Casio's Mofrel printer brings leather to life

A wonderful, hand-painted leather cover for a book? Think again, that came out of a printer. 

So did this, a sheet of plastic that looks all the world like a sheet of perforated leather. 

They both came out of this, the Casio Mofrel printer. 

It's a multi-stage process that the company calls a 2.5D printer. 

First, sheets receive designs in black that define the textured areas. 

Heat is defined, causing the sheets to expand, defining the texture. That black layer is then peeled off. 

After that, color can be applied, creating fine results.

The resulting sheet here has a beautiful, fine pattern that would make for incredible wall tiles. 

Other concepts included braille signs with full-color representations for the seeing.

But the most exciting application is rapid prototyping, including interiors for concept cars. This is, believe it or not, a single sheet that came right out of the printer and was stretched over a form. It's remarkable to see up close. 

Click through to see more of what the Mofrel printer can do.