Polaroid & Scratch: Two New Approaches to the Printing Effect!

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*The rights to Mr. Nojima's videos formerly owned by mML have been transferred back from our shop to Mr. Nojima, and we carry this title with his permission. As a result, a re-edited version of this title may also be sold at MAJION, the magic shop run by Mr. Nojima.

Gradually, little by little... a stunning slow-motion printing effect!

Two unique original routines! Variations included!






●Polaroid
A spectator freely selects a card from the deck, remembers it, and returns it to the deck, which is then shuffled.
The magician shows a completely white card with no printing on its face (a blank-face card) and pushes it halfway into the center of the deck.
Then, as the magician strokes the white face with a fingertip... incredibly,
the card's printing slowly materializes right before their eyes... gradually appearing wherever the finger passes!
It is unmistakably the very card the spectator chose... and it can be pulled out and handed over for examination.




●Scratch
The magician takes out a deck held by a rubber band and shows the face—strangely, it is completely blank.
But when the magician rubs near the lower-left corner, a single pip suddenly appears there.
Rubbing the upper-right corner, then the upper-left, one pip after another appears each time...
Finally, when a pip appears in the lower-right corner as well, a "Four" is complete.
Remove the rubber band and spread the deck: every card is a normal printed playing card... nothing suspicious anywhere.







Most so-called printing effects are really just a blank card "changing" into a playing card—in other words, nothing more than a transformation effect.
That's understandable... after all, the standard method is to "switch" the card in one way or another.
"Turn it face down, look at the face again, and somehow it's printed"...
Or with a packet, "put it inside, spread the cards again, and..."
Even the relatively visual versions momentarily cover the entire card with a hand or another card...
or change it in an instant, masked by movement and speed.

But "Polaroid" and "Scratch" are different.

What they share, and what sets them apart, is that they are "visual & slow-motion."
"Face up the whole time," "without covering the entire card," and "slowly."
Rather than "changing" all at once, the printing appears step by step, gradually, starting from one area.

This is a realism that deserves to be called a true "printing" effect (not a "transformation" effect).
Faced with this unique visual effect, your audience will be wide-eyed and open-mouthed in astonishment.

"Polaroid" works like sweeping a "surface" by rubbing along a "line."
"Scratch" focuses on "points," one pip at a time.
Both are brilliant "printing techniques" performed at the magician's fingertips.




"Polaroid" is a practical routine that can easily be worked into any card magic performance using a regular deck.
The story, in which the deck is a "Polaroid camera" and the blank card is its "film," fits perfectly.
Because it is framed as a "card discovery," it is extremely solid and reliable.
A trick we especially recommend to those who love well-structured routines.

"Scratch" is a thoroughly modern "visual quickie."
The audience is drawn in by its rapid pace before they know what's happening.
A truly picture-perfect trick, ideal as an attention-grabbing opener.
After the performance, the deck can be used as a regular deck for other effects, keeping things smooth.
It can also lead into set-up routines.

Everything is explained in detail, including variations and behind-the-scenes stories of how the routines were created.
Among the applications, "Ace to Five" is a curious and distinctive piece that differs from a printing effect.
Many other ideas are also introduced, so we're sure you'll enjoy it.








・Downloadable viewing link
*A regular Bicycle deck (red or blue back) is required separately. Please use your own.

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Transcript Summary

Running time: approx. 42 minutes

This lecture presents two approaches devised by the performer, "Polaroid" and "Scratch," to the effect of a design printing itself onto a completely blank-face card. Both are visually driven, with the design gradually appearing wherever the card is stroked, and each routine is explained along with multiple variations and clean-up methods.

① Polaroid

A card selected by a spectator is returned to the deck, and a blank-face card is presented as "Polaroid camera film." The handling—using a double card control, a push-in, and finger cover so that the card's design appears to emerge gradually—is explained carefully, down to the details of finger movement. Also covered are a variation of the insertion that shows the change all at once, how to deal with the blank card left over after the performance, presentation ideas, and how the look differs between court cards and spot cards.

② Scratch

A routine in which pips appear one by one as the card is rubbed, using a homemade gimmick made from a rubber band and a modified blank card. The gimmick setup, the opening in which the rubber band is snapped, and the procedure for removing and palming the gimmick with the fingers are explained in detail. Also introduced are a variation adding a small extra gimmick to make the appearance look more natural, a variation that changes step by step from an Ace to a Five, and an efficient clean-up method that disposes of the gimmick and rubber band at the same time.

Throughout, the lecture touches on key points of the handling, the thought process behind the presentation ideas, and episodes of trial and error with the co-creator, offering an in-depth look at how to present the effect and devise cover. It is a collection of versatile techniques aimed at those with some experience in card magic.

*This summary was automatically generated by AI from the video transcript.