Smartphones have revolutionised photography, making it easier than ever before to capture great images no matter where you are.
OEMs (original handset manufacturers) might be driving improvements in terms of sensor and picture quality, but beyond that, we haven’t seen as much change in the mobile imaging world as one would expect.
Other than Instagram, which has popularised image sharing in a way that no other platform has been able to, there have been no major changes in mobile photography platforms or accessories.
Magic isn’t real (or so we’re told) but Prynt, a smartphone picture printing accessory, aims to bring some enchantment to your on-the-go photography.
Founded by Clément Perrot and David Zhang in June 2014 in Paris, Prynt aspires to reimagine the way we share digital content with the physical world.
That’s all good and well, but what exactly is Prynt and how does it work?
In order to capture an image, you need both the Prynt case and the Prynt app.
The app is very much like a traditional camera app, there’s a red shutter button, a button to flip between the back and front camera, a flash toggle, a button to access your camera roll, and a button to scan photos.
Photos can be taken by either pressing the onscreen shutter button or by pressing the physical shutter button on the Prynt Case. Immediately after taking a photo, the app records a five-second video that will be “linked” with that specific photo.
Prynt uses thermal printing technology to render your image onto the photography paper (10 sheets of which are included with the case when you purchase it), which means that no ink is involved.
Right before you print your photo, you can edit it with the built-in photo editor. There are multiple options available including ones to enhance the photo’s colors, add a filter, add frames, add stickers, add text and add a doodle. The downside? You can only make edits immediately after you’ve taken a photo; photos you’ve already saved can’t be edited.
Once you’ve printed the photo, you can then give it to friends who can scan the image using the scan button in the Prynt app (which would need to be installed on their phone). This allows them to see the five-second video that’s associated with that specific photo.
Prynt is compatible with a range of phones, both Android and iOS:
- Samsung Galaxy S4
- Samsung Galaxy S5
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 5S
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPhone 6S
- iPhone 6S Plus
- iPhone SE
When ordering the case, you have the option of selecting your phone type, this is to ensure that you get the correct adaptor with your unit.
Prynt can be purchased online internationally on the company’s website or Amazon.com.
Locally, it can be purchased on Takealot for R2300.
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