The prototype, which is full colour, results from imprinting and laminating processes that eliminate the expensive vacuum deposition and photolithography used to make today's flat panels.

"The patterning in the prototype has been carried out by print-like processes," said HP Labs Bristol manager of displays research Adrian Geisow. "Given HP's position in printing and imaging any development that can deliver thin, light and attractive displays at low cost is of great interest particularly if it can display images that would otherwise need to be printed. We believe that this is an important advance."

Although the technologies used to create the prototype are at an early stage, it is designed to scale to paper-like resolutions over large areas so that future products can deliver affordable full-colour print quality from a low-cost printed display. The development is targeted at applications such as posters, photographs and electronic books and magazines.

The 3x4cm, 128x96pixel RGB prototype LCD does not require an active matrix and can display 125 colours. Paper-like display technologies are beginning to emerge but so far developments have focused on reflective black and white displays.

"More and more content is produced in colour," said Geisow. "New display technologies cannot afford to ignore that if they are ever to compete with books, art, magazines and posters."

Geisow added that the processes that created the prototype were still being developed and he expects that it will take a few more years of research to properly develop and assess the commercial potential.

Story by Simon Creasey