Real prints come to life with this app and printer

The newspaper that covers the wizarding world of Harry Potter publishes photos that move on the page. For us Muggles, there’s LifePrint, a pocket-sized printer that brings a similar magical to our still photos.

The LifePrint device lets you embed a video inside a printed photograph, using augmented reality and requiring the viewer to point their smartphone at the picture to bring it to life.

This brings another viewing experience to Live Photos, Apple’s new feature with the recently released iPhone 6s, as well as GoPro and YouTube videos, and clips from Vine and Instagram.

The creators of LifePrint are on Kickstarter, using demonstration videos for a compelling pitch that appears to be appealing. LifePrint is only a couple thousand dollars away from its $30,000 goal with 58 days on the campaign remaining.

Right now, a LifePrint printer can be ordered on Kickstarter for $129, but will not reach the hands of backers until August 2016.

Like Polaroid with its portable ZIP printer, the LifePrinter uses ZINK printing technology with sophisticated chemistry and image intelligence embedded in the unique paper. The ZINK paper is layered with color-forming molecules that take shape on your image when it is heated.

Printing is simple. A user opens the LifePrint app on their iOS or Android device, selects a still photo or video clip, hits the print icon and a tangible print transmitted via Bluetooth, emerges from the printer in about 60 seconds.

In order to create what LifePrint calls a HyperPhoto, the user embeds the corner of a picture or video with a small watermark. With app open, a user just points their phone at the print and it comes to life on screen. The app accesses your camera roll and can pull pictures in from any of your social media feeds where pictures and videos are posted.

The creators also hope the LifePrint app can become a popular sharing platform. You could send an image to the printer of any LifePrint user.

To see how LifePrint brings life to Live Photos from the iPhone 6s, see the video below.

Source: PetaPixel