Soon You Can Print Art on Your Nails Using Your Phone

As new iOS and Android smartphones get released every year, new innovations tend to indicate a trend for where things are going: slimmer phones, bigger batteries, better cameras, waterproofing, etc. But I don’t think anyone was able to successfully guess that your phone would soon be able to aid in the process of advanced nail art. Well should the Nailbot get funded on Kickstarter, that’s exactly what some people might be using their phones for.

Nailbot’s Custom Prints

The Nailbot is an accessory of its own that works with either iOS or Android to print custom art directly onto your nails. It won’t paint your nails though, it’ll just add some cool designs on top of them. The small machine works with an app that lets you pick out the design you want to print and etch it right onto a nail in seconds.

You can print photos from your library, any emojis and even design your own custom creation.

Nailbot is essentially just an intelligent inkjet printer. When you put a nail into the appropriate slot, a camera toward the back of the device analyzes the size of your fingernail. Theoretically, this means it should work with any size finger, assuming the camera’s detection is consistently accurate. The design prints onto the nail and you’re done.

The app accepts a wide range of designs. You can print photos from your library, any emojis and even design your own custom creation. The Kickstarter page notes that the create-your-own-design feature will probably come later as a premium subscription-based upgrade to the app. Still, that’s not totally necessary anyway since you can design something elsewhere, import it to your photo library and print it that way. This is also a fun way to collaborate with friends and add meaningful people and memories right on your nails.

You do need to paint your nails first though. The Preemadonna team, creators of the Nailbot, recommend the color white so it acts a backdrop for the design but any color will work. Printing also works on gel and shellac polish, but fake or acrylic nails are a no-go.

When you put a nail into the appropriate slot, a camera toward the back of the device analyzes the size of your fingernail.

The project FAQ indicates that prints last a few days or so and require a top coat to seal and extend the lifespan of your printed nails. Plus, the prints are on nail polish, so you could always just manually remove the nail polish ahead of time to get rid of the prints as well if you’re not a fan.

The State of Nailbot

The Nailbot Kickstarter project is seeking $75,000 to get the product off the ground. At the time of writing, it has raised $38,000 with 40 days remaining. If the project continues at this momentum, Nailbot should successfully surpass its funding goal.

A huge downside to backing the project is the expected shipping date. All of the pledge amounts don’t have the Nailbot on your doorstep until October or November 2017 and one reward takes as long as 2018 to arrive. Additionally, shipping is not included in the initial pledge amount.

The Nailbot is available to you after pledging $199 with whatever additional shipping amount applies to your country. In the USA, that’s $19 and internationally that’s $39.

It’s not cheap, but it is a fun gadget to have on hand especially appealing to kids. If you’re willing to pledge your support and wait out a final product, be sure to check out the Kickstarter page.