Stranger Things Interactive Wall Art
Intro: Stranger Things Interactive Wall Art
hello everyone,
here is a great beginner arduino + neopixel "art hack" - you can bring any art form into life with this very simple instructable. I decided to create the christmas light wall decoration from the netflix show "stranger things"
it has an onboard usb rechargable battery, so you can hang it up anywhere and still be able to demonstrate your art.!!
it also has an mini button to shuffle through pre-recorded spellings :)
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materials needed;
1x arduino
26x neopixels
few feet of thin solid core wire
involves using hot glue + soldering (learn)
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let's make >
STEP 1: Design
included zip file includes the 2D vector drawings. and how I alligned the lights on the board, to figure out exact drilling spots. i used adobe illustrator to design..
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i cut the parts using a local CNC machine. you can easily use hand tools to cut the parts, just be careful.. or even better search for a local makerspace, become a member and make something AWESOME. remember to sand everything nice and smooth :)
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print the PDF file, which includes the picture to print and glue on the board. use US letter size paper and do not choose "fit to page" on print settings.
STEP 2: Place Lights
we start assembly by hot gluing the neopixels to the frame
STEP 3: Start Wiring
follow the diagram and take your time, especially if you are new to soldering.
you can use hot glue to first lay down the wire and secure it into place.
STEP 4: Circuit
here is the full circuit. you can recharge the battery like a cell phone. and then use the usb cable to power the arduino either from the battery or from any usb outlet.
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remember
all the 5V + positive wires from the lights come together as one into arduino 5V pin
all the GND - negative wires from the lights come together as one into arduino GND pin
data in for first led goes into D6 on arduino
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capacitor - negative leg goes to arduino GND pin with the light wires
capacitor + positive leg goes to arduino 5V pin with the light wires
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resistor goes just before the first LED's Din pin
button 1 leg goes to GND
button opposite leg goes to D4 on arduino.
hot glue the battery to a place where the usb cable can easily connect
STEP 5: Program
here is the arduino code;
feel free to comment below for help if you are new to arduino
STEP 6: Place the Print
before gluing anything, place the print on the board to see if everything is aligned right.
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if you hold it up to ambient light, you should see it come through the paper.
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i used cardstock paper to make it more durable & spray glue to secure it down on the wooden board.
STEP 7: Lights On
assemble rest of the frame to give it more of a picture frame look
now go ahead turn it on & hang it up :)
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hope you enjoyed it and that this instructable will spark your creativity
please share, favorite + follow.!!
81 Comments
19370 6 years ago
What is the Z light connected to? On the plans it just has the 5V data and GND in, but on your actual project it connects to the board.
zander333 7 years ago
Thank you everyone for their fantastic advice and guidance on this project.
I've made a vector version of the text - it's not exactly the font for the letters, but the bulbs are in the same place, so it will work with this layout for the LEDs.
You can download the version I've created here: http://f.zndr.co.uk/R0lP
Akin Yildiz 7 years ago
weird, uno is ok to use, same thing. did you install the neopixel library correctly.?
also are you powering the lights correctly.?
3 Great Ideas 7 years ago
Merhaba, bir Türk ismi görünce yazmak istedim, başarılar dilerim :)
xthree 7 years ago
Hi I am wanting to make this. But I want it bigger around 22x16 inches. Your source files cncparts.ai gave me an error
"Could not find linked file "stranger things wall.png" " I was hoping to
edit it possibly for bigger printing. How did you make it originally?
I also noticed it was pixelated in areas which would look even worse when blown up. Any suggestions?
Akin Yildiz 7 years ago
yes the picture i used isn't big enough for such large prints; https://ih0.redbubble.net/image.242613673.9341/fla...
search google "stranger things alphabet wall" maybe you can find a bigger image
good luck
clouiying 7 years ago
Hi Akin (and others)!
My LEDs came in, and I've been able to start testing. The C9 format is exactly what I wanted, and they are working great. They are 12V, so I did need to run additional power independantly (I may ask you some additional hardware questions later)!
For the code, here's a quick clean up of what you provided. The "For" loop is useful if you want to set all LEDs to the same colour (or turn them all off). It isn't necessary for turning individual lights on and off.
Hopefully you can make sense of what I've done, and re-do your code snippets in the instructable. In another week or so, I'll share the updated code I'm doing, so the lights will blink, and do patterns, and hopefully have a simplified way of entering messages.
Thanks again.
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#define PIN 6
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(27, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
void setup() {
strip.begin();
strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
}
void loop() { //main ardino loop - this keeps repeating
// set all colours to christmas colors
strip.setPixelColor(0, 105, 105, 105); //A - white
strip.setPixelColor(1, 0, 0, 105); //B - blue
strip.setPixelColor(2, 105, 0, 0); //C - red
strip.setPixelColor(3, 0, 80, 105); //D - light blue
strip.setPixelColor(4, 0, 0, 105); //E - blue
strip.setPixelColor(5, 105, 105, 25); //F - yellow
strip.setPixelColor(6, 105, 0, 0); //G - red
strip.setPixelColor(7, 0, 0, 105); //H - blue
strip.setPixelColor(8, 0, 0, 105); //I - blue
strip.setPixelColor(9, 105, 0, 0); //J - red
strip.setPixelColor(10, 0, 0, 105); //K - blue
strip.setPixelColor(11, 105, 105, 105); //L - white
strip.setPixelColor(12, 105, 105, 25); //M - yellow
strip.setPixelColor(13, 105, 0, 0); //N - red
strip.setPixelColor(14, 105, 0, 0); //O - red
strip.setPixelColor(15, 0, 80, 105); //P - light blue
strip.setPixelColor(16, 105, 0, 0); //Q - red
strip.setPixelColor(17, 0, 80, 105); //R - light blue
strip.setPixelColor(18, 105, 105, 105); //S - white
strip.setPixelColor(19, 105, 105, 25); //T - yellow
strip.setPixelColor(20, 0, 0, 105); //U - blue
strip.setPixelColor(21, 105, 0, 0); //V - red
strip.setPixelColor(22, 0, 0, 105); //W - blue
strip.setPixelColor(23, 105, 105, 25); //X - yellow
strip.setPixelColor(24, 105, 0, 0); //Y - red
strip.setPixelColor(25, 105, 0, 0); //Z - red
strip.setPixelColor(26, 255, 0, 255); //empty - none
strip.show();
delay(1000);
//turn all colours off
for(int i=0;i<26;i++){ //loops through LED 'i' setting all to 0,0,0 (off)
strip.setPixelColor(i, 0, 0, 0);
}
strip.show();
delay(1000);
//turn on and off individual lights --- RIGHT ---
strip.setPixelColor(17, 0, 80, 105); //R - light blue
strip.show();
delay(600);
strip.setPixelColor(17, 0, 0, 0); //R - off
strip.setPixelColor(8, 0, 0, 105); //I - blue
strip.show();
delay(600);
strip.setPixelColor(8, 0, 0, 0); //I - off
strip.setPixelColor(6, 105, 0, 0); //G - red
strip.show();
delay(600);
strip.setPixelColor(6, 0, 0, 0); //G - off
strip.setPixelColor(7, 0, 0, 105); //H - blue
strip.show();
delay(600);
strip.setPixelColor(7, 0, 0, 0); //H - off
strip.setPixelColor(19, 105, 105, 15); //T - yellow
strip.show();
delay(600);
strip.setPixelColor(19, 0, 0, 0); //T - off
strip.show();
delay(1100);
//turn on and off individual lights --- HERE ---
strip.setPixelColor(7, 0, 0, 105); //H - blue
strip.show();
delay(600);
strip.setPixelColor(7, 0, 0, 0); //H - off
strip.setPixelColor(4, 0, 0, 105); //E - blue
strip.show();
delay(600);
strip.setPixelColor(4, 0, 0, 0); //E - off
strip.setPixelColor(17, 0, 80, 105); //R - light blue
strip.show();
delay(600);
strip.setPixelColor(17, 0, 0, 0); //R - off
strip.setPixelColor(4, 0, 0, 105); //E - blue
strip.show();
delay(600);
strip.setPixelColor(4, 0, 0, 0); //E - off
strip.show();
delay(2100);
//turn on and off individual lights --- RUN ---
strip.setPixelColor(17, 0, 80, 105); //R - light blue
strip.show();
delay(600);
strip.setPixelColor(17, 0, 0, 0); //R - off
strip.setPixelColor(20, 0, 0, 105); //U - blue
strip.show();
delay(600);
strip.setPixelColor(20, 0, 0, 0); //U - off
strip.setPixelColor(13, 105, 0, 0); //N - red
strip.show();
delay(600);
strip.setPixelColor(13, 0, 0, 0); //N - off
strip.show();
delay(2100);
}
YouDontSurfFU 7 years ago
Here's a better version if you install the FastLED library:
#include <FastLED.h>
template<typename T, size_t N> constexpr size_t countof(const T(&)[N]) { return N; }
CRGB leds[50];
// Christmas light colors
CRGB colors[] = {
//yellow
0xFFA500,
//white
0xFFFFFF,
//green
0x008000,
//aqua
0x00FFFF,
//red
0xFF0000,
//blue
0x0000FF
};
// An array to store which color is at which index is
// used so that the color of each LED stays the same.
// Values are generated in setup().
uint8_t index[countof(leds)];
void setup() {
for (auto &color : colors) napplyGamma_video(color, 2.2);
index[0] = random8(countof(colors));
for (size_t i = 1; i < countof(leds); i++) {
index[i] = random8(countof(colors)-1);
if (index[i] == index[i-1]) index[i] = countof(colors)-1;
}
FastLED.addLeds<WS2811, 6, RGB>(leds, countof(leds));
FastLED.setBrightness(255);
// Fill and show LEDs
for (size_t i = 0; i < countof(leds); i++) leds[i] = colors[index[i]];
FastLED.show();
// Message trigger
delay(5000);
// Flicker generator
for (int i = 0; i <90; i++) {
if (random8() > ease8InOutQuad(i*2))
FastLED.show();
else
// To prevent having to repopulate leds[], we
// simply show black instead of clearing the array.
FastLED.showColor(CRGB::Black);
delay(33);
}
// Finally clear the array so that the LEDs don't
// relight when we show our message
FastLED.clear();
}
void loop() {
// Spaces are moved to before the message so that there's a pause
// after the flicker. Could be replaced with a delay() in setup().
FastLED.clear();
write(" Message One");
write(" Message Two");
write(" Message Three");
// Fill and show LEDs
for (size_t i = 0; i < countof(leds); i++) leds[i] = colors[index[i]];
FastLED.show();
// Message trigger
delay(4000);
// Flicker generator
for (int i = 0; i <90; i++) {
if (random8() > ease8InOutQuad(i*2))
FastLED.show();
else
// To prevent having to repopulate leds[], we
// simply show black instead of clearing the array.
FastLED.showColor(CRGB::Black);
delay(33);
}
}
//May not be needed. This accounts for LED pixels skipped or not used for the 2nd and 3rd rows
int getIndex(char c) {
c = toUpperCase(c);
switch (c) {
case 'A'...'H':
return 50 - (c - 'A');
case 'I'...'P':
return 30 + (c - 'I');
case 'Q':
return 39;
case 'R'...'Y':
return 26 - (c - 'R');
case 'Z':
return 17;
default:
// Should never happen, but is here to avoid compiler warnings
return 0;
}
}
void write(char c) {
if (isAlpha(c)) {
// Get index and convert to 0-based indexing
int i = getIndex(c)-1;
leds[i] = colors[index[i]];
FastLED.show();
delay(750);
leds[i] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
} else if (isSpace(c)) {
delay(1000);
}
}
void write(const char *str) {
while (*str) write(*str++);
}
Akin Yildiz 7 years ago
thank you for sharing the code
Akin Yildiz 7 years ago
sorry for the late response, instructables didn't email me about this comment.. i normally reply back same day :(
great stuff.!! thank you for sharing the code
TheCoffeeDude 7 years ago
I really need to find the time to try this. So cool!
Akin Yildiz 7 years ago
please do, thank you for your interest..sorry for the late response, instructables didn't email me about this comment.. i normally reply back same day :(
lotusmonger 7 years ago
Hi Akin!
Thanks for posting this! I had the same idea as you and am happy there are others posting code here as that's my next step. I used neopixels and a Circuit Playground from Adafruit. I'm also working on setting up a character array that will be read from, instead of a long line of code.
Mine is going to be a Halloween costume so I am putting it on cardboard and wearing. You can also sew them into a shirt! I got some tiny dollhouse/scrapbooking Holiday lights. I will post some updates this weekend and share my code once I get it going.
-Sam
Akin Yildiz 7 years ago
sorry for the late response, instructables didn't email me about this comment.. i normally reply back same day :(
very good stuff, hope you got to rock it for halloween.!!
DerCloud 7 years ago
Akin Yildiz 7 years ago
sorry for the late response, instructables didn't email me about this comment..
how did it go, did you present.?!
lotusmonger 7 years ago
Also, this time of year places like Hobby Lobby or craft stores will have small plastic holiday lights that can be used for scrapbooking and wrapping gifts. That way you don't have to buy actual lights and can save some money.
lotusmonger 7 years ago
If you go to https://www.adafruit.com/distributors, you can see if there is a local store you can get them from. Microcenter in the US has neopixels, and various controllers you can use; if you live near one with a stock you don't have to wait for shipping. And for learning code, I would just use the code others have posted to get it working, and learn from how it works. Basic principle of coding for me is: Take an input and do stuff to get your required output. I'm still learning myself, but it helps to think of it that way to read code and figure out what is being done to the input. This is great project to learn from!
RoccoA4 7 years ago
I'm having the hardest time getting the solder to stick when it does its super fragile and breaks off of the LEDs. Are there any tricks to getting it to be secure?
MarkC360 7 years ago
I was completely new to soldering with this project. I bought the smallest tip I could find at Radio Shack, and the smallest diameter solder. I touched the tip to each LED and then the solder to form a very small puddle of solder. Then I came back with the wire, reheated the solder and quickly placed the wire down into it. Seemed to work for me.