Polaroid Artistic TZ

Reply to Desperately looking for Artistic TZ film.

nobody@flickr.com (10to8photo) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 23:39:40 -0700

10to8photo posted a reply:

@gliesh That's exactly what I wrote, it was made with the chemicals they found at enschede. But it was NEVER Time-zero, that's why they didn't call it Time-zero. We know TZ stands for it but impossible was ambiguous about it, and never ever adknowledged it. Essentially if a film was gone someone else is created in it's place, isn't it to fill the void of it's loss? (I don't understand your logic) but in any case, colour protection is definitely the choice of film as you mentioned. I've used it and I don't want to go back to Polaroid anymore. Films also have a lifespan and all our ATZ is reaching the end of its life soon.

Reply to Desperately looking for Artistic TZ film.

nobody@flickr.com (gliesh) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 03:24:17 -0700

gliesh posted a reply:

@10 to 8 Photography, ATZ was never meant to match TZ or fill the void TZ created, it is TZ.... While the Enschede factory was in the process of being closed they found some old TZ chemicals and negatives in their store (staff were a bit embarrassed that the chemicals had been unaccounted for in the first place). They re-mixed the chemicals and found it worked. They had enough materials to make about 80000 shots. This expired TZ material was marketed as ATZ....

@dayalsumit, buy a pack or two of the new Impossible Project Film and give it a go it is fantastic stuff!! The Impossible Project website and Flickr forums have all the advise you need to get the best results from the film.

Reply to What's your name and where do you live? How many packages of Artistic TZ you have purchased?

nobody@flickr.com (10 to 8 Photography) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:36:42 -0700

10 to 8 Photography posted a reply:

James, i live in singapore! overall i've purchased 85 packs!

Reply to Desperately looking for Artistic TZ film.

nobody@flickr.com (10 to 8 Photography) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:35:26 -0700

10 to 8 Photography posted a reply:

Also, to answer your questions:

1) There is NO shops in the world that carry ATZ anymore, you can only buy them off from individuals and you have to be sure it's properly refrigerated, flat, to ensure chemical pods have not dried up, and that it could all spread properly (undeveloped patches do happen with expired films). You don't want to take any risk with a 50USD pack of film.

2) The only film left now that resembles ATZ (which in turn was meant to match TZ) is the SX-70 Blend. It has an amazing bluish hue that was meant to resemble the original TZ film so you won't be too disappointed.
Also, it goes for insane prices on eBay. But do not buy there, there is a lady who sells it for 69USD a pack. My friend bought 10 from her, to find that she did not store them in the fridge at all (very irresponsible from a seller selling expired film) and turned out all crap. Hence, i'd say this is not an option.

Reply to Desperately looking for Artistic TZ film.

nobody@flickr.com (10 to 8 Photography) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:29:16 -0700

10 to 8 Photography posted a reply:

Hi there dayalsumit,

I personally have used nearly 75 packs of Artistic TZ/Artistic TZ Edge Cut over a span of 4 years, and i'm currently down to my last 7 packs or so.

I'm here to tell you, it really ISN'T that great anymore.

Loads of people say it's the holy-grail of film (time-zero) and ATZ was meant to fill the void TZ created however, film doesn't age THAT gracefully and like the rarest commodity, it can only diminish.

So should our hopes on the picture quality with the film.

What you get on eBay may not be stored properly, and also, they never ever guarantee anything so it's sold as-is, and may turn out to be duds. Not too wise to bring it with you especially to India, for your project where you may be in serious need of films.

What I can tell you truly, is that the photos (scanned) you see here on flickr may have been taken when TZ was produced back in 09, and 3 years is a long time for expired films.

TZ Artistic was created with leftover chemicals they found in Enschede when they were cleaning up the factory, with what probably was the LAST batch of negatives they found, (similar to TZ Edge Cut, TZ Fade to Black and Spectra Softtone) which means that the negatives weren't even the best of quality, probably sub-standard that didn't make the cut for the TZ/600 films.

What you must understand was that the Mexico negative factory made all these negatives back in 2003 when Polaroid decided to stop producing films. These negs were then cold-stored until needed, which meant they were already unfresh. These are the unfresh of the unfresh.

So, what i'm saying is, it's too overrated, and not worth the money at all.

May I inquire as to what kind of project you're using the film for?

This way i'll be better poised to aid you.

Personally, i've shot polaroid film since i was a kid, as early as 2003, and the colours back then was just what instax wide was to us now, nothing fantastic and super-crisp. But when they get expired, and production has ended, it suddenly became a commodity. Back in the days, we had nearly 200 packs in my house as my mum was a huge shooter, and shot us growing up nearly every 3 days.

What i'm saying is, TIP is amazing in it's own ways too.

Polaroid to me was always capturing the memory, less artistic.

But as i grew as a photographer, i appreciated TIP. The idea is very much like lomography, the flaw becomes an art in it's own way (Doc Kaps was a leading lomography society sales manager for europe) and in a way, the films do resemble the dreamy colours and tones lomography is well-known for.

But now, as of 3 years of hard work (and alot of money wasted on my side) I am proud to say i'll never need to shoot anymore of the old polaroid films (i still have a bit left) and confidently shoot TIP's colour protection film because it's simply amazing.

I have shot so many TIP films over the years that when i shoot polaroid occasionally (i take it out for special days, like rare wine) i instinctively shield my photos. To reach the stage of non-shielding, is a personal glory as i shoot impossible on a near daily basis.

I hope after what i've said you'll have understood TZ isn't fantastic, but just looks fantastic cos that's all we have left. But all that's left is not gold.

Feel free to pm me, or even email me at photo10to8@me.com

I'll be more then happy to help/assist you.

Reply to What's your name and where do you live? How many packages of Artistic TZ you have purchased?

nobody@flickr.com (Utchat) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:52:41 -0700

Utchat posted a reply:

What's your name? Leslie
Where do you live? Ohio,USA
How many packages of Artistic TZ you have purchased? 0 but given 5.

Reply to Desperately looking for Artistic TZ film.

nobody@flickr.com (shellygrrl) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:23:10 -0700

shellygrrl posted a reply:

What redlomo said.

Check out the new Impossible PX70. While it doesn't have the colours of ATZ, it is a much more stable product. *nods*

Reply to Desperately looking for Artistic TZ film.

nobody@flickr.com (redlomo) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 00:22:42 -0700

redlomo posted a reply:

The thing is that even if you find some ATZ for sale somewhere, it would be very expired. So your results will be quite unpredictable. ATZ didn't have a fantastic shelf life because it was made from the last available (leftover/old?) chemicals. Good luck with your search though!

Desperately looking for Artistic TZ film.

nobody@flickr.com (dayalsumit) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 21:40:33 -0700

dayalsumit posted a new topic:

Intend to work on a project in India with the Artistic TZ. I've spent a lot of time searching for this film on the web but in vain. I've looked on Craigslist, KEH, The film photography project store, Polaroid conversions, Impossible project etc..only Ebay has a 2 listings.
It seems that this pretty much extinct.

On trying to search for the closest 'available' alternative to Artistic TZ, I got in touch with the 'Impossible project'. This is what they had to say:

Impossible Customer Service, Sep 25 10:04 (CEST):

Hello Sumit,

thank you for your email!
Indeed, TZ Artistic film was original film from polaroid and has run out two years ago.

Our own impossible films cannot be compared with polaroid films, as we have had the task of creating an entirely new film from scratch. (Our chemistry is entirely new because, for one, Polaroid stopped ordering their chemistry as far back as 2005, so some chemicals are now unavailable. Some chemicals were made in-house expressly for Polaroid and they closed up shop. Finally, some of the chemical components are now banned by environmental laws such as the Kyoto Protocol. Outer appearances aside, our film is approx. 95% completely new materials from the materials Polaroid used.)

Our films don't have these earthy greenish-blue tones, which were typical for TZ artistic film.

I can only suggest to try out our newest film, the PX70 COLOR PROTECTION film, to visualize if you like it or not:
shop.the-impossible-project.com/shop/film/sx70/fi_sx70_1_...

i recommend this film to you, because it is the first film from our production, that doesn't need to get shielded immediately from light during exposure.

you will find more information about the correct usage of the filme here:
shop.the-impossible-project.com/allabout/colorshade/

if you have any further questions, please let me know!

best regards,
ani

- - - -

I'd like to hear from members of this group about their experiences in:

1. Finding places where one can still buy Artistic TZ film ?

2. Your opinion on the closest 'available' alternative to Artistic TZ ?

Reply to Manipulating and Peeling

nobody@flickr.com (jurg4) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 06:56:41 -0700

jurg4 posted a reply:

Hey all. I just have a question about the manipulation of TZA. I see most ppl say to wait an hour. When i took my first shot (09/09 purchased around 15/05/12) i couldnt wait so just started playing with it as soon as it began to develop. i dont mind the results but all it really allows me to do is create white or black lines, not really "manipulation" as i have seen, say in tobysx70 manips.
so i was wondering, is this because i didnt wait the hour, or is this just because the film is so old and expired now that white/black lines will be all i can hope to get from it?
Thx for any help.