TabbyPrint Selected for Print Production of Artist Aguri Sagimori’s “MMMME” Artwork
Japanese English
Tokyo, Japan — Elephantech Inc. (“Elephantech”) announced that the company’s TabbyPrint technology (*1) which allows inkjet printers to print “unique, one-of-a-kind, individual identification patterns” has been selected by the artist Aguri Sagimori for the print production of her “MMMME” artwork. The collaboration is part of Elephantech’s market verification activities for its new technology. Through this project, TabbyPrint printed materials will be created, exhibited, and sold for the first time. The printed materials were produced from NFT minted (*2) digital art, with each unique and inimitable print being certifiable as authentic by simply saving and comparing a photographic image of the TabbyPrint printed area.
By including unique identification marks on the prints that are extremely difficult to replicate and guarantee print authenticity, TabbyPrint can contribute to providing users with the confidence that they have obtained a unique printed product.
This work was produced with technical support from Komori Corporation for printing.
(*1)Inkjet printing technology that amplifies the microscopic randomness of the ink droplet impact position so that it is extremely difficult to reproduce the exact same impact position, even for identical patterns printed from a single data set.
(*2)Minting is the process of creating new NFTs, converting digital data into digital assets recorded on the blockchain.
A photo of the artwork "MMMME" printed with TabbyPrint.
TabbyPrint technology has been applied to the cross design in the cat’s eye (pictured on the right), helping improve user ownership experience by providing an authenticity guaranteeing identification mark that is extremely difficult do replicate.
While the uniqueness of digital data is being assured by NFT, there is a need to improve the means to ensure the uniqueness of printed materials output from digital data to the real world.
For example, a QR code may allow the same link to be printed on multiple items, or an RF tag may be easy to separate from the artwork; when TabbyPrint is applied at the time of printing, the printed piece can have a "fingerprint" that confirms its uniqueness by being extremely difficult to replicate. Furthermore, by linking the captured image (fingerprint image) of the TabbyPrint printed area to the NFT art on the blockchain, we believe we can help improve the ownership experience for the user.
As a future development, we believe it is possible to further improve the user ownership experience by, for example, developing a smartphone-based authentication system that allows users to easily verify the "fingerprints" of their own printed materials.
Shown is an image of a TabbyPrint printout.Even a printed pattern output from a single data set can be given unique identification marks that are extremely difficult to replicate and guarantee authenticity by adding microscopic randomness to the position of the ink droplet impact.
We will create works of art both in physical and virtual spaces.
The first phase will feature NFT art and works printed using a new patented technology called TabbyPrint.
TabbyPrint is a technology that prints "unique, one-of-a-kind identification patterns" using an inkjet printer.
We named our technology after how the markings of tabby cats are unique to each individual.
The artwork for this project is a chimera girl called "MMMME" (*3), which is read as "MÉ" (the Japanese word for “eye”).
MMMME has a unique coat, four eyes, and a personality of its own.
MMMME moves back and forth between the real and virtual worlds via mirrors.
(*3) Links for the "MMMME" artwork
・http://www.mmmme.me/
・https://twitter.com/MMMME_MMMME
・https://www.instagram.com/mmmme_mmmme/
Comment from Aguri Sagimori
By adopting TabbyPrint, the printed NFT artwork can be proven to be original, just as NFT art has its own individuality through the blockchain.
Inkjet prints that have so far been recognized as mere copies can now also hold value as originals. The appeal of TabbyPrint is not only its ability to determine authenticity, but also the fact that humans have no control over the random landing points of the ink. It’s being out of human control felt like the birth of a new life, so we put the TabbyPrint in the cat’s eye as if to breathe life into the work. The proceeds will be donated to the cats that were the source of MMMME's creations and will also be given back to a cat rescue organization.
Comments from Komori Corporation
Through the manufacture and sale of banknote printing machines, we are contributing to the improvement of banknote anti-counterfeiting technology around the world. At the same time, the technology of digital printing, which we are also working on, is advancing day by day. Given these circumstances, we consider digital printing technology as one of the major technological innovations and have been studying its potential in the establishment of anti-counterfeiting technology. We are very pleased to announce the launch of MMMME with TabbyPrint, a next-generation anti-counterfeiting technology, in cooperation with Elephantech Corporation and Ms. Sagimori. Through this initiative, we hope to pursue and expand the possibilities of digital security printing and contribute to the evolution of future anti-counterfeiting technologies that integrate analog and digital technologies.
Comment from Elephantech representative
We believe that this technology has the potential to redefine the value of inkjet printing to a higher level. We are pleased to have been able to work with such a wonderful artist as we seek to question the true value of this printing technology. In the future, we will focus not only on art works but also on demands for industrial applications as we continue our TabbyPrint market validation activities.
TabbyPrint（English）
TabbyPrint is a security printing technology that does not produce the same fingerprint pattern so that the same tabby cat does not exist.
http://info.elephantech.co.jp 
Company Overview
| Name | Elephantech Inc. |
| Establishment | January 2014 |
| Headquarters | 4-3-8 Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0032, Japan |
| Representative | Shinya Shimizu, CEO & CTO |
| Capital | JPY 1,178 million |
| Number of Employees | 83 |
| Business Description | Development of printed electronics manufacturing technology and provision of related services |
| URL | https://www.elephantech.co.jp/en/ |
As of November 1, 2022
Contact for inquiries regarding this matter
Elephantech Inc. Public Relations
pr@elephantech.co.jp