16 million color pen can match its ink to the shade of any real world object

Scribble is a pen that can scan the color of any object and immediately begin drawing in that color.

While the 3Doodler has already enabled users to draw new objects into existence with just a pen and some 3D printing technology, translating the qualities of physical objects into digital materials is a bit more tricky. Scribble is a pen that can scan the color of any object and immediately begin drawing in that color.

The pen features two ends — one with a nib and one with a scanner. Users can press the scanner against any surface to capture its color, which is translated into a six-character hex code that stores its RGB value. The pen also features five refillable cartridges that are made up of cyan, yellow, magenta, black and white inks. When an object is scanned, the pen mixes the right amount of each ink to replicate its color and enable users to immediately draw in it. Alternatively, the pen can be connected to a device via Bluetooth or micro USB and the color can be used for digital work, while a stylus version of the device is also available for drawing tablets and touchscreens. Scribble’s sensor can detect up to 16 million colors, and up to 100,000 scanned colors can be stored on the pen at any one time.

The pen is set to retail at USD 149.95 and the stylus at USD 79.95, with the team preparing a Kickstarter campaign in the near future. Are there other ways to bring digital capabilities into the physical world?