Instaprint Turns Instagram Photos Into Physical Prints [VIDEO]

New York-based interactive agency Breakfast (of auto-Foursquaring “Conan blimp” and Precious-the-tweeting-bike fame) released Monday the beta version of Instaprint, a lunchbox-sized device that turns photos modified with the iPhone app Instagram into physical prints.

The device can automatically detect and print photos (comments included) tagged with a particular location or hashtag. That makes it ideal for an organized gathering of iPhone-wielding tech enthusiasts, which is why the agency is taking two of the devices down to the SXSW conference in Austin this week.

Each photo is printed with an ink-less printing technology called Zink to more closely mimic the authentic Polaroid experience. Like traditional Polaroid photos, the color comes from the paper instead.

Processed photos will be posted in real time and collected in an archive at Instaprint.me. From now until March 10, users can tag Instagram photos with #instaprint and watch their photos get printed live on the site.

The finished version of Instaprint will be released to event organizers and other interested parties on March 18. (So, you know, if you’re throwing a party with one of these, toss me an invite.)

To learn more, check out the teaser video below.