Review: Polaroid Zip Instant Mobile Printer
A few weeks ago I decided to get a bit more organised and I started a bullet journal – a system of tracking tasks, events and memories in a notebook which started out as a logical method designed by Ryder Carroll and has evolved into an art form by crafters, illustrators and artists who took the foundations and run with their creativity to produce a beautiful way of keeping organised and recording happenings in a journal format.
As a new member of the bullet journal community I have, like many others, started amassing an impressive collection of writing and colouring pens, embellishments and am trying desperately to improve my handwriting and learn calligraphy to give my journal the beautiful look that so many pros out there are able to attain.
I have been using the system for a few weeks now and I have really loved learning how to make my day more productive using to do lists and habit trackers which exert magical psychological force on me and make me want to do boring tasks like the washing up and the laundry just so I can tick them off my list!
Now I really want to make my bullet journal not just a glorified checklist but add more of the journaling aspect and add more memories so that in a few months or a few years I can look back at my journal and reminisce. In order to do this I decided I wanted to start adding photographs to my journal and after deciding that I wanted something quick and easy to produce the images (I wanted to avoid having to turn on my computer and fiddle about with photo paper). After doing some research I settled on the Polaroid Zip Instant Mobile Printer.
The Polaroid Zip Instant Mobile Printer is a small device, about the same size as my Samsung S6 but a little chunkier (2.9 Inches x 4.7 Inches x 0.9 Inches), which connects to any smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth enabling you to print photos directly in 60 seconds or less onto 2×3” full-colour, smudge-proof photos with a sticky back which is perfect for sticking into a journal.
What is really magical about the Zink Printer is that it doesn’t use ink. That’s right, a printer without ink so no need for ink cartridges, ribbons, or toner which cuts down on the hassle and is better for the environment. The reinvented M230 premium formulation ensures peak performance pigment is impregnated into the Zink paper and creates a long lasting, fade resistant image.
So how have I gotten on with my Zink Printer? I had watched a couple of YouTube videos before making my purchase so I knew the basic steps for getting started. Downloading the app and connecting the printer took mere seconds and it only took me a few minutes more before I was comfortable with using the app. You can print a single photo or use the collage setting to print multiple images on one paper which is great if you don’t need full sized images – like in my journal.
A few things to watch out for; firstly you have to press and hold the on/off button for a few seconds to turn on the printer rather than just press it once and secondly it takes a minute or so for your phone to send information to the printer, for the image to be processed and then printed. It is still vastly faster than turning on my computer but it’s not as instant as you might expect. Lastly, it can be tricky to peel off the sticky backing paper so be careful not to rip your image or peel off too many layers!
So far I have enjoyed using my Polaroid Zip Instant Mobile Printer to produce images to use in my bullet journal. I look forward to printing more and making more memories to look back on in the future. I award the Polaroid Zip Instant Mobile Printer 4 out of 5 stars.
