Polaroid Guide

A full list of polaroids and how to unlock them (It's Not What You Know...)

Polaroids

There are a total of 177 polaroids that can be collected in the game. Unlocking them all rewards the achievement "It's Not What You Know...". To see which polaroids you have unlocked, go to Main Menu > Extras > Polaroids.

Most of the polaroids are automatically unlocked while playing through the campaign but some of them spawn on the ground in your prison during specific events (for example when a prisoner uses the phone in a yard). When you see a polaroid that has spawned, click on it to unlock it. If a polaroid is left for too long, a workman will throw it away and the polaroid won't spawn again until you restart the game.

Transfer specific prisoners

Some of the polaroids are spawned by unique prisoners with specific names. They can randomly appear in your next prisoner intake but you can also manually transfer them to your prison.

To transfer a specific prisoner to your prison, first load your prison or create a new prison. Go to Main Menu > Extras > Name in the Game. Search for the prisoner you want to transfer in the list and select "Transfer". The prisoner will arrive with the next prisoner intake.

The polaroid will spawn when the prisoner enters his cell. If it doesn't spawn, restart the game and try again. You can also try to launch the game in safe mode or launch an older version of the game.

Load older versions of the game

The polaroids sometimes stop working when the game gets updated. If this happens you can launch older versions of the game.

How to launch an older version of the game:

1. Right-click on the game in your Steam library
   
2. Click on "Properies..."
   
3. Go to the tab "BETAS"
   
4. Select the "prisonarchitect_anniverary_2018_version" in the drop-down menu
   
5. Close the properties window. The game will now update.
   
6. Click on the steam "Play" button to launch the game.
   
7. Select "Play Prison Architect Anniversary - 2018 version" and then click on "Play"

To change back to the latest version, open "Properties", go to "BETAS" and change version to "None"

001-020

Polaroid 001: Adultery

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 002: Aftermath

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 003: Chair

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 004: Church Entrance

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 005: Double Murder

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 006: EEG

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 007: End

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 008: Executor

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 009: Flatline

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 010: Forgiveness

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 011: Genpop

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 012: Gun Closeup

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 013: Murder

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 014: Priest

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 015: Regret

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 016: Shock

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 017: Time

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 018: Transfer

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 1: Death Row.

Polaroid 019: Crimescene

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 020: Mafia 1

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

021-040

Polaroid 021: Mafia 10

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 022: Mafia 11

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 023: Mafia 12

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 024: Mafia 13

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 025: Mafia 14

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 026: Mafia 15

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 027: Mafia 16

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 028: Mafia 17

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 029: Mafia 18

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 030: Mafia 19

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 031: Mafia 2

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 032: Mafia 20

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 033: Mafia 3

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 034: Mafia b

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 035: Mafia 4b

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 036: Mafia 5

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 037: Mafia 6

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 038: Mafia 7

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 039: Mafia 8

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 040: Mafia 9

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

041-060

Polaroid 041: Mafia Cocaine

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 042: Mafia Crate

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 043: Mafia Don Lunge

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 044: Mafia Don Unconcious

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 045: Mafia Lecture

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 046: Mafia Nico Chestwound

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 047: Mafia Purse Divorce

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 2: Palermo.

Polaroid 048: Breaking News

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 049: Chap4 1

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 050: Chap4 10

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 051: Chap4 10b

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 052: Chap4 11b

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 053: Chap4 12

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 054: Chap4 13

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 055: Chap4 13b

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 056: Chap4 14

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 057: Chap4 15

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 058: Chap4 Wallace Beatup

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 059: Chap4 2

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 060: Chap4 3

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

061-080

Polaroid 061: Chap4 4

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 062: Chap4 5

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 063: Chap4 6

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 064: Chap4 7

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 065: Chap4 8

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 066: Chap4 9

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 067: Chap4 Aftermath

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 068: Chap4 Aftermath Split 1

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 069: Chap4 Aftermath Split 2

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 070: Chap4 Aftermath Split 3

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 071: Chap4 Arguing Benedict

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 072: Chap4 Arguing Wallace

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 073: Chap4 Benedict Mob

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 074: Chap4 File and Gun

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 075: Chap4 Gun 3 Bullets

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 076: Chap4 Gun 4 Bullets

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 077: Chap4 Gun 5 Bullets

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 078: Chap4 Judge 1

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 079: Chap4 Judge 2

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 080: Chap4 Judge 3

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

081-100

Polaroid 081: Chap4 Mysterious Man

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 082: Chap4 Negotiator

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 083: Chap4 Removing Bullets

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 084: Chap4 Roulette Benedict

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 085: Chap4 Roulette Cop 1

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 086: Chap4 Roulette Cop 2

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 087: Chap4 Roulette Cop 2b

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 088: Chap4 Roulette Janitor

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 089: Chap4 Roulette Janitor B

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 090: Chap4 Roulette Wallace 1

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 091: Chap4 Roulette Wallace 2

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 092: Chap4 Roulette Wallace 2B

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 093: Chap4 Roulette Wallace 2C

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 094: Chap4 Shape Charge 1

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 095: Chap4 Shape Charge 2

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 096: Chap4 Two Bullets

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 097: Chap4 Wallace Beatup

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 098: Chap4 Wallace Death

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 099: Chap4 Wallace Death 2

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 100: Chap4 Wallace Lighting Folder

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

101-120

Polaroid 101: Chap4 Wallace Scared

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 102: Chap4 Wallace PR

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 103: Alpha

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 104: Chap3 Angry Morgan

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 105: Chap3 Bankrob 1

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 106: Chap3 Bankrob 2

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 107: Chap3 Bankrob 3

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 108: Chap3 Bankrob 4

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 109: Chap3 Bankrob 5

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 110: Chap3 Bankrob 6

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 111: Chap3 Benedict Mugshot

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 3: G.A.B.O.S.

Polaroid 112: Chap3 Cowering Robbers

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 113: Chap3 End pt1

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 114: Chap3 End pt2

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 115: Chap3 End pt3

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 116: Chap3 Hurst and Morgan Shake

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 117: Chap3 Jail 0

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 118: Chap3 Jail 1

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 119: Chap3 Jail 3

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 120: Chap3 Jail 4-1

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

121-140

Polaroid 121: Chap3 Jail 4

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 122: Chap3 Kerry Baby Picture

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 123: Chap3 Kerry Crying Baby

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 124: Chap3 Kerry in Line

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 125: Chap3 Kerry Visitation

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 126: Chap3 Morgan Mugshot

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 127: Chap3 Rat

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 128: Chap3 Suicide

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 129: Chap5 Keane Searches Bed

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 130: Chap5 Keane Smelling

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 131: Chap5 Morgan Drinking

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 132: Chap5 Morgan Nervous

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 4: Conviction.

Polaroid 133: Breaking-news

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 134: Chap3 Jail 5

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 135: Chap3 Kerry Baby Picture

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 136: Chap5 Construction

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 137: Chap5 Family Hugging

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 138: Chap5 Kerry at door

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 139: Chap5 Kerry at door old

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 140: Chap5 Laurie at grave

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

141-160

Polaroid 141: Morgan Bus

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 142: Morgan Buzzer

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 143: Morgan Kerry Hugging

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 144: Morgan Outside

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 145: Morgan Parole

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 146: Morgan Phone

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 147: Morgan Phone 2

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 148: Morgan Surprise

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 149: Toddler

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 150: Chapter 7_1

Automatically unlocks while playing Campaign 5: Bootstraps.

Polaroid 151: Warden

Spawns in the warden's office. You can get this polaroid by starting campaign 2 and then go to the warden's office. The polaroid should be on the floor.

Polaroid 152: Fight

Has a chance of spawning when there is a fight in a yard. If you have issues getting this polaroid to spawn, try launching the game in safe mode.

Polaroid 153: Jailbird

Unlocked by watching the credits after completing the last campaign. If you have issues with this polaroid, try opting into the 2018 version of the game. Right click on the game icon in your steam library and select "Properties...". Go to the tab "BETAS" and select "Prison Architect Anniversary - 2018 version" in the drop-down menu. If this option is not visible for you, go to your account settings and opt out of all beta programs first and then try again. After you have opted into the 2018 version, launch the 2018 version of the game and go to "Cutscenes" and select "17. Bootstraps / Credits". The polaroid should unlock after the credits are finished.

Polaroid 154: Solitary

Spawns when you have a white prisoner in a solitary cell that has one bed. You can get this polaroid to spawn by starting campaign 4 and then punish prisoners with solitary. The polaroid should spawn when a white prisoner enters one of the solitary cells that has a bed.

Polaroid 155: Solitary 2

Spawns when you have a black prisoner in a solitary cell that is empty. You can get this polaroid to spawn by starting campaign 4 and then punish prisoners with solitary. The polaroid should spawn when a black prisoner enters one of the empty solitary cells.

Polaroid 156: Phone

Spawns in a yard after a prisoner has used a phone. You can get this polaroid by starting campaign 2 and then go to the yard. The polaroid should be on the ground next to one of the phones.

Polaroid 157: Kitchen

Has a chance of spawning in a kitchen when cooks are preparing food.

Polaroid 158: Canteen

Has a chance of spawning in a canteen when prisoners are eating.

Polaroid 159: Janitor

Has a low chance of spawning on the floor after a janitor has cleaned it. This is one of the hardest polaroids to find since workmen often throw it away before you can see it. You can make it easier to find by firing all your workmen. The polaroid won't get thrown away when it spawns if you do not have any workmen.

Polaroid 160: Fight Aftermath 2

Has a chance of spawning when a prisoner is healed by a doctor. If you have issues getting this polaroid to spawn, try launching the game in safe mode.

161-177

Polaroid 161: Rec Room

Has a chance of spawning in a common room when prisoners are watching a small tv and using a pool table at the same time.

Polaroid 162: Chris Salij

Spawned by prisoner: Chris Salij

No longer available in the latest version of the game. To get this prisoner you need to play an older version of the game.

Polaroid 163: Colin Northway

Spawned by prisoner: Colin "'Sick Bastard'
Spawned by prisoner: Colin Northway

Polaroid 164: Nikolas Federovich

Spawned by prisoner: Gabrieal "The Monk" Acknova

Polaroid 165: Richter McMannis

Spawned by prisoner: Richter "Dewey" McMannis

Polaroid 166: Sven Ashnod

Spawned by prisoner: Sven "The Scandinavian Assassin" Ashnod

Polaroid 167: Adrian Awyoung

Spawned by prisoner: Adrian "Corporate Lackey" AwYoung

Polaroid 168: Harvey Lodder

Spawned by prisoner: Harvey "Warden
Spawned by prisoner: Harvey Lodder

Polaroid 169: Matthew Robertson

Spawned by prisoner: Alpine "El Gibso
Spawned by prisoner: Alpine Maffu

Polaroid 170: Pab Haring

Spawned by prisoner: Pab "Petite Machine" Haring

Polaroid 171: Karsten Thomas (Thomas Eaglebeak)

Spawned by prisoner: Thomas "Workbench" Eaglebeak

Polaroid 172: Matthew Levesque

󠀡󠀡󠀡󠀡
Spawned by prisoner: Matthew "The Geek" Levesque

Polaroid 173: Thomas Clark (Tom Clark)

Spawned by prisoner: Tom "The Hammer
Spawned by prisoner: Tom Clark

Polaroid 174: Brendan Henessy

Spawned by prisoner: Brendan "Fawwks" Hennessy

Polaroid 175: Graham Tyson

Spawned by prisoner: Graham "Phaid" Tyson

Polaroid 176: Fight Aftermath

Already unlocked when starting the game for the first time.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Polaroid 177: Workout

Already unlocked when starting the game for the first time.

[Sane]

Thanks for such a great guide! got them all!

[ppapohsavage]

I would note that the Polaroids only appear once a prisoner enters their assigned cell. This can be a holding cell, dormitory, or a padded variant. Not sure if solitary counts. :)

[Emilowhits]

The version from 2018 has Chri Salij

[matthewd3911]

What versions have transfers and Chris Salij?

[selest19]

is there a guide just giveing all of the notebook papers from like Alpha 1 or what ever it is based on cuz i have a hard time reading them all

[novasmoke]

@soerenk, make a prison then hit pause and go to extras. then go to names in the game and type in the ones you need and transfer them to your prison. when they get there as soon as they get to there cell they will drop the pic. so far the only one i cant fine is chris salij. if you find him plz let me know

[soerenk]

How does these "special prisoners" work to get the polaroid?

[novasmoke]

any one know any thing about polaroid 162# Chris "MDMA" salij. as far as i can tell there is no chris salij in the game

[Steve The Combine]

I had 3 polaroids appear at the same time in my holding cell, that place is hell on earth

[thief]

Interesting. The game really can tell what race they are?