GO WIDE IN BLACK AND WHITE! IMAGE/SPECTRA FILM IS BACK!

Lucile Le Doze, Worldwide | Jun 27, 04:29 PM

Keep an eye on the B&W Image/Spectra film!

First introduced by Polaroid in the late 1980s, Spectra film (called ‘Image’ outside of North America) is different than the regular integral film for SX-70 and 600 Polaroid cameras. It has a wide image area of 9.0 × 7.3 cm (3.5 × 2.9 in), although it is otherwise identical to 600 film in ISO speed and development method.

Impossible started producing Image/Spectra film in 2010, a few months after introducing new Color and B&W films for Polaroid 600 and SX-70. Derived from the same materials used for the B&W film for Polaroid 600 cameras, Impossible launched the very first B&W Image/Spectra film in instant photography history. Polaroid itself never produced a monochrome film for Image/Spectra cameras.

Hovever, in August, last year, production of the wide-frame B&W film for Polaroid Image/Spectra cameras had to be suspended, due to an issue in the sourcing of essential structural components impacting on how the film functioned with the then existing film chemistry.

The problem lay in a custom adhesive and a thin rail that controlled the thickness of the paste spreading from between the films negative and the positive layers. The rails used for SX-70 and 600 films were too thick to be adapted to the requirements of the Image/Spectra film.

“We are always aiming at assembling the best components to produce unique instant photography materials. Issues in the sourcing of components, even the smallest ones, can suspend production for several months. This new release of the Impossible B&W film for Polaroid Image/Spectra camera marks a new milestone in our research towards an entirely new range of films featuring improved tones and a faster development time” – Stephen Herchen, Impossible’s CTO

“The Image/Spectra system allows photographers to capture the ‘decisive instant’ in a wider, more cinematic format that many prefer. With its more refined functionality and controls, they can experiment more with it too. We were determined that with this new B&W Image/Spectra film, a great camera finlly got the great film it deserved!” – Creed O’Hanlon, Impossible’s Berlin-based CEO

B&W Image/Spectra Film has now been re-formulated by the Impossible’s R&D teams in Enschede and Monheim. It now features improved tonal range, contrast, sharpness and a faster development time. and… it is already available on the Impossible Online Shop!

via: Impossible Blog