# DotStar Pi Painter

## Overview

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/042/medium800/raspberry_pi_adafruit-blast.jpg?1450297469)

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/052/medium800/raspberry_pi_episode7.jpg?1450297480)

_Digital light painting_ is a consummate maker project, a marriage of electronics, code, photography…and of course _lots and lots_ of LEDs!

Using a long (several seconds) camera exposure, a single row of LEDs under computer control displays an image one line at a time while it's carried or rolled across the frame. The combined result is a luminous picture floating in air.

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/043/medium800/raspberry_pi_nasa.jpg?1450297470)

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/053/medium800/raspberry_pi_earth.jpg?1450297481)

We’ve done light painting guides before — like our original [Light Painting with Raspberry Pi](../../../light-painting-with-raspberry-pi) and the Arduino-based [NeoPixel Painter](../../../neopixel-painter/overview) — it’s a topic we like to revisit whenever there’s a substantial evolution in the available technology. Each used a new generation of addressable LED strips.

This latest blend of **Raspberry Pi** computer and **DotStar LEDs** may be the ultimate, with no size constraints, easy image loading (just plug in a USB flash drive full of pictures) and super buttery smooth interpolation and dithering.

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/028/849/medium800/raspberry_pi_Comparison.png?1449095160)

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/054/medium800/raspberry_pi_hackers.jpg?1450297482)

# Required Parts

- **Raspberry Pi computer:**  the code runs fine on any Raspberry Pi, but we _really_ recommend a recent model with the 40-pin GPIO header (not an original 26-pin Model A or B), because…
- **[Perma-Proto Pi HAT](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2310):** installs neatly atop the Pi’s 40-pin GPIO header, providing a sturdy connection point for various other parts.
- **2GB or larger microSD card.**
- **USB flash drive for loading images.**
- **[DotStar LED strip](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2242):** any length and density will work, but 144 LED/m is ideal. 1 meter is good for a painter that’s still easy to store and transport. I built a 2 meter painter, but that was mostly to showcase the added horsepower of the Raspberry Pi…it’s harder to build and unwieldy to move around!_ NeoPixel strip will **not** work for this project; must be DotStars for speed._
- **[74AHCT125 level shifter IC](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1787).**
- **Six (6) [momentary pushbuttons](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1010).**
- **Large [USB battery bank](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1566)** or other 5V portable power source. The more current it can provide, the brighter the images can be. Or use two.
- **Two (2) [USB Type A male](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1387)** DIY connectors if using a USB battery bank.
- **Soldering paraphernalia, wire, etc.** A solderless breadboard and jumper wires may also be useful during initial testing.
- **An _opaque_ enclosure for the Raspberry Pi** (or get creative with tape, paint, etc.)
- **Hardware store bits & bobs.**
- A **3D printer** is optional but may be handy for improvised brackets, cases and parts.

**READ THROUGH THE ENTIRE GUIDE FIRST for more parts and construction ideas. Every painter will be a little different, depending on what materials and tools you have access to.**

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/057/medium800/raspberry_pi_rainbow2.jpg?1450297488)

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/044/medium800/raspberry_pi_bowser.jpg?1450297470)

- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/dotstar-pi-painter/raspberry-pi-setup.md)

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