Polaroid Lab

A compact darkroom that transforms your smartphone images into Polaroid pictures.

Having constant access to smartphone cameras is both a blessing and a curse. We can chronicle every single detail of our lives, but doing so can dilute the special moments. Some of them even get lost among hundreds, if not thousands of images. Polaroid Lab aims to change that. Developed by the renowned brand, this table top darkroom can instantly transform digital images from smartphones into classic Polaroid pictures. In a similar way to an analog darkroom that uses a projector and light-sensitive photographic paper, Polaroid Lab features a three-lens system that projects the phone’s screen image onto Polaroid film.

Thanks to the brand’s specially developed chemical process, the digital image becomes a real Polaroid picture. This way, the user can create a tangible copy of a special moment, whether to place in an album, display on a fridge, or send as a gift. The miniature darkroom can also create collages of up to nine frames with the Polaroid app and augmented reality tool. Finally, the design pays homage to the classic Polaroid camera, but also features modern and colorful details that anchor it in the digital age. Available from October 2019, the Polaroid Lab costs $130. Customers can also purchase a set version that includes two boxes of color film and one of black and white film, for $175. Photographs© Polaroid Originals.