In the language of the laboratory, the thin, transparent material is "thermoplastic"—it softens quickly when heated. It is also "photoconductive"—conducts electricity when exposed to light. Together, these two qualities turn General Electric's newest plastic into a practical contribution to the burgeoning science of instant photography.
G.E.'s new picture-making process is far too complex to compete with Polaroid for the amateur snapshot market. But for some special applications, its lack of negatives or complicated chemical developers is a distinct asset. All that is necessary is to spray the film's photoconductive plastic top with an easily generated positive charge of static electricity....