Remember the Polaroid cameras? Take a picture and in a matter of seconds a print appears from the camera. The magic was in the chemically treated paper. Now the same chemists have gone one step further. Send a digital image to a PDA size box and viola a beautiful color print appears within 30 seconds! The company, now named Zink (zero ink) has found a way to embed 3 layers of transparent dye crystals into a paper or plastic sheet. When heated the crystals turn into one of the primary colors at about 300 dpi. The estimated price for the printer is $100 for the 2 x 3 size and the sheets will go for $19.99 per 100. The box includes a battery, Bluetooth and USB interfaces. Expected delivery is by the end of the year. Also in the works is a digital camera with built in printer for about $199.

What is really interesting about this printer is the ease by which it can be scaled to any size and it has almost no moving parts. I would love to have one that would print 4 x 6 inch prints at the time of a shoot.

This is an early demo unit clearly showing the compact size of the device. While there is many a slip twixt the cup and the lip I will be anxiously watching for the product to appear on the retail shelves.

For a video of the demo go here.