How to use Light Painting with the OneStep+

The Light Painting mode uses long exposure photography, letting you paint pictures with a light source like the flashlight on your phone. 

Of course, this article assumes you already have a OneStep+ and the Polaroid app (if not, read here) and that they are connected (if not, read here). 

To enter Light Painting mode:

• Select the topmost menu option on the homescreen of the Polaroid app: ‘OneStep+’
• The screen should now be blue, and indicate that you are now in Remote mode of the Polaroid app
• Swipe right, moving between shooting modes, until the screen is yellow and reads ‘Light Painting’ at the top
• The large button on the bottom left of your smartphone screen will now act as the shutter trigger for your OneStep+ (bulb mode)
• The enormous button in the middle of the screen (with the icon of a flashlight) will act as the button to activate the flashlight on your phone
• First, get the shot set up: place your camera on a flat surface or tripod. Then press the shutter trigger button on your phone. This will open the camera’s shutter
• Use a light source (like your smartphone flashlight) to create your photo: painting lines, letters or using the light to illuminate an interesting object
• When you’re done, press the shutter trigger button again on your smartphone to close the shutter

Note: the shutter button will become unavailable to you in Light Painting mode if you have no film in the camera, or if the flash is charging (this only takes a few seconds).

Some examples of inspiring light painting experimentation gone right, taken on the OneStep+:

Some extra tips to get you started:

• This mode works best in a darker environment. You also want to keep your camera as steady as possible by placing it on a flat surface or a tripod.
• Ensure that the light you’re using to paint with is pointing at the camera lens!
• While the torch on your phone works great, you can experiment with all kinds of light sources: bicycle lights, or the tiny flashlight on your keychain, for example.