Motivated by good response to their spheroid printer, the folks at Jetson have come up with another specialty printer. This one prints small (38 x 50 mm maximum) temporary tattoos. A CD with 100 plus discrete designs suitable for everyday use as a fashion accessory is included. Selection software is included. For a full size screen shot, try this link: Tattoo Selector Screen Shot.

Since ink-jet printing needs precise movement over the printed surface, directly positioning a print head over the flexible skin is out of the question. Jetson has solved the problem by printing the tattoo design on a ink receptive cylinder which can be precisely rotated under the print head. The applicator unit, containing the cylinder is then undocked from the printer and the design can be rolled on the body where the tattoo is wanted. The applicator unit contains only a free-wheeling cylinder, no motors, no wires.

Comments and critique on the design and the render are most welcome.

Picture credits: Body parts from Victoria 2.