I’ve built a 64x64 pixel art frame [0]. With the diffuser in front of the matrix, it looks like animations are floating in the air. I got parts for v2, but I’m yet to find time to build it.
I really like how electronics today are very accessible to start playing with. Basic stuff is mostly plug-and-play, and essentially it becomes a software project.
At €20 per 32x8 module (2000/256), that's €0.078 per LED which is considerably more expensive than a third of a eurocent, I think? Even if it was €20 for all 6 panels, that's still over a eurocent per LED (2000/1536).
> I'm amazed at how cheap the LED matrix listed in the parts list is.
Cheaper now - AliExpress will sell you 6 32x8 boards for £59.21 (3.85p per LED or ¢5.16 if you're a colonial) saving you ~€52 over the original €120 price.
I've been meaning to do a write up of the project, but I keep putting it off. I wrote the software bits in C++. To speed up iteration (i.e. not have to deploy to real hardware for every tweak to the game code), I made a small web harness that ran the core logic as wasm.
5v power supplies are easily available, Meanwell is a popular & reputable brand. The same psu can run your lights and microcontroller.
However, you can always just limit it in software. Total "brightness budget" for the display, scale everything to dimmer if exceeded.
I keep wanting to build a large "lite brite" style display for my window. I keep getting stopped even though I have a lot of the tools necessary, like this laser engraver.
You just gave me an idea about an extremely simple way to build this using a Raspberry Pi Zero and my cheap laser engraver.