With its sights set on the mobile printing market, Canon is releasing the compact IVY Mini photo printer in rose gold, mint green, and slate gray finishes, as well as compatible 2 x3" media in packs of 20 and 50 sheets. With an extremely slim design at only 0.7" tall, this printer can comfortably fit in a small bag or backpack, and you could even carry it in your pocket if you prefer. It connects to your iOS or Android device via a free Canon mobile app, where you can select pictures from your camera gallery or social media and customize them with things like emojis and colored frames before printing. Since the unit runs on a built-in rechargeable battery, it offers completely wireless operation and lasts for approximately 20 prints before needing to be recharged.
How could Canon fit this much technology into such a compact package? One of the main reasons is the use of ZINK Zero Ink technology. The ZINK paper compatible with the unit is composed of different heat-sensitive layers that have cyan, magenta, and yellow dyes in their colorless "form" (or tautomer, for the scientific term). Once heated, the dyes melt and convert to their colored structure, forming an image without any ink or toner involved. The IVY Mini creates 2 x 3" borderless images in a single pass at speeds of up to 50 seconds per print, and can have up to ten sheets loaded into it at one time.
Speaking of the ZINK paper, this specialized media offers a few other key features. Thanks to the ink-free printing method, the created image is naturally smudge proof and resistant to water damage. At the back is a peel-off adhesive layer, which allows you to easily stick your photo to a wall or message board for displaying. Finally, the paper comes paired with a separate Smartsheet that should be run through the printer to help calibrate it and remove any dust or debris.
With this release, Canon expands the depth of its printer line and offers a super-compact, user-friendly model for mobile printing. What do you think about the IVY Mini Printer? Are there other mobile printers you enjoy using, or that are on your wish list? Share your opinion with us in the Comments section, below.
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