Multi-Color Light Painter (Touch Sensitive)

Light painting is a photographic technique used to create special effects at slow shutter speeds. A flashlight is usually used to "paint" the images. In this Instructable, I will show you how to build an all in one light painter with touch switches. The touch switches are very simple to build.

Step 1: Materials and tools

Touch Switch
Prototyping board
Enclosure (eg. pen case)
Lead free solder
1 x 9V battery
1 x 9V battery clip
5 x 2N7000 N-channel MOSFET
5 x 10M resistors
Heat shrink tubing
Wires

Multicolor lights
4 x 5mm red LEDs
4 x 5mm yellow LEDs
2 x 5mm green LEDs
2 x 5mm blue LEDs
2 x 5mm white LEDs
2 x 20 ohm resistors
3 x 82 ohm resistors
Quick setting epoxy

Tools
Soldering iron
Hot glue gun
Drill

Comments

[kostya]

Nice and simple project. Thanks for sharing! I think you can build 4 touch switches around one 4001 CMOS chip.The circuitry will probably draw less current and the battery will live longer.

[hanlin_y]

To get those values, you can add resistors in parallel or series but their values do not need to be precise. That's what I did. Here's a calculator for parallel resistors. http://www.1728.org/resistrs.htm

[kostya]

Thank you. I'll try to use your shematic idea in my micro LED flashlight on a super capacitor. These MOSFETs (2N7000) are dirty cheap here. As touch pads I'm going to use snap buttons. Those nickel-covered ones are easily soldered.

[kostya]

Thanks for the reply.The only problem is that 4001 gates can produce just a few mA, so the LEDs won't be half so bright as in your project. It can be cured by adding NPN transistors but the game is not worth candles, assuming cost and complexity. I was wondering where you managed to get those resistors of 20,40,60 and 80 Ohm. Here in Ukraine they are considered non-standard. The closest standard ones are 18,36,62 and 82 Ohm.

[hanlin_y]

You mean less current with the LEDs off? From the data sheets, both have similar standby current but the chip may be great for smaller PCB's. Thanks for the suggestion.

[kubaa434]

It looks amazing :)

[jessyratfink]

Love the last step - the colors look great!

[ncoleman2]

Good job, this looks really cool! I want to try this sometime...