Our Enschede factory team are always experimenting to improve our existing film. Reclaimed Blue is an accidental offshoot-result of one of those experiments: our factory (specifically, Brian) was experimenting with our color film and one particular chemical from our black and white film, TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone). When TBHQ and our color film were combined, a strong reaction caused the color film to develop into striking, rich shades of blue. Brian then wanted to see what it would be like to also reuse ‘out of spec color negatives’ in the process (these are normally destroyed because they’re not meeting high-quality standards). Thus, Reclaimed Blue was born. The unexpected result of an experiment, where no blue dye was added, but only created from the chemical reaction!
The ‘out-of-spec- negatives used for this film were reclaimed from production. Basically, the measurements of the film were not good enough to use in normal production. Normally, these negatives would have been discarded.
In Blue Duochrome, blue dye is added to B&W paste in the pod for color. However, what turns the Reclaimed Blue film blue is the chemical reaction between the TBHQ and the color film. Although we don’t 100% understand the reaction playing out, it is possible that the TBHQ makes the cyan blue strong enough to take over the other colors in the film.
In terms of the components, Cyan Monochrome uses only 1 die in a color negative – this case, cyan die. Blue Duochrome uses a B&W positive and a B&W negative and then blue die is added to the paste. Reclaimed Blue on the other hand uses out-of-scope negatives with a color positive – but no blue die. Instead, the extra developer, TBHQ, creates a chemical reaction that causes the blue image.
In terms of the colors, Reclaimed Blue images will get you an image with white and blue colors, instead of black and blue (like in Blue Duochrome), or the hues of the same color (like in Cyan Monochrome).
Brian is a Quality Technician at our factory in Enschede, the Netherlands, and he’s been with us since the 1st of July 2018. We love him.
Brian does hundreds of experiments to improve Polaroid film and sometimes unexpected things happen, which is amazing. He came across Reclaimed Blue because he introduced this one chemical (TBHQ, Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) from the black and white system into the color system. He saw the resulting Reclaimed Blue reaction, and realized that the blue was so powerful, it was good enough for re-using some of our waste material (rolls of negatives) in the factory. Still, to this day, Brian (and our other scientists) can’t fully explain why the TBHQ causes the blue reaction in the color system.
In theory yes – but we don’t have enough reclaimed material from those types of film. i-Type has a higher bulk, so we have more reclaimed material.
Not for now. But it is possible to do more batches. Maybe 1 or 2 batches a year – nothing is confirmed as of yet though.
Are we having the same policy of no refund/replacement like Black & Green Duochrome in case of complaints?
We will have bundles (x3 and x5) to facilitate bulk purchases, but there will be no discount associated with the sum of the full price.
Is the chemistry more or less dense compared to standard films? Should we expect to see any spreading issues?
Is there a specific setting for the Polaroid Lab or what film type should we recommend for the exposure? Is there a specific profile added like the Yellow Duochrome?
It’s a film with lots of contrast, so in darker environments, the pictures often become too dark (unless that’s what you are looking for!). So make sure to have lots of light and that your object is not too far away. But beyond this: as this film is so experimental, we don’t fully know yet. That’s the joy. It’s up to you to get out there and experiment with it.
Just like our normal film, it’ll be damaged (foggy white layer – negative is affected). See examples of film not damaged and damaged (shot with Polaroid Lab):
Film went through x-rays Film didn’t go through x-rays Film went through x-rays Film didn’t go through x-rays
Is it possible to do an emulsion lift with this film (does the TBHQ change the gelatin texture)? Or do we lose the blue?
About Polaroid
Polaroid was founded by Edwin Land in 1937 as an icon of innovation and engineering. The company first produced ski goggles and 3D glasses for the US Army and Navy. It wasn’t until 1943 when Land’s daughter asked why she couldn’t see a photograph of herself immediately that the idea for the instant camera was born. In 1947 it became a reality with the first ever instant camera.
It was the introduction of the breakthrough Polaroid SX-70 camera in 1972 that launched instant photography.
As we know it today, followed by landmark innovations such as the original OneStep, instant color film; and the Polaroid 600 and Spectra cameras and film formats.
Polaroid cameras went on to inspire artists such as Andy Warhol, Helmut Newton, Robert Mapplethorpe, Maripol, Keith Haring, and Guy Bourdin who raised the brand to the status of a cultural icon.
In the 1990s and 2000s, the swift rise of digital technology eclipsed instant photography and Polaroid announced the end of instant film production in 2008. But that was short-lived; a dedicated group of instant photography fans under the name ‘The Impossible Project’ saved the last Polaroid factory in the Netherlands. Since then, they have been the only people in the world making film for vintage Polaroid cameras.
In 2017, The Impossible Project re-launched as Polaroid Originals: a brand dedicated exclusively to Polaroid’s original analog instant photography products. Bringing analog instant photography back under the Polaroid umbrella was a significant milestone, but it was not the end of the journey. In March 2020, Polaroid took the next step and became one brand, with the one name: Polaroid.
Today, Polaroid has analog instant photography at its core and represents the brand that people all over the world came to know and love for over 80 years. By unifying its entire product portfolio under one name, Polaroid is setting out its new vision as a global brand that will continue to create products that bring people together in human and meaningful ways.
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