I noticed a black plastic sheet that would unroll and cover my polaroids as they came out of the camera and once they were out, it would roll back it. I thought this was bad, so I ripped it out and threw it away. I noticed that this black plastic sheet was also on my older polaroid, and I realized that I probably shouldn't have ripped it out of my other polaroid camera. What does this sheet do and will it affect my camera at all?
Personally, I only use plastic to keep down weeds during the growing season and cut cross slits to plant through. Instead, I remove the top 2 to 3 inches of soil and discard them (well chopped) in the compost. Then I add soil amendments such as a cheap fertilizer called Milorganite, Bone meal, Sugar, Epsom salt and cream of tartar (a form of Potassium).
George Y is absolutely correct. When I worked for Polaroid, it was called thefrog's tongue because it behaves like a frog's tongue flicking out to capture a bug. Your pictures will have problems with color and exposure without it, so your camera is ruined, but you should be able to find another like it in a thrift shop, yard sale or online for very little money.
Well it's really obvious that you should have done your home work sport! The black plastic sheet distributes the processing chemicals evenly across the face of the photo so it can develop. Had you read up like you should you'd have known this. Next pack of Polaroid film you buy, just leave the thing alone and let do it's thing.
You've just ruined your camera. The black plastic sheet is designed to cover the film for a short time after it's been pressed between the rollers. The idea is to keep the outdoor light off the film for those seconds before the chemicals begin to develop your image. A new film pack won't correct your mistake, as the sheet is part of the camera.
