Skip to content

Film
Technology

Film that’s filled with technology

Have you ever wondered what gives your favorite instax™ photos their unique look?

The secret lies within the film, and we’re ready to share all >>>

What’s inside?

Let’s start with an exploded view of instax™ film. Whether it’s mini, SQUARE or WIDE, they’re all packed with innovations that make developing and printing photos possible.

Snap it up

The real magic begins when you click the shutter. Light goes through the camera’s lens, hits the back of the film and your image is captured. This is called exposure.

Layers upon
layers

Not only is instax™ film just tens of micrometers thick, but each photo contains an amazing 18 layers, including photosensitive elements.

Why? Basically, different layers react to different colors of light, but when layered together they produce high-quality images with beautiful colors.

With decades of technological know-how, we can guarantee that when the chemical reaction happens within each snap, it’s controlled with 
high-end precision.

18 layers

A mini
darkroom

Every single photo has its very own developer fluid pod, activated when the film is ejected.

This black fluid is evenly spread over the surface of the film by a precisely-designed roller, kickstarting the chemical reaction needed to develop photos.

Fun fact: The developer fluid is black for a reason… it creates a mini ‘darkroom’ environment inside the thin film. Clever, right?

In the frame

Each snap is beautifully surrounded by a white frame, which actually does much more than just offset your shot.

The frame at the top of the film absorbs excess developer fluid, while the photo continues to develop, gradually appearing over about 90 seconds.

And as tempting as it may be to shake the photo while you’re waiting, for best results, hold it steady and let it do its thing!

90
seconds

Smile!

This small film is full of big surprises.
Will you ever look at instax™ film the same way again?

Did you know?

instax® photos feature silver halide technology to get their unique, high-quality look.  Plus, instax™ photos are water resistant and ideal for storing even in wallets and phone cases.  Now that’s some serious film technology! 

Join Us

Instant offers, ideas and inspiration. Straight to your inbox. No nonsense.