Be even more creative with your Polaroid camera and film.

Show us your analog experiments. Download the Polaroid App and submit your art using the in-app scanner for a chance to be featured on our channels.

1. Start with a freshly developed Polaroid picture (taken ideally within 24 hours with a Polaroid camera or with the Polaroid Lab). Trim off all the white borders, cutting slightly into the image itself.

2. Plunge it face-first into a bowl of warm water and let it soak for a few minutes.

3. Gently brush the emulsion off the clear plastic with a soft paintbrush, working from the corners inward.

4. You can either lift the floating emulsion onto a transparent sheet or directly onto your waterproof final surface — wood, glass, or watercolor paper all work great.

5. Use your brush to position it nicely, then let it dry. The result? A beautifully distorted, one-of-a-kind piece with that vintage, ethereal vibe.

Fresh Polaroid picture, scissors, shallow bowl of warm water, soft paintbrush, transparent sheet (optional), gloves (optional)*, and your chosen surface.

1. Start by photographing your subject against a light background using your Polaroid camera or Polaroid Lab.
2. After the photo ejects, let it sit under the film shield for a few seconds, then flip it face down and let it develop according to the package instructions.
3. Once it's fully developed, use a sharp knife and metal ruler to carefully slice along the outer edge of the frame on the sides and bottom.
4. Now comes the fun part: hold the bottom of the frame and gently peel the layers apart with both hands. If it's stuck, warm it slightly with a hairdryer. When you reach the top, use your knife to separate the final bit.
5. You'll be left with your subject on a clear, transparent positive layer – perfect for layering over colorful paper, interesting graphics, or anything else you can imagine. Get creative and see what you can make!

Polaroid instant camera or Polaroid Lab, Polaroid instant film, sharp knife, metal ruler, pencil, cutting board, and a hairdryer (optional).

1. Start with a fully developed, dry photo (approximately 30 days after exposure) — you don't want wet emulsion staining your thread.
2. Pick colored threads that complement your image.
3. Thread your needle without any knots, then tie a small knot at the end to secure the two thread ends together.
4. Push the needle through from the back of your photo to the front (this takes a bit of force since the material is thick), then tape the loose end at the back to hold it in place.
5. Now start stitching! Pass the thread from one side to the other, following shapes in your picture to create textured outlines — use tweezers if you need extra grip to pull the thread through.
6. When you finish with that color, bring the needle to the back, cut the thread, and tape it down to secure it. Then grab a new color and repeat the process until your embroidered story is complete.
7. The result is a beautifully tactile, one-of-a-kind piece.

Polaroid picture, colored threads, strong sewing needle, tweezers, tape, and scissors.

1. Start with a Polaroid picture that didn't turn out the way you wanted.
2. Use a sharp knife to slice around the inside edge of the frame and separate the photo from it.
3. Set the empty frame aside — you might use it later. Now go through your other pictures and look for colors and shapes you want to use.
4. Cut out pieces that work together and start arranging them into a collage.
5. You can build it two ways: either layer your collage over an untouched Polaroid picture frame and glue it down, or make the collage itself the base and position that empty frame on top of it. If you go with the second option, pull some pieces over and under the frame to add depth.
6. Once you're happy with how it looks, glue everything in place.

Polaroid camera, Polaroid instant film, Polaroid pictures, sharp knife, cutting board, scissors, glue.

1. Grab your Polaroid Flip, I-2, or Now+ camera and some instant film, and head to a dark spot.

2. Set your camera on a tripod or table and frame your shot.

3. For the Now+, open the Polaroid Mobile App, select your camera, and switch to Light Painting mode. For the Flip and I-2, use Manual mode with a small aperture (like ƒ/64) and long shutter speed (30 seconds or more), and turn off your flash.

4. Press the shutter button to start your exposure, then grab your light source — your phone's torch, a sparkler, whatever you've got. Point it toward the camera and start drawing or writing in the air. Pro tip: write letters backward so they appear correctly in the photo, and if you're lighting a subject, slowly move the light around them or reposition them between strokes. For Now+ users, hold the middle button in the app to turn your phone's light on and release it to turn it off for more control.

5. When you're done, turn off your light and press the shutter button again to finish.

6. Let the photo sit under the film shield for a few seconds after it ejects, then flip it face down and follow the development time on your film package.

Polaroid Flip, Now+ or I-2 camera, Polaroid instant film, Polaroid Mobile App, light source (phone torch, sparkler, etc.), and a camera tripod or stable surface.

1. First, turn on your Polaroid camera and activate Double Exposure mode. For the Flip double-press the self-timer button or use the App. For the Now, double-press the self-timer button. For the Now+, double-press the + button or use the App. For the Go, double-press the flash button. For the I-2, select multiple exposure mode and choose two exposures.
2. Here's the key to great results: darker areas in your first shot are what get re-exposed in the second, so start with darker elements and follow with lighter ones.
3. When your camera or mobile display flashes '1', frame and take your first shot. After you press the shutter, '2' will flash — now change your angle or subject and take your second exposure.
4. Once both shots are captured, the photo will eject. Let it sit under the film shield for a few seconds, then flip it face down and follow the development time on the package.
5. The magic happens as your two images blend together into something completely unique.

Polaroid instant camera (Flip, Now, Now+, Go, or I-2) and Polaroid instant film.

These creative techniques turn your instant pictures into something entirely new. Whether you're peeling apart layers to create transparencies, lifting emulsions onto wood and paper, painting with light in the dark, embroidering texture directly onto your prints, or blending two worlds together with double exposures, each method offers a different way to play in the analog world. Your Polaroid pictures don't have to stay as they are when they eject from the camera. Cut them up, soak them, stitch through them, layer them — see what happens when you push the medium beyond its original purpose. That's where the real analog beauty lives.

*Disclaimer: There is no guarantee that you will get specific results by using these techniques. Results may vary. These creative techniques should only be performed by adults (+18) and strictly at your own risk. We do not accept any liability for damages resulting from the use of these techniques.