Tag Archives: printer

AI-based LEGO printer turns any subject into replicated pixel art

Posted on by

Just when everyone is leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI), why should avid LEGO fans not dig a share in the pie? Dutch creator, YouTuber, and master brick builder Sten, thought of the obvious and set out to harness the power of AI and built a printing machine entirely from LEGOs that can print any subject into identical pixel art.
The entire building process, along with a demo pixel art made from LEGO pieces, has been documented by Sten on his YouTube channel, Creative Mindstorms. The Pixelbot 3000, as the LEGO printer is called, Sten informs, is ‘capable of creating pixel art of anything using AI.’

Designer: Creative Mindstorms

The Pixelbot 3000 is programmed in Python using help from DALL-E from OpenAI. Sten has managed to program, and create software-hardware integration, in such a manner that you simply ‘type a subject line, hit start’ and the printer takes on from there.

Sten informs, in the video, that he started with inspiration from LEGO printers such as Briccasso, but over time had to improvise a great deal – both with the code customization and the machine functionality – to achieve what he set out to build. He initially used 16 x 16 base plates to print the developed pixel art, but it was later changed to a 32 x 32 grid for better result output.

The basic operation of Sten’s LEGO machine is similar to that of a pick-and-place machine, which has been precisely programmed and created to place large-size LEGO pieces with surprising accuracy on the 32 x 32 grid base plate. Moreover, the machine is designed to pick colors – according to the picture’s demand – and place brick-by-brick to achieve the identical pixel art of an AI image generated. Since LEGO brick colors are limited, Creative Mindstorms reduced its machine’s color palette to 15 base colors including a white background.

The machine does not at any point rely on designing the art or scanning it. It instead uses AI to generate pixel art (using LEGOs) of the image generated in the software. The user can preview the generated image, crop and color grade it, before saving it for printing. When commanded for print, the image is divided into 32 x 32 grid, color and center of each pixel on the base plate is sampled, and the pixel art is then built piece by piece. In the testing, Sten asked AI to create a ‘quirky robot holding a sunflower,’ you can check out how it came out in the video above.

The post AI-based LEGO printer turns any subject into replicated pixel art first appeared on Yanko Design.

Handheld printer and scanner concept sticks to tried and true methods of document handling

Posted on by


We live in a world filled with apps, multimedia content, and digital data, but there are and will always be things written on printed on paper. Official documents are still printed, receipts are still physical, and some people still prefer writing on notebooks and notepads. The gap between physical and digital isn’t that easy to bridge for people who want or even need to have the best of both worlds, even though there are, ironically, a handful of products claiming to offer the perfect solution. As some say, there is no perfect answer, but the best one might actually be the simplest and most straightforward. This concept device, for example, offers what looks like a traditional printer and scanner combo, except it’s something that you can easily store and take from your bag whenever and wherever you need it.

Designer: John Branca

There are quite a few product designs these days that try to unify physical and digital documents, from notebooks and pens that can record your handwriting to smartphone apps that can convert printed or even handwritten text into digital ones. The former doesn’t exactly work for digitizing what’s already printed, while the latter puts the burden on the person taking a perfect photo of the paper. These solutions also don’t work in the reverse, like turning digital files into their physical form, especially when you’re out of the office or not at home.

Scribe is a concept design that combines two things that already exist today, a portable printer and a portable scanner. In a nutshell, it shrinks 2-in-1 printer and scanner combos into a compact design that you can even carry in your hand if necessary. It has an industrial-inspired aesthetic that moves away from the predominant minimalist style, making it distinctive and memorable. It also has a large touch display that makes operating the device simple and intuitive without having to fumble on your computer or phone.

The device uses a feed-type mechanism where a piece of paper slides through the box to get printed or scanned. This does have the limitation of accommodating certain paper sizes only, though that will most likely be the most common use case for scanning receipts and printing out notes. That said, you won’t be able to scan any bound material like notebooks and books, so forget about taking this to the library. Due to size constraints, there’s also only room for a single black inkjet cartridge. ZINK technology might be more compact, but that also requires using special, non-standard paper.

1

Scribe is definitely an interesting break from all the app-based, smartphone-centric solutions out there, though it still raises the question of whether it’s more convenient or not. Then again, you can’t print from your phone either, so if you’re going to bring a portable printer with you, might as well have something that can also scan those documents as well.

The post Handheld printer and scanner concept sticks to tried and true methods of document handling first appeared on Yanko Design.

HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printers carry bold designs to match your style

Posted on by

There was a time when Polaroid-style instant cameras made a comeback, riding on the retro and nostalgia wave that was gripping many markets. There are still some of these around that bring joy to the simple act of taking photos and seeing them instantly printed, but some people found the limitations and total cost of ownership a bit too much to ask. At the very least, it required them to carry a camera with them, often bulky and too attention-grabbing, when they already have a perfect camera in the form of their smartphones. That problem led to the birth of instant photo printers, and this fresh batch from the HP Sprocket line put a rather unique twist to that product design by making the printer itself look as stylish and as lively as the photos it prints.

Designer: C+A (HP Licensee)

There are many portable instant photo printers in the market today, but many of them seem to emphasize the “printer” part a bit too much. More often than not, they look like miniature versions of desktop printers, which aren’t exactly the most inspiring designs around. Considering how they’re often used in fun, playful, and whimsical situations, their appearance doesn’t exactly convey the spirit and purpose of the product.

That’s how the HP Sprocket printers differentiate themselves, even if the difference isn’t that earth-shattering. The portable printers sport a textured design that looks almost like terrazzo, giving a bit of a visual flair to the printers. Throw in a splash of pastel color options and you have an accessory that clearly speaks the language of fun.

They’re not all looks, of course, as these are capable ZINK printers. That means you don’t have to worry about messy inks because all the colors are on the special photo paper. Different printer types use different kinds of paper, such as the Sprocket 2×3 printing the smallest photo sizes, while the newer Sprocket Panorama Printer uses a photo paper roll to be able print out panoramic photos, banners, and more. In both cases, HP Sprocket ZINK paper photos have backs you can peel off to reveal a sticky surface for putting on walls, notebooks, boards, and other objects in a more or less permanent manner.

One of the advantages of using portable photo printers over instant cameras is that you can first compose and edit the photos you take with your phone. With the HP Sprocket app, you can easily pick out frames, apply filters, add stickers and icons, and do so much more before finally printing out your masterpiece. And you can print the same photo over and over again, letting you share those fun, once-in-a-lifetime moments with more friends than you could with a single photo.

The post HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printers carry bold designs to match your style first appeared on Yanko Design.

Portable plug-and-play 3D printer lets you print without much complications

Posted on by

3D printing is something that is interesting and useful for a lot of industries although it’s still basically in the early stages. One thing that’s probably stopping people from embracing this technology is that it seems pretty complicated and not user-friendly. Most printers require a certain kind of technical knowledge so those who don’t have this are already ruled out. What if there was a printer that would do away with all that and let “ordinary” users enjoy the joys of 3D printing?

Designer: KOKONI

The KOKONI EC2 is one such printer which will let 3D printing enthusiasts use a plug-and-play kind of entry-level smart 3D printer. Despite its advanced features, it is still pretty accessible enough for children and newbies, not to mention pretty affordable. You don’t even need advanced software skills to be able to print the things you want to print. It has AI-generated design capabilities and there are also over 2000 designs to choose from (and they update it weekly so you’ll get more).

The portable 3D printer actually looks like a toy oven with its compact design and color options (apple green, orange, and white). It has a 720p camera so you will be able to see the printing process and even create time-lapse videos from there. You also get an upgraded printing speed so you’ll be able to print something in under 20 minutes if you’re using the simpler designs. You can connect the printer to the KOKONI 3D app so you don’t need a computer to be able to use it.

I never thought I would consider getting a 3D printer given the complicated nature of most of the machines available in the market. But this one that weighs just 3.2 kg and is 189 x 302 x 231 mm small is something you can consider if you’re looking to complete DIY projects for your home or work. Well, that is, if you have $349 to spare.

The post Portable plug-and-play 3D printer lets you print without much complications first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sticky note printer lets you print your daily reminders to improve productivity

Posted on by

As much as most of my workflow is already digital, I still love integrating “old school” digital aspects every once in a while. One thing that I still do to this day is write important things on sticky notes and then putting them around my work area. I have to major problems about it though: they sometimes fall off and sometimes, I don’t understand my own handwriting. This new device from an offshoot company of Samsung Electronics might be the answer to my problem.

Designer: Mangoslab

The Nemonic Gen 2 inkless, thermal, and wireless printer lets you print your notes and even images on Ultra Sticky Notes that will not easily fall off. The small printer can be connected to desktops and mobile devices and lets you print notes that you drew, wrote, typed, captured on the connected app. It can even be integrated with Microsoft Office apps as wel as Slack and Zapier so if you use any of those in your regular workflow, then your productivity should run even more smoothly than usual.

There are different templates for each of the integrated apps so you can create either handwritten or typewritten notes. It is also able to remove shadows from photos or diagrams that you capture from a whiteboard or screen through the Nemonic Scanner app and then you can print it directly. It also has a de-curl feature so your sticky notes come out flat if needed. It also has auto-cut finishing so no need to stress about tearing or manually cutting off the note.

It is still currently on Kickstarter but they have already more than met their initial goal of $3,000. The Ultra Sticky Notes come with the package already but they will probably sell refills separately eventually as well. This will definitely be added to my dream devices to have at home in the hopes that my productivity will be further improved with this digital/analog hybrid.

The post Sticky note printer lets you print your daily reminders to improve productivity first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Samsung portable printer is your gateway to instant creativity on the go

Posted on by

Samsung is perhaps not the biggest game-changer when you talk about redefining the way in which we capture and share memories. That would be until the Korean tech company happens to chance upon the Image Box Portable Printer. This is a new-age device designed to bring your favorite moments to life with unparalleled convenience and style.

At the heart of this portable printer is a cutting-edge Zink-type tech that bids farewell to the hassles of traditional ink cartridges. Samsung’s Image Box allows you to print your photos directly from your mobile devices anytime, anywhere, without the need for ink, making this printer your gateway to instant creativity on the go.

Designer: Won Jang, Jinsu Du and Chaeyoung Yoon

The Image Box Portable Printer boasts a compact form factor, making it the perfect companion for those who are always on the move. Slip it into your bag or proudly display it on your desk – the choice is yours. This versatile printer effortlessly combines portability with functionality, seamlessly transitioning between being a pocket-sized option and an eye-catching desk accessory.

Designed for maximum convenience, the Image Box comes in two parts: the sleek base and the cartridge-carrying unit. The design ensures that replacing the cartridge is a breeze. Instead of a traditional hinge, the back of the body opens up, streamlining the process and maintaining the printer’s compact form. The designers understand that style is a crucial element of portable devices. That’s why the Image Box base comes in serrated and standard versions, each boasting a unique color, to let users mix and match for personalized color combinations that suit their taste.

As we eagerly await the arrival of the Image Box Portable Printer at the Samsung Store, it’s clear that designers have once again pushed the boundaries of innovation. This Image Box transcends the traditional limitations of photo printing, offering a seamless blend of functionality, portability, and style. Whether you’re a creative professional, a photography enthusiast, or someone who simply loves capturing life’s moments, the Image Box Portable Printer is poised to become your new must-have gadget.

The post This Samsung portable printer is your gateway to instant creativity on the go first appeared on Yanko Design.

xTool Screen Printer reinvents screen printing with laser engraving to bring designs to life

Posted on by

There has been a massive flood of new designs from makers, creators, and even hobbyists, all thanks to new tools that have made production processes simpler, easier, and more affordable. There are, however, some designs that are still difficult to pull off, like those that need to be painted on flat surfaces or clothing. The screen printing process for these kinds of designs has traditionally been tedious, expensive, and error-prone, making the activity less enjoyable and less approachable for beginners and hobbyists. Thankfully, that doesn’t have to be the case anymore. Thanks to a combination of creative design and expertise in laser engraving technologies, this revolutionary screen printing system lets you cut down the time and steps needed to make your wildest print dreams come true.

Designer: xTool Design

Click Here to Buy Now: $199 $399 ($200 off). Hurry, 103/400 left! Raised over $450,000.

1

Screen printing can be quite frustrating, even if you exclude the variability that might result when you don’t spread the inks properly near the end of the process. Just the preparation itself can take hours or even days, involving emulsions and exposures that could go awry at any step, forcing you to go through the grueling process again, wasting not just time but also money. If only there was a way to make screen printing easier and more beginner-friendly, just like how 3D printing opened the creative floodgates, especially for budding designers. Fortunately, that’s exactly what the new xTool Screen Printer is bringing to the table, combining an easy-to-use screen printer with laser engraving to deliver the speed and precision creators have always wished for.

While the traditional screen printing process would usually take days just to prepare the screen and make plates, the xTool Screen Printer requires 1-3 hours only on average to create the screen. With its two-sided coated screen using customized professional-grade spray net technology and industrial-level spraying equipment, you practically skip the lengthy emulsion preparation time. Reducing the waiting time is already a huge boost in productivity, but that’s just the beginning. You’ll still need to actually actually put your design on the screen, which is where xTool’s expertise with laser technologies comes in.

When paired with the xTool S1 diode laser cutter or the xTool D1 Pro 5W laser engraver, you can rapidly create stencils at a mind-blowing speed. No longer do you have to worry about printing on transparencies or hoping that the designs are properly imprinted on the screen, both of which could also fail at any time. And thanks to the xTool Creative Space software, you have even more freedom to transfer complex digital designs to your stencils, ensuring that the final print will be just as stunning as your original idea. So while you can use other laser engravers as well, you’re definitely in the best hands with xTool’s industry-tested products.

1

Stencil creation is reduced from approx. 24 hours to about an hour – at laser speed!

There’s no escaping the act of applying ink to the pattern in order to print it on paper or textiles, but the xTool Screen Printer makes this process easier and worry-free. The EasyStretch Frame ensures a uniform stretch, while an intuitive press design makes short work of swapping screens, minimizing ink spillage, and supporting different materials, including metals and wood. And it doesn’t cost much to get started, with a $199 Early Bird Basic Kit that includes the printing press, one 11.5×16-inch frame, three 11.5×16-inch screens, and other essentials. The $369 Early Bird Multi-Color Kit includes 4 frames and 12 screens to enable you to work with more colors and layers. And if you want to get the laser engravers in one go, you can opt for the $499 or the $1,968 Early Bird bundles for the xTool D1 Pro 5W or the xTool S1 20W, respectively.

1

Groundbreaking EasyStretch designs simplifies the screen stretching process to an amazing 30 seconds!

1

The quick-release frame clamp structure facilitates swift stencil switching for seamless creation multi-color masterpieces

Whether you’re a seasoned designer establishing your own brand, a budding creator who wants to spread your ideas to the masses, or a hobbyist who crafts personalized gifts for family and friends, the xTool Screen Printer reinvents and revolutionizes the screen printing process, removing the tedious and bothersome tasks so you can focus instead on letting your creativity shine.

Click Here to Buy Now: $199 $399 ($200 off). Hurry, 103/400 left! Raised over $450,000.

The post xTool Screen Printer reinvents screen printing with laser engraving to bring designs to life first appeared on Yanko Design.

Not ordinary footprints, these Converse mid-tops let you print ink on the go

Posted on by

Imagine being able to print wherever you go, without the need for a conventional printer. This pair of Converse enables you to do just that. Combining form and function, these modified sneakers can be worn to print on almost any surface. From fabric to wood and from canvas to paper these shoes will leave a print on everything, quite literally!

In a collaboration that could only exist in the imagination, Instagrammer Taylor Tabbs has merged HP’s printing prowess and Converse’s dynamic sneakers to give birth to what he calls the “Footprints,” an above-average pair of shoes built-in with a genuine print cartridge.

Designer: Taylor Tabbs

With this concept of a shoe printer, Tabbs has not only outdone himself – and mind you, he has made some very creative things in the past – he has erased soleprints in favor of Footprints for good!

The seamless integration of technology into footwear showcases Taylor’s ingenuity in transforming an imaginative concept into a tangible reality. To Tobb, his hack ignites a sense of wonder and curiosity: what happens when two seemingly contrasting worlds converge? What if two iconic brands, joined forces in an unexpected collaboration?

Turning imagination into reality, he kindled a few more minds. “Printing with a printer: old news, the dinosaurs did and we see how that turned out. Printing with a shoe: epic, way more convenient and cool,” an Instagrammer comments.

Most extraordinary ideas are often from the willingness to explore the unknown, and Tobbs creation is a good reflection of this. These printer-infused shoes inspire one to dream beyond convention and lead us into a world where shoe soles can leave ink imprints!

The post Not ordinary footprints, these Converse mid-tops let you print ink on the go first appeared on Yanko Design.

How ELEGOO’s new 3D printers let designers bring their creative ideas to life

Posted on by

3D printing opened wide the floodgates of creativity, allowing anyone that can afford a 3D printer to give physical form to their dreams. This freedom and wide availability are critical for an industry that has been under the thumbs of large manufacturing plants. More than just the convenience they offer, 3D printers also deliver faster innovation, improving processes and materials more quickly in order to enable even more objects to be produced with more efficiency and economy. This is where ELEGOO comes in, one of the most prolific brands in the 3D printing market, showing off its expertise by launching not one, not even two, but six new 3D printers to meet the varied needs of designers and creators of every level.

Designer: ELEGOO

ELEGOO FDM Neptune 4 and Neptune 4 Pro

When talking about 3D printers, most will probably be familiar with the kind that pushes filaments of material out of heated nozzles. These FDM 3D printers are known to be fast and convenient, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement, improvements that the new ELEGOO Neptune 4 siblings bring in droves. Thanks to a quiet Klipper motherboard and a faster processor, the Neptune 4 and Neptune 4 Pro can reach speeds of up to 500mm/s, rated to be 10 times faster than most desktop 3D printers.

Despite the speed bump, the Neptune 4 also brings more stability and accuracy, thanks to tensioning adjustment devices on both X and Y axes as well a wider Y-axis. The Neptune 4 Pro takes these upgrades even further with a more intelligent segmented heatbed with better over-temperature protection, making sure that things don’t get too hot for the filament to bond properly.

LCD Saturn 3 and Saturn 3 Ultra

LCD 3D printers have the advantage of printing out finer details, but that also depends on the resolution of the monochrome LCD screen that guides the light that treats the resin in the vat. Both the ELEGOO Saturn 3 and Saturn 3 Ultra reach for the stars with a revolutionary 12k 11,520×5120 screen, allowing designers to create ultra-high quality and clearer pieces for projects such as jewelry or life-like models. With speeds reaching 150mm per hour, these two additions to LCD 3D printer lineup even one-up their predecessors, offering three times faster output.

Even better, the printers look stunning on your desk or worktable. With a sleek black metal base and red or black protective glass, the 3D printers scream futuristic technology, which is exactly what they bring to your creative endeavors.

LCD Mars 4 and Mars 4 Ultra

Not all creators might be able to afford all the bells and whistles, however, so the ELEGOO Mars 4 and Mars 4 Ultra bring no-compromise entry-level options to the market. That said, the 9K 8520×4320 LCD screen is no joke, delivering sufficient details to make gaming miniatures spring to life. A plug-in air purifier creates a healthier and more pleasant environment, making these stylish LCD 3D printers suitable for use in a wide range of fields, including STEM education.

Whatever the need or budget, ELEGOO’s new range of 3D printers has got you covered. Whether you’re making accessories, printing figures, assembling parts, or creating art, these 3D printers will deliver fast, stable, and safe printing experiences to let your creativity fly.

The post How ELEGOO’s new 3D printers let designers bring their creative ideas to life first appeared on Yanko Design.

This handheld device concept brings printing back to its earliest days

Posted on by

With the growing number of digital documents, it almost seemed as if printed paper was on its way out. Of course, that’s hardly true, with even more books and documents being printed every day each year. Printing has been at the center of our civilization ever since man invented a way to put ink on paper without manually writing each letter, which was around 6,000 years ago. Of course, printing has thankfully evolved from pressing pieces of inked metal or wood on parchment, but it has also become more detached and less personal over the centuries. Of course, it was a matter of practicality and survival of the fledgling printing press business, and we can’t imagine going back to that antiquated past. That said, you might not have to go that far just to get a feel for the old days with this rather curious device that lets you print by hand, almost literally.

Designer: Joonyeol Bae

Handheld printers are actually nothing new, but they are often designed for a very specific use case. These small boxes are usually meant to print out small photos, often in the popular Polaroid format. In reality, they’re more like special-purpose portable photo printers rather than something you’d use to print documents. There are other handheld printer designs that are more like long bars that you have to hold steady as you move it down a page.

DUAL is a concept device that tries to combine the best of both worlds by offering a handheld or portable printer that you ironically don’t have to hold all the time while using it. It has rollers at the bottom that move the paper or itself along a flat surface, automating that part of the process. Of course, you can still put your hand on the device’s tent-like form to get that feeling of having a more direct interaction with printing.

DUAL’s design is quite peculiar in that it also straddles the line between typical printers as well as portable printers. It takes up less space on a desk compared to a box-type printer, but it’s also something that you can’t easily place in your bag to carry outside with you. It does have the advantage of being a lot more aesthetic than your average printer, serving as an interesting piece of decor when not in use.

The printer’s unconventional design does mean that it also requires an unconventional ink cartridge. Instead of typical blocks or long cartridges, DUAL uses a custom rounded rectangle container that holds all four colors together. Given the portability of the device, it might have been more efficient to use one of those zero-ink printing technologies, though that, in turn, would require the use of special paper instead.

DUAL’s name actually comes not from its form but from its function. It also has a scanner in the upper half of the device that can, well, scan documents or images the same way you’d use a handheld bar-type scanner. Given that feature, DUAL is actually a TRIO since you can effectively copy a document by scanning it and then printing it. It’s effectively the same way that those multi-functional printers copy documents, except you have to do the process a bit more manually, just like in the old days.

The post This handheld device concept brings printing back to its earliest days first appeared on Yanko Design.