Corning, makers of the resilient Gorilla Glass that protects billions of smartphone and tablet displays from scratches, has announced a new product that'll allow device makers (and eventually, consumers) to print high-resolution, multi-color images directly on its glass.
Scott Forester, director, Gorilla Glass Innovations, told Engadget that the new product, dubbed Vibrant Gorilla Glass, provides a wide range of color possibilities that you simply can't get from traditional screen printing processes.
Forester wouldn't disclose exactly how the process works but did say that there's a lot of intellectual property involved in the equipment and ink formulation. The image resolution is said to be nearly equal to what's possible when printing on paper as evident in the picture above.
Initially, the technology will be offered to device makers that'll no doubt want to plaster their full-color logos and branding on the backs of mobile devices and laptop lids. Forester said Corning is also open to offering the technique to advertisers and marketers before possibly opening the doors for customization at the consumer level.
Much like Motorola's Moto Maker, consumers may one day be able to order a smartphone with a custom design on the back. As is the case with Motorola, one would be advised to exercise a bit of caution when ordering a custom device as said customizations will no doubt lower the device's resell value.
Image courtesy Engadget