The Pixel Framebuf library makes drawing to a grid of NeoPixels or DotStars as easy as writing to a display. The library has all of the drawing functions of the original framebuf library, including the ability to draw lines, circles, rectangles, and text.

This library can be used on a wide variety of NeoPixel and DotStar LED layouts including with flexible and non-flexible matrices, NeoPixels strips laid out by hand, or FeatherWings. This library has been tested to work with both CircuitPython Microcontrollers and Blinka on the Raspberry Pi.

One of the huge advantages that using NeoPixel and DotStar LED matrices has over the standard RGB LED matrices is that they only use one or two GPIO pins. The Pixel Framebuf library gives you the simplicity and control to make use of these matrices to display data in a meaningful way in much the same way that you can on RGB matrices.

Parts

Here are a few of many products that this library supports:

Video of two white hands holding a rainbow pulsing Flexible 16x16 NeoPixel RGB LED Matrix.
For advanced NeoPixel fans, we now have a bendable, Flexible 16x16 NeoPixel LED Matrix! Control all 256 ultra-bright LEDs using a single microcontroller pin, set each...
Video of two hands bending a Flexible 8x32 NeoPixel RGB LED Matrix.
For advanced NeoPixel fans, we how have a bendable, flexible 8x32 NeoPixel LED Matrix! Control all 256 ultra-bright LEDs using a single microcontroller pin, set each LED as you wish to...
Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip wired to a microcontroller, with all the LEDs in a rainbow
You can't bake a cake without flour, sugar, and baking soda? Cream cheese? Muscadet? Ok - to be honest we don't do much cake baking.  But we do light up a TON of...

NeoPixels take a lot of power, so a 5V 4 Amp or even a 10 Amp power supply is recommended.

5V 4A switching power supply brick with figure 8 power port.
Need a lot of 5V power? This switching supply gives a clean regulated 5V output at up to 4 Amps (4000mA). 110 or 240 input, so it works in any country. The plugs are "US...
5V 10A switching power supply brick with IEC power port.
This is a beefy switching supply, for when you need a lot of power! It can supply 5V DC up to 10 Amps, running from 110V or 220V power (the plug it comes with is for US/Canada/Japan...

This guide was first published on Sep 22, 2020. It was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.

This page (Overview) was last updated on Sep 16, 2020.

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