How Does a Polaroid Camera Work?

Polaroid pictures work by using a light-sensitive film that is exposed to the incoming light of the scene you wish to capture. The film is then developed in a matter of seconds, producing a negative image. To create the final, positive image, the negative image is exposed to light once again. Instant color films work in a similar way but use three silver halide coatings that respond to blue, green, and red light. These coatings are then developed with dyes of the opposite colors. While the popularity of Polaroid waned with the rise of digital photography, there remained an artistic appeal to Polaroid images that digital couldn't replicate. The vintage look and retro feel of Polaroid cameras have made them trendy decades after their debut.