# Ambient Color Control Pad ## Overview https://youtu.be/5AJxAjiQljc Build your own Ambient Color Control Pad and make it easy to set colors on NeoPixel strips. Embed them in a huge, colorful, glowing orb, behind a monitor, or above a cabient. NeoTrellis multicolor controller, say hello to NeoPixels! Use the NeoTrellis with a Feather M4 Express to select colors that illuminate your world. The control pad sends your color selections to a 2m strip of 120 NeoPixels. Gorgeous diffusion courtesy of an inexpensive white plastic lamp, or pick your own diffuser! All programmed with CircuitPython for your coding pleasure. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/064/403/medium800/leds_untitled_0065-2_2k.jpg?1540517771) This project takes advantage of the Feather M4 Express board's big brains! You may be able to run this on a Feather M0 Express, but you'll need to write to fewer NeoPixels. ## Parts ### Adafruit NeoTrellis RGB Driver PCB for 4x4 Keypad [Adafruit NeoTrellis RGB Driver PCB for 4x4 Keypad](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3954) By popular request, we've upgraded our popular Trellis elastomer button kits to now have a PCB with _full color NeoPixel_ support! You heard that right, no more single-color LEDs, you can now have any color you like under the fantastic rubbery button pads we sell. These 4x4... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3954) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3954/guides) ![Hand pressing buttons that light up on a Adafruit NeoTrellis RGB Driver PCB for 4x4 Keypad.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/product-videos/640x480/3954-06.jpg) ### Silicone Elastomer 4x4 Button Keypad - for 3mm LEDs [Silicone Elastomer 4x4 Button Keypad - for 3mm LEDs](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1611) So squishy! These silicone elastomer keypads are just waiting for your fingers to press them. Go ahead, squish all you like! (They're durable and easy to clean, just wipe with mild soap and water) These are just like the light up rubber buttons you find on stuff like appliances and tools,... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1611) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1611/guides) ![Angled Shot of the Silicone Elastomer 4x4 Button Keypad - for 3mm LEDs.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1611-07.jpg) ### Adafruit Feather M4 Express - Featuring ATSAMD51 [Adafruit Feather M4 Express - Featuring ATSAMD51](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3857) It's what you've been waiting for, the Feather M4 Express featuring ATSAMD51. This Feather is fast like a swift, smart like an owl, strong like a ox-bird (it's half ox, half bird, OK?) This feather is powered by our new favorite chip, the **ATSAMD51J19** -  with... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3857) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3857/guides) ![Angled shot of a Adafruit Feather M4 Express. ](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3857-10.jpg) ### Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip - White 60 LED [Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip - White 60 LED](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1138) You thought it couldn't get better than [our world-famous 32-LED-per-meter Digital LED strip](http://adafruit.com/products/306) but we will prove you wrong! You wanted **twice the LEDs**? We got it (well, its 1.875 times as many but that's within a margin of... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1138) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1138/guides) ![Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip reel wired to a microcontroller, with all the LEDs in a rainbow](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1138-00.jpg) ### Panel Mount 2.1mm DC barrel jack [Panel Mount 2.1mm DC barrel jack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/610) This power jack is designed to easily attach to a panel up to 8mm thick (0.315" or 5/16") and fit 2.1mm power plugs snugly and securely. Perfect for adding a power connector to your project enclosure. We like this jack in particular for its long body (so you can use it on thicker... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/610) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/610/guides) ![Angled Front Shot of the Panel Mount 2.1mm DC barrel jack.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/610-08.jpg) ### In-line power switch for 2.1mm barrel jack [In-line power switch for 2.1mm barrel jack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1125) Add a power switch to _any_ project simply by plugging this between the power supply. This is the most useful thing you never knew you needed! You'll want to pick up a bunch for your electronic projects. Comes with a 5.5/2.1mm barrel jack on one end an a plug on the... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1125) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1125/guides) ![Angled Shot of the In-line power switch for 2.1mm barrel jack.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1125-07.jpg) ### 5V 2A (2000mA) switching power supply - UL Listed [5V 2A (2000mA) switching power supply - UL Listed](https://www.adafruit.com/product/276) This is an FCC/CE certified and UL listed power supply. Need a lot of 5V power? This switching supply gives a clean regulated 5V output at up to 2000mA. 110 or 240 input, so it works in any country. The plugs are "US 2-prong" style so you may need a plug adapter, but you can pick one... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/276) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/276/guides) ![Angled shot of power supply.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/276-06.jpg) ### USB-A Female Socket to 5-pin Terminal Block [USB-A Female Socket to 5-pin Terminal Block](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3629) This is the  **USB-A Female Socket to 5-pin Terminal Block**. If you need to connect to a device with a USB Jack, maybe make your own USB host connector, extension cable, or custom cable of sorts - this adapter will come in very handy!  **No soldering...** In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3629) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3629/guides) ![angled shot of USB-A Female Socket to 5-pin Terminal Block](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3629-00.jpg) ### STEMMA Cable - 4 Pin JST-PH 2mm Cable–Female/Female [STEMMA Cable - 4 Pin JST-PH 2mm Cable–Female/Female](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3568) This 4-wire cable is a little over 150mm / 6" long and fitted with JST-PH female 4-pin connectors on each end. These types of JST cables are commonly found on small rechargeable battery packs, RC receivers and transmitters, tiny cameras, and other small electronic devices We're... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3568) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3568/guides) ![Angled shot of 150mm/6" long 4-Pin JST-PH Cable](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3568-05.jpg) ### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B [USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides) ![USB cable - USB A to Micro-B - 3 foot long](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/592-01.jpg) ### USB Cable - Standard A-B [USB Cable - Standard A-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/62) This here is your standard A-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Arduino, USBtinyISP (among other things). 3 feet / 1 meter long Color may vary! Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/62) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/62/guides) ![Angled shot of coiled USB-A to USB-B cable.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/62-00.jpg) ### Black Nylon Machine Screw and Stand-off Set – M2.5 Thread [Black Nylon Machine Screw and Stand-off Set – M2.5 Thread](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3299) Totaling 380 pieces, this **M2.5 Screw Set**  is a must-have for your workstation. You'll have enough screws, nuts, and hex standoffs to fuel your maker tendencies for days on end! M2.5 size screws fit almost all of the Adafruit breakout/dev board mounting holes... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3299) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3299/guides) ![Black Nylon Screw and Stand-off Set with M2.5 Threads, kit box](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3299-00.jpg) ### Arcade Button Quick-Connect Wire Pairs - 0.11" (10 pack) [Arcade Button Quick-Connect Wire Pairs - 0.11" (10 pack)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1152) Quick connector wire sets will make wiring up our arcade-style or metal buttons quicky-quick. Each wire comes as a 'pair' with two 0.11" quick-connects pre-crimped onto 20cm long wires. The wires are then terminated together in a JST 2.5mm/0.1" spaced 2-pin connector (we... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1152) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1152/guides) ![Angled shot of ten 20 cm long quick-connect wire pairs. ](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1152-06.jpg) ### 2.54mm/0.1" Pitch Terminal Block - 3-pin [2.54mm/0.1" Pitch Terminal Block - 3-pin](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2136) After a long day out harvesting in the terminal block fields, we've returned with a veritable bounty of these very nice and compact 2.54mm/0.1" terminal blocks in a variety of sizes. Our harvest of terminal blocks is great news since nothing makes a project harder to... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2136) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2136/guides) ![Angled shot of black 3-pin 2.54mm terminal block.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/2136-03.jpg) ## Tools To put together this project you'll need a few tools: - Soldering iron and solder - Wire strippers - Diagonal cutters - Small flathead screwdriver ## Materials You may want to use a lamp shade or other thin plastic material as a diffuser, depending on how you'll be using your Ambient Color Control Pad. You can also use it as underlighting or behind a frame or TV, in which case no need to diffuse. In this guide I used shade from the IKEA Sjöpenna 17" pendant lamp, round. [It comes in a few different sizes.](https://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/?query=sjopenna) You won't need the mounting hardware, lamp wire, or socket, but you can save those for another project! ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/064/402/medium800/leds_lamp.jpg?1540517540) - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/ambient-color-controller/3d-print-the-enclosure.md) ## Guide Products ### Adafruit NeoTrellis RGB Driver PCB for 4x4 Keypad [Adafruit NeoTrellis RGB Driver PCB for 4x4 Keypad](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3954) By popular request, we've upgraded our popular Trellis elastomer button kits to now have a PCB with _full color NeoPixel_ support! You heard that right, no more single-color LEDs, you can now have any color you like under the fantastic rubbery button pads we sell. These 4x4... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3954) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3954/guides) ### Silicone Elastomer 4x4 Button Keypad - for 3mm LEDs [Silicone Elastomer 4x4 Button Keypad - for 3mm LEDs](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1611) So squishy! These silicone elastomer keypads are just waiting for your fingers to press them. Go ahead, squish all you like! (They're durable and easy to clean, just wipe with mild soap and water) These are just like the light up rubber buttons you find on stuff like appliances and tools,... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1611) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1611/guides) ### Adafruit Feather M4 Express - Featuring ATSAMD51 [Adafruit Feather M4 Express - Featuring ATSAMD51](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3857) It's what you've been waiting for, the Feather M4 Express featuring ATSAMD51. This Feather is fast like a swift, smart like an owl, strong like a ox-bird (it's half ox, half bird, OK?) This feather is powered by our new favorite chip, the **ATSAMD51J19** -  with... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3857) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3857/guides) ### Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip - White 60 LED [Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip - White 60 LED](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1138) You thought it couldn't get better than [our world-famous 32-LED-per-meter Digital LED strip](http://adafruit.com/products/306) but we will prove you wrong! You wanted **twice the LEDs**? We got it (well, its 1.875 times as many but that's within a margin of... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1138) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1138/guides) ### Rugged Metal On/Off Switch - 19mm 6V RGB On/Off [Rugged Metal On/Off Switch - 19mm 6V RGB On/Off](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3426) By popular demand, we now have rugged metal buttons with a full color RGB LED ring light! These chrome-plated metal buttons are rugged, but certainly not lacking in flair. This is a **19mm On/Off** version of the RGB pushbutton. Simply drill a 19mm hole into any... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3426) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3426/guides) ### Panel Mount 2.1mm DC barrel jack [Panel Mount 2.1mm DC barrel jack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/610) This power jack is designed to easily attach to a panel up to 8mm thick (0.315" or 5/16") and fit 2.1mm power plugs snugly and securely. Perfect for adding a power connector to your project enclosure. We like this jack in particular for its long body (so you can use it on thicker... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/610) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/610/guides) ### In-line power switch for 2.1mm barrel jack [In-line power switch for 2.1mm barrel jack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1125) Add a power switch to _any_ project simply by plugging this between the power supply. This is the most useful thing you never knew you needed! You'll want to pick up a bunch for your electronic projects. Comes with a 5.5/2.1mm barrel jack on one end an a plug on the... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1125) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1125/guides) ### 5V 2A (2000mA) switching power supply - UL Listed [5V 2A (2000mA) switching power supply - UL Listed](https://www.adafruit.com/product/276) This is an FCC/CE certified and UL listed power supply. Need a lot of 5V power? This switching supply gives a clean regulated 5V output at up to 2000mA. 110 or 240 input, so it works in any country. The plugs are "US 2-prong" style so you may need a plug adapter, but you can pick one... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/276) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/276/guides) ## Related Guides - [Adafruit Feather M4 Express](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-m4-express-atsamd51.md) - [Adafruit NeoTrellis](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neotrellis.md) - [Mini Golf Course with Circuit Playground and Crickit](https://learn.adafruit.com/mini-golf-course-with-makecode-circuit-playground-crickit.md) - [Raspberry Pi Zero Stand](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-zero-stand.md) - [Remote Control Candy Dispenser Ghost](https://learn.adafruit.com/ble-claw.md) - [The Scream: Interactive Screaming Painting](https://learn.adafruit.com/the-scream-munch-screaming-interactive-scream-painting.md) - [Schluff - The Sleep Monitor](https://learn.adafruit.com/schluff-the-oshw-sleep-monitor.md) - [Creative Inspiration Activity Generator](https://learn.adafruit.com/creative-inspiration-activity-generator.md) - [Bluetooth LE Sensor Nodes to Raspberry Pi WiFi Bridge](https://learn.adafruit.com/bluetooth-le-broadcastnet-sensor-node-raspberry-pi-wifi-bridge.md) - [Upgrading AirLift ESP32 Firmware](https://learn.adafruit.com/upgrading-esp32-firmware.md) - [Using Raspberry Pi Pico and Pico 2 with Arduino](https://learn.adafruit.com/using-raspberry-pi-pico-pico-2-with-arduino.md) - [CPX Mystery Dreidel](https://learn.adafruit.com/cpx-mystery-dreidel.md) - [How to Build a Testing Jig](https://learn.adafruit.com/how-to-build-a-testing-fixture.md) - [Lucky Cat with Circuit Playground Express](https://learn.adafruit.com/lucky-cat-with-circuit-playground-express.md) - [PyPortal Reddit Stats Trophy](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-reddit-stats-trophy.md) - [QT Py Snap Fit Case](https://learn.adafruit.com/qt-py-snap-fit-case.md) - [NeoPixel Menorah](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-menorah.md)