Photographing fingertips using the CV5500 Polaroid Conversion

1. The person being photographed first must MOISTEN THE FINGERTIPS of one hand with hand lotion or water, and place them FIRMLY on the metal touch plate that is on the top of the unit. He must then insert his other hand into black sleeve being careful not to admit light which can fog the film.

2. Feel the edges of the film holder inside the unit, and try to center 3 or four fingertips on the film surface. Rest your fingertips very lightly on the surface of the film. Place ONLY the tips of your fingers on the film. IF YOU PRESS TOO HARD, OR IF YOU TRY TO LAY YOUR FINGERS FLAT ON THE FILM, YOU MAY NOT GET A GOOD IMAGE IF ANY AT ALL. If the person can feel any tingling of the electricity in the fingers on the metal touch plate, then he either must press harder on the touch plate, or his fingers are not moist enough.
 

3. "Pulse" the red pulse button (A) by pressing it for 3 to 20 seconds. For small fingers, 2 to 10 seconds will be sufficient. For larger fingers, up to 15-20 seconds may be required. Every person's fingers react differently.
 
 
 

4. Remove hand, being careful not to admit any light into the unit. It's a good idea to squeeze the sleeve closed as the hand is removed.
 
 
 

5. Press the shutter button to eject the film. Make sure the front of the camera is not obstructed so that the film can eject.
For best results, have the person wipe his hands with a pre-moistened napkin or wash cloth. Dry hand thoroughly.
The brightness of the image depends upon how much surface area of the fingertips is exposed to the plate, and how long the exposure time is. The more area exposed, the dimmer the image will become.  If just the very tips of the fingers are exposed to the plate, you should get a very bright discharge so you should only push the button a few seconds. Large fingers need a bit more exposure time than small filngers. Sweaty hands conduct too much and will require longer exposure than a dry hand.
The amount of pressure the subject puts on the plate also affects brightness. The fingertips should be resting lightly against the film. If the subject presses too hard, the image will not be as bright. You can compensate using a longer exposure time.