Everyone gets one chance to leave their mark

Yes, Mano is completely free. We believe that leaving a mark on the world shouldn't come with a price tag. You can upload your hand, choose from our classic earth-tone colors (like ochre and terracotta), and add your handprint to the global wall without spending a cent. There are no hidden fees, no monthly subscriptions, and no ads. While we do offer a small, optional one-time purchase to unlock a full rainbow of custom colors if you want to get fancy, the core experience of adding your hand to the cave is open to everyone, forever.

It’s as simple as taking a selfie, but with your hand! First, open the app and take a clear photo of your hand against a plain background. Our app will automatically turn that photo into a clean silhouette. Next, you pick a color and place your hand anywhere on the massive digital wall. Then, hold your phone up and blow gently into the microphone—the app detects your breath to create a realistic "spray paint" effect around your hand. Finally, hit save, and your hand becomes a permanent part of the mural. It usually takes less than a minute from start to finish.

We enforce a "one hand per device" rule to keep the experience fair and meaningful. If everyone could add hundreds of hands, the wall would quickly become cluttered and lose its impact. By limiting it to one, we ensure that every hand on the wall represents a unique person and a distinct moment in time. It makes your contribution feel more special, like a true signature in a guestbook. This rule is tied to your device, so even if you delete the app and come back later, you won't be able to add another hand until you use a different phone or tablet.

Absolutely. Even though we encourage you to leave your mark permanently, we respect your right to change your mind. You can return to the app at any time, find your hand on the wall, and choose to delete it. If you delete it, your handprint will vanish from the public mural, and your device will be reset, allowing you to try again with a new hand if you wish.

Yes, absolutely! We want everyone to be able to join in. If you can't use the microphone, or if you simply prefer not to, the app includes an accessibility mode. When you tap the "Blow" button, the app can generate a random spray pattern for you that looks just as natural as if you had blown into it. Your hand will still be added to the wall with the same care and detail; the breath effect is just a fun way to make the painting feel alive, not a requirement to participate.

Once your hand is on the wall, you get a unique, short link (like mano.ink/h/xyz123). You can copy this link and send it via text, email, or social media. When your friends click it, they will be taken directly to your spot on the wall. They can also zoom out to see where your hand sits in relation to thousands of others from around the world. It’s a great way to show off your contribution and invite others to add theirs.