.

 

A lot is dependent on temperature. In warm weather you MAY get both a good print and a good neg. In cooler weather you are likely to get the best neg with overexposed prints.

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

That piece of paper in the film package tells you everything you need to know. It's called "Instructions"

 

The coating is a lacquer which stabilizes the Polaroid print and protects it from water and fingerprints, and keeps them from curling up as they dry. It gets on everything else in the process - a real PITA. Don't bother if the prints are just to check exposure

The coater 'goo' smells like pepper, and contains a piperidine derivative that prevents bronzing and image oxidation as stated above. Without it, the image can get pretty ugly pretty fast.

 

However, that 'goo' is not benign. It is a photographic 'processing' solution in itself and should not be treated like it was harmless. However, when dry it is virtually inert.

 

Ron Mowrey

In case you accidentally threw out the packaged instructions, there is lots of info on the Polaroid web support site. The following is a quote from that site:

 

 

"Question: What are the plastic vials that came with my black-and-white film?

 

Answer: Some of Polaroid's black-and-white films -- 665, 51, 52, 55, and 57 -- require print coating. The vials you received contain a clear liquid that creates a protective finish and stops photos from fading.

 

This coating should be applied to prints very soon after processing, using the applicators that come packaged with the film. The coating should be applied lengthwise with slightly overlapping strokes, then allowed to dry completely before handling. For best results, apply the coating in a dust-free area."

I ALWAYS throw out instructions. Especially if there's something written on them that I need to read. Besides, you guys are SOOOO knowledgable, theres no need to keep instructions.

 

So thats for the "print" obviously and the negative needs that whole other PITA process, ya?

 

Thanks. You guys are the best ever.

we know. :)

Question: Can some one tell me where I can get only the print coater solution? Or a good substitute for the print coater. I've used it in the past on some Polaroid prints and like the effect when it's overcolored. I want to try it on some other prints. Thanks.

I’m wondering about the chemical ingredients and if possible to make new mixtures. Tried talking to Polaroid, but they don’t know the recipe anymore...

 

(snip on type 55 film)

 

A lot is dependent on temperature. In warm weather you MAY get both a good print and a good neg.

In cooler weather you are likely to get the best neg with overexposed prints.

 

 

For pack film, there was the "cold clip", two aluminum sheets with a sort of hinge

(reminds me more of tape) that you warm up against your skin, then put the developing

print between. I think you are then supposed to put it back against your skin

(such as inside your down jacket) while it develops.

 

You could also wait until you are in a warm room to develop them.

 

I don't know if there is a cold clip for type 55.

 

Is this old type 55? The chemical pods on old film tend not to work well,

or at all. But you probably know that.

It didn't take long to find this.