You want to print your own Mini Polaroid Pictures? There are different ways to do so. We explain how to do it, what formats are available and what advantages the individual pictures have.
What is a Mini Polaroid Image?
Typically, a Mini Polaroid is a photo with a classic Polaroid retro look. This means: White border and nostalgic color tone. The Instax Mini format, a real instant image in portrait 3×2 format, is usually understood as Mini, but it is rather narrow according to the format and thus differs from the classic square 1:1 instant image format of the “real” Polaroid cameras (we explain the difference between Instax and Polaroid here).
In addition to the Instax Mini format, there is now another Mini Polaroid available: Zink photo paper. The photos are also in the narrow 3×2 portrait format. In contrast to the Instax Mini format they lack the white border. Instead, Zink pictures are equipped with a removable adhesive surface on the back and thus become stickers if desired.
Lifeprint Instantcamera © Lifeprint
How can I print Mini Polaroid images myself?
There are several ways to print your own Polaroid pictures:
- Mobile photo printers
- Digital instant cameras
- Elaboration in the (online) photo laboratory
Mini Polaroid pictures from the photo printer
For both the Zink photo paper and the Instax Mini image format there are so-called mobile photo printers. They can be connected to a smartphone or PC and print snapshots in the desired format. The Instax Mini Link Printer, for example, prints in the popular Instax Mini format, enabling instant images without a real camera. It is connected via Bluetooth and controlled via Smartphone App. A detailed test of the Instax Mini Link can be found here.
The Canon Zoemini photo printer prints on Zink photo paper just like its instant camera counterpart, the Zoemini S. An especially cool version of the mobile photo printer is the Lifeprint instant camera. It can be attached to iPhones and serves both as a mobile photo printer and an instant camera. The Lifeprint also prints on Zink photo paper.
Printing photos with digital instant cameras
Another possibility to print out any photos as Mini Polaroid pictures are digital instant cameras. With them you can take and print photos directly, as well as print photos from your smartphone or PC. But be careful: not every digital instant camera has this function. This is possible with the Instax Mini Liplay, for example. The printer from Fujis Instax series combines instant camera and photo printer and prints in Instax Mini (3×2) format. You can also use the Canon Zoemini S as a printer and print your own Zink photo.
Elaboration in the photo laboratory
Of course, you don’t necessarily have to print out your Mini Polaroid photos yourself. Those who find the purchase of an appropriate device too costly can also fall back on the service of various on- and offline photo labs. They sometimes also offer the real Instax Mini format, as well as all kinds of retro look photos.
If you want to print in the classic 1:1 Polaroid format, you might want to take a look at the Polaroid Lab printer.
Alternatively, there is still the option of purchasing a real instant camera such as the price-performance winner Instax Mini 11 for just 70 bucks, or the classic Polaroid Now with the cool square image format. With these cameras, every photo is truly unique.
VIDEO: The Instax Mini Link Printer in action
