600times
I see each Polaroid black card as a book of answers. Randomly opening a film to get a black card always reveals an answer. I added this Polaroid inspiration into my app.
Inspired by the unpredictable nature of Polaroid photography, I built a random black frame generator into 600Times. Each photo develops its own unique black border, echoing the nostalgic unpredictability of instant film and reminding us that every moment is one of a kind.
Embracing Chance: The Random Black Frame Effect
A vintage experience with light metering and flash
Instead of using automatic exposure, it recreates the real-world Polaroid light-metering process through algorithms.
Different Light Exposure
Photo Display Album
Just like a real Polaroid album, you can flip through the photos.
Different Color Filter
Simulate different color films from the Polaroid lab.
Captured using 600times
Development
Color Science
Frame
Original Photo
(Captured by Phone Sensors)
Fine Random Noise
Lut Layer
(Rough Color Adjustment)
Polaroid’s distinctive “tone”: use a threshold to separate light and dark percentages, then adjust the opacity of a specific purple based on the threshold value.
Gaussian Blur Layer(Classic Style)
Other Adjustments
(Black Point, Curves, etc.)
⇩
Frame
Color Filters: different color filters created using gradient mapping from highlights to shadows.
Gaussian Blur Layer(Classic Style)
⇩
This is the processing logic of Color Film. Compared to Color Film, the processing of Green, Blue, and Mono Film is simpler.
Inspired by Polaroid’s unique color science and layered processing, I decided to incorporate a similar technique into my app.
Waiting Time
I like Polaroid’s uncertainty; during the waiting time, I anticipate what the final photo will look like. Therefore, incorporating this into my app experience is crucial.
Shows in under 1 minute (speeded up)
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Also available on the App Store：
Introduction
Research
I like shooting with Polaroids, especially capturing ordinary but precious moments. I love the colors, the shooting process, and the anticipation while waiting for development. However, carrying a Polaroid, like any traditional photography method, is cumbersome. Therefore, as photography evolved from analog to digital, I have been considering how to preserve this traditional approach electronically while solving the problem of not being ready in time to capture moments.
To better understand, I studied how a Polaroid (instant) film is produced.
Like many traditional films, Polaroids rely on a silver halide reaction. To achieve instant development, multiple layers with different reaction rates form the colors. The variability in reaction rates of these color dyes creates the distinctive and captivating color science of Polaroids.
Unlike the RGB arrangement of modern digital cameras, the defining feature of Polaroids lies in how these “layers” are simulated.
From Hunt, R. W. G. (2004). The reproduction of colour (6th ed.). Chichester: Wiley.
Polaroid. (n.d.). Why are my photos pink or orange? Polaroid Support. Retrieved July 27, 2025
On older Polaroid 600 cameras, you can manually adjust exposure using the +/– button. Pressing “+” increases brightness for darker scenes, while “–” decreases brightness for lighter scenes.
The manual exposure control in older Polaroid 600 cameras simulates light metering by comparing the scene’s average brightness to a baseline. Adjusting the exposure dial then modifies shutter speed and ISO—moving toward “brighter” lets in more light, while “darker” reduces light.
Exposure Control
Exposure Control in 600times
From: support.polaroid.com *
Adjustment in extreme conditions
*https://support.polaroid.com/hc/en-us/articles/115012406387-How-do-I-use-my-vintage-camera-s-lighten-darken-control
