Hello! I am starting to use polaroid 55 again. For the negative sometimes and other times the print. Can I get any advice on processing and drying the film? I will be in the field but I will be in a motel so I plan on processing there. I know sodium sulfites the one to use but I heard perma wash works? Any opinions?

Thanks for everyones generosity. Kathleen

-- kathleen (dogdishz@prodigy.net), March 18, 2002

Answers

Just follow the printed directions that come with the film...

Wash like reg. 4X5 film - if you are working in the field and processing in a motel room where you will not be able to control the water temp - you may want to do a prelim. wash:

Fill the Polaroid tank 15 - 20 times with water - let sit for 2-3 minutes between the next dumping / refill of water...

Before washing you could treat the negs in a bath of water/perma wash...this would cut down on the water changes needed...

The last bath should contain water with photo-flo (or destilled water) before you hang the negs to dry. When you return to your own darkroom you can then rewash...

-- Per Volquartz (volquartz@volquartz.com), March 18, 2002.

Permawash contains sodium sulfite. It is safe and significantly easier to use since you can mix some, use it that day, discard it and mix more the next day. I switched to it some time ago and have never looked at the sodium sulfite mixing again. You might try packing cheap bottled water in gallon containers for mixing permawash and washing your negs rather than depend upon the quality and contaminants from the tap water Bob

-- Bob Moulton (bobmargaretm@insghtbb.com), March 18, 2002.

In what proportions does one mix the Permawash?

-- Wilhelmn (wmitch3400@hotmail.com), March 18, 2002.

Last time I used it I think the bottle said 3oz to a gallon.

-- Greg De Stefano (mink@minervamink.zzn.com), March 21, 2002.

PW is 3 oz to the gallon for regular working strength....but for Polaroid 55's, I use the unsceintifc method: a capful to a tray of water...I don't know if it's our city water or what, but I can get both type 55 and 665 to clear all the way almost just by putting them in water....the PW just finishes off the job.

Kathleen: I made me a home-made polaroid tank out of a rubbermaid container (about a gallon, with a snap on lid) and an old sheet film rack out of a Yankee daylight tank. That's one of those film developing tanks that doesn't work too well....they're always dirt cheap in used shops because they're pretty lousy....the rack inside can be adjusted for various sheet sizes, and will accomodate up to 12 665 or 55 negs....I fill up the bucket with water, and then slide the sheets into the rack as I shoot....I'm not overly picky with them either, sometimes I slide the paper remnants and chem packs in there too...I did a shoot last week this way, and left the film in the water for about half a day...when I pulled it out it was just about cleared, but the water looked like india ink....

-- DK Thompson (kthompson@moh.dcr.state.nc.us), March 21, 2002.

I'am a big fan of type 55 film and would love to use it in the field.Let me see if I got this straight! Your pulling the film in the field and putting the negs in your temporary water tank? I sure would like to see the neg and print in the field rather than pulling the film later in the hotel room. Steven Meyers

-- (sdmey4@aol.com), March 22, 2002.

I'm more of a commercial shooter and don't stray too far from the studio od the lab to tell you the truth...in this case I was shooting a small location job outside and then went back to my own darkroom with the tank....I actually shot about a half box of polaroid of a subject and did it in rapid succession, cycling the film through--with a 545 holder, pulling the film and tossing it one the graound after each shot....after I got what I needed, I peeled them and stuck them immediately into the water. I had done a test at the start and threw it away....I made a print of this and it was drum scanned....it will be on a cd cover soon....should be going to press about now. I shoot 55 and 665 to both proof exposures and use 55 to check focus as well...about half the film I burn, I throw away and use "real" film instead....

-- DK Thompson (kthompson@moh.dcr.state.nc.us), March 22, 2002.

Oh yeah, so much for timing them! The ones on the bottom of the pile, got peeled first....this sounds pretty lax, but the film looked great, my prints turned out how I wanted them, the client was happy...it was funny in a way, because the 55 was my "test" film...I shot TXT for the real thing....and did a couple of tank runs too....if I had known I'd wind up using the 55, I could've saved myself a couple hours in the dark....next time, I believe I will.

-- dk thompson (kthompson@moh.dcr.state.nc.us), March 22, 2002.

As a temporary measure, I've washed the negatives in VERY hot water straight from the tap. You can flush off most of the blue stuff this way, as well as most of the chemical goo. So far, the record is five yeard (and running) between temporary wash and sulphite fixing - with no discernible damage to the negative.

-- Ole Tjugen (oftjugen@online.no), March 22, 2002.