How To: Double Exposures with Fuji Instax Cameras

My friend Kelli haunting herself

So I'm sure some of you have wondered in the past: What do all the real photo nerds do when we aren't at our day jobs or out photographing?  Well I have a good answer for you, we're usually trying to break something.  Not in the conventional way of course.  While going "Office Space" on an old or broken camera may let you get out some of your stress, it doesn't help you make better photographs.  So what do I mean by "breaking"?  Computer geeks are into breaking codes and hacking.  Photographers are into seeing how they can "hack" cameras and misuse them.  This isn't anything new; the analog photography hackers have been around for a long time filing down negative carriers in the darkroom, scratching negatives, double exposing film, modifying all sorts of cameras to take different sizes of film, etc...  So this really isn't anything new, but I thought it would be cool to share.  In retrospect maybe I should have started this post with "If you want to do something dumb this weekend..."  Click 'MORE' to keep reading on how to make double exposures with your Fuji Instax 200/210 camera.

DISCLAIMER:  This method is not recommended by Fuji and while I've had no problem doing this with my cameras, if yours breaks or is damaged while doing this, we cannot be held responsible.  You have been warned!

STEP ONE 

Get an Instax camera and some film.  This is a pretty important step because without these two items you won't be able to take any shots.  ;)

STEP TWO

Place the cartridge into the Instax camera as you normally would.  Take the first shot so the dark slide comes out.  If you need help at this point, take the camera (with the film in it) and return it into the packaging it came in.  Then take the package and place it in the waste bin.  Go have fun with your digital camera.  Just forget about film :)

STEP THREE

This is the key to making it all work.  You need to find a totally dark room.  If you're a photo student, just use the darkroom! However no safelight can be used.  Unlike photographic paper, Fuji Instax film has an ISO rating of about 800, which is considered high sensitivity. Any exposure to light will ruin the film.  So one trick I've learned is to find a room/closet with no windows.  If light leaks under the door, place a towel at the bottom of the door to block the light.  I am sure some of you out there have already done this in the past (maybe in college) for other reasons, but get your mind out of the gutter!

STEP FOUR 

Remove the cartridge from the Instax Camera and place it down on the counter.  If you've worked with developing film before, it should be a simple task for you to keep aware of where things are in the dark .  Have your tape near by.  Be sure to keep in mind that the yellow (you won't be able to distinguish it in the dark) tab in the upper right corner is where the top of the film cartridge is.

When you remove the cartridge be sure to place it in a spot that is clean and unobstructed by other objects.

STEP FIVE

Next rip off a piece of tape that is about the length of the cartridge, but not quite as long. You want to avoid as much overflow as possible so the film cartridge will fit back into the camera properly.  take the cartridge in your hand and slowly tape over the slot where the film comes out.  This will prevent the Instax camera from ejecting the film after you take your first picture.  Here are a few pictures that show the process of taping over the cartridge.
Place the tape over the opening on top of the film cartridge. Be sure to not use too much tape.

Try to tape evenly and straight across. This will help ensure the film is completely blocked and that the cartridge will fit back into the camera properly.

At the end of your taping adventure, the cartridge should look like this, but you won't be able to tell because you'll be in the dark.

STEP SIX

Take a picture with your Instax.  Be sure to take into account where you place the subject in your composition.  Try not to use the flash as it will often expose too much of the picture and not leave enough "blank space" on your film for the next exposure.  The viewfinder on the Instax is slightly off so don't be surprised if you don't get perfect results the first time or any time really.  After pressing the shutter button you should hear the camera crying and whining like it normally would when it would eject the film.  If you taped the cartridge right, the film will not come out and you will be ready to take another shot.  

STEP SEVEN

Take the second picture, you can try a third if you'd like, but remember each time you make an exposure you are increasing the "gain" on the film, so if you do too many exposures, the film will eventually come out entirely white.  Return to your light-tight/dark area and open the back of the camera again.  Remove the cartridge from the Instax camera just like you did before.  This time, peel the tape off of the cartridge.  You should be able to save the tape for another exposure, but its ok if you don't.  Remember its just tape! Be sure to remove all of it so you aren't blocking the slot at all anymore. [
Lay the cartridge down on a flat surface so you can remove the tape.

STEP EIGHT

Return the cartridge to the Instax camera.  You can go back into the light now if you want.  Cover the lens of the Instax camera with your hand and take a shot.  Let the photo develop normally and enjoy the results of a double exposure!  Here are some of the results I came up with.  I would love to see other people's double exposures, so send them to me [email protected], I will be happy to post them here.

My friend Kelli

Probably one of my favorites. One shot was taken with an old tungsten movie light. Another was with daylight balanced cool lights.

This one came out pretty cool too, but I didn't expect that power cord in the background! That was the result of the Instax viewfinder being only a rough estimate of what your composition will be.

Additional Tips & Tricks

*Try to not use the flash.  The flash on the camera will often blow out the original image and make it difficult to distinguish it as a double exposure.  I hate the flash on the Fuji Instax so much that I have taped over it several times with some gaffer's tape. *Occasionally the camera will "jam" and not eject the film after you have replaced the cartridge back into the camera.  I've never had a problem with an actual jam, but sometimes the film just doesn't want to come out at all.  This can often be resolved by going back into the dark, taking out the cartridge, and replacing it again.  It may take several attempts, but I've never had to ditch an entire pack of film. *Try not to touch the emulsion.  While the demo pictures I show have the darkslide still inserted (I didn't want to waste any film), your emulsion will be exposed in the dark.  Avoid touching it if you can as it may alter exposure or just get your nasty fingerprints all over the photo! *Turn the camera off whenever you are taking out or replacing the film.  I never had a problem with this and probably left it on occasionally, but its a safer bet to just turn it off. If you take a picture in the dark and the flash fires you may ruin your film. *Occasionally a thin nylon strip will come off when you keep taping and un-taping the cartridge.  I am not sure if this has detrimental results on final images.  Again this is all an experiment.  If you find out something that I haven't mentioned, please let me know.