Hi Resin People,

My project might be far fetched, if you google 'polaroid emulsion lift' you'll see the polaroid image can be removed from the plastic casing and transferred to things, like paper, etc. I wanted to cast the gel-like, delicate polaroid image in a block of clear resin. Seems i'll need to mix, pour, let it sit, add the polaroid and then mix and pour a second layer of resin.

My problem is water-based, obviously water and resin don't mix and my research has told me it won't look good. The polaroid emulsion lift is usually done in a tray of water. No idea if this is the right foum to ask - I'll ask Polaroid People as well to see what they think - but if I was to use another substance to do the lift would this react and cause problems with the resin or would it come out okay?

Basically, are there substances other than water that will react and cause problems with casting resin?

Thanks so much for your knowledge...!

Is there any reason you can't make your first half of the resin block and allow it to fully cure, scuff it up with 180 grit sandpaper for adhesion, then transfer the emulsion to that block of resin and let it dry? After it has dried, you can pour the second half of the block.

There's no problems with resin and water so long as the resin has fully cured (ie. about a week depending on temperature). If the resin needs to be green, then you're a bit out of luck, it won't work - but I can't see any reason why that would be the case.

+x

 

Hanaldo - 8/30/2019 3:24:11 AM

Is there any reason you can't make your first half of the resin block and allow it to fully cure, scuff it up with 180 grit sandpaper for adhesion, then transfer the emulsion to that block of resin and let it dry? After it has dried, you can pour the second half of the block.

There's no problems with resin and water so long as the resin has fully cured (ie. about a week depending on temperature). If the resin needs to be green, then you're a bit out of luck, it won't work - but I can't see any reason why that would be the case.

That's definitely an option - although one problem could be that the emulsion lift doesn't dry flat; it's possible it could not attach to the surface properly and then as the water evaporates it'll sort of 'crisp up', but otherwise that would be a decent solution.

My ideal result is to have the image look as though it has been captured in water; so it won't be perfectly laid out flat it would be more '3D' if you see what I mean - each corner point a different direction in 3D space for example. Which is why I'd like to apply the image to the resin before it's set.

+x

 

jemma - 8/30/2019 10:45:32 AM

+x

 

Hanaldo - 8/30/2019 3:24:11 AM

Is there any reason you can't make your first half of the resin block and allow it to fully cure, scuff it up with 180 grit sandpaper for adhesion, then transfer the emulsion to that block of resin and let it dry? After it has dried, you can pour the second half of the block.

There's no problems with resin and water so long as the resin has fully cured (ie. about a week depending on temperature). If the resin needs to be green, then you're a bit out of luck, it won't work - but I can't see any reason why that would be the case.

That's definitely an option - although one problem could be that the emulsion lift doesn't dry flat; it's possible it could not attach to the surface properly and then as the water evaporates it'll sort of 'crisp up', but otherwise that would be a decent solution.

My ideal result is to have the image look as though it has been captured in water; so it won't be perfectly laid out flat it would be more '3D' if you see what I mean - each corner point a different direction in 3D space for example. Which is why I'd like to apply the image to the resin before it's set.

Hello Jemma,

I know your post is not recent, but I was wondering if you found a solution to your problem. I'm trying to achieve the same effect, I took some abstract pictures of water microorganisms that I'd like to encapsulate in a clear block of resin (randomly displayed in the 3D block). I'm considering printing the images on a different medium, like a transparent membrane, but I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks!