Uploaded February 2022 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
We present Print-A-Sketch, an open-source handheld printer prototype for sketching circuits and sensors. Print-A-Sketch combines desirable properties from free-hand sketching and functional electronic printing. Manual human control of large strokes is augmented with computer control of fine detail. Shared control of Print-A-Sketch supports sketching interactive interfaces on everyday objects – including many objects with materials or sizes which otherwise are difficult to print on. We present an overview of challenges involved in such a system and show how these can be addressed using context-aware, dynamic printing. Continuous sensing ensures quality prints by adjusting inking-rate to hand movement and material properties. Continuous sensing also enables the print to adapt to previously printed traces to support incremental and iterative sketching. Results show good conductivity on many materials and high spatial precision, supporting on-the-fly creation of functional interfaces.
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CHAPTERS IN THIS VIDEO!
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0:00 - Intro
01:00 - 0: Supporting Sketching
01:39 - 1: Adding Digital Details
02:20 - 2: Adaptive Printing
03:33 - 3: Integration of Electronic Components
03:55 - 4: Printing on Everyday Objects
04:31 - 5: Example Applications
We present Print-A-Sketch, an open-source handheld printer prototype for sketching circuits and sensors. Print-A-Sketch combines desirable properties from free-hand sketching and functional electronic printing. Manual human control of large strokes is augmented with computer control of fine detail. Shared control of Print-A-Sketch supports sketching interactive interfaces on everyday objects – including many objects with materials or sizes which otherwise are difficult to print on. We present an overview of challenges involved in such a system and show how these can be addressed using context-aware, dynamic printing. Continuous sensing ensures quality prints by adjusting inking-rate to hand movement and material properties. Continuous sensing also enables the print to adapt to previously printed traces to support incremental and iterative sketching. Results show good conductivity on many materials and high spatial precision, supporting on-the-fly creation of functional interfaces.
--------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTERS IN THIS VIDEO!
--------------------------------------------------------
0:00 - Intro
01:00 - 0: Supporting Sketching
01:39 - 1: Adding Digital Details
02:20 - 2: Adaptive Printing
03:33 - 3: Integration of Electronic Components
03:55 - 4: Printing on Everyday Objects
04:31 - 5: Example Applications
