# Matrix Portal RGB Display Handbag ## Overview https://youtu.be/NeI4ijO_rKg Make a display for your display! Show off your message to the world. This guide will show how to set up and assemble a Matrix Portal and RGB Matrix display, then make a transparent pocket in your backpack, purse, or messenger bag to show it off. There is also a simple code example that displays your bmp images in slideshow fashion. Use the onboard buttons to switch between folders and play different messages, or pause on your favorite image. Set your bag down and the onboard accelerometer will sense that you're not moving and dim the screen to save battery life. You can also use any of the other Matrix Portal code samples to get you started. Get ready to have fun with all the features the Matrix Portal offers. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/096/011/medium800/led_matrices_backpack_nyancat.jpg?1602972566) ### Difficulty The build for this project is really easy. For the electronics setup you'll just need a screwdriver. For the handbag mod, we'll use fabric scissors and glue to affix our vinyl window. Sewing skills could be helpful, but are not required. The coding portion is a little trickier, but I've made it as simple as possible to get images flashing up on your screen. There are more and more guides in the Adafruit Learning System every day with sample code, so this project can get as involved as you'd like. ### Parts Needed The Matrix Portal board is a very cool microcontroller that plugs into the back of any of our RGB Matrix display panels. The displays come in lots of different sizes - [check them out here](https://www.adafruit.com/category/327). I used the 4mm pitch 64x32 sized one for this project. It measures 10' x 5', and it fits perfectly inside the outer pocket of my pack.  Featured ### Adafruit Matrix Portal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display [Adafruit Matrix Portal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4745) Folks love our [wide selection of RGB matrices](https://www.adafruit.com/category/327) and accessories, for making custom colorful LED displays... and our RGB Matrix Shields and FeatherWings can be quickly soldered together to make the wiring much easier. But what if we made it... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4745) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4745/guides) ![Video of a person rotating an LED matrix panel with animation resembling falling colored sand.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/product-videos/640x480/4745-05.jpg) Featured ### 64x32 RGB LED Matrix - 4mm pitch [64x32 RGB LED Matrix - 4mm pitch](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2278) Bring a little bit of Times Square into your home with this sweet 64 x 32 square RGB LED matrix panel. These panels are normally used to make video walls, here in New York we see them on the sides of busses and bus stops, to display animations or short video clips. We thought they looked... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2278) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2278/guides) ![Two white hands hold out an assembled and powered on 64x32 RGB LED Matrix Panel - 4mm pitch. The matrix displays "Adafruit Industries LED MATRIX! 32x64 *RGB*"](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/2278-00.jpg) This lipstick-sized USB battery will power the Matrix Portal for a few hours (depending on the brightness of your images). We've also got a bigger one if you want it to last all night. Featured ### USB Battery Pack for Raspberry Pi - 10000mAh - 2 x 5V outputs [USB Battery Pack for Raspberry Pi - 10000mAh - 2 x 5V outputs](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1566) A large-sized rechargeable battery pack for your [Raspberry Pi](http://www.adafruit.com/raspberrypi) (or [Arduino](http://www.adafruit.com/arduino), or [Propeller](http://www.adafruit.com/category/26), or anything else that uses 5V!). This pack is intended for... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1566) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1566/guides) ![Angled shot of white rectangular USB battery pack with 4 dotted lights indicating battery is fully charged. ](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1566-11.jpg) This board connects with a USB C cable, so get at least one of these. ### USB Type A to Type C Cable - 6" long [USB Type A to Type C Cable - 6" long](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4472) As technology changes and adapts, so does Adafruit. This   **USB Type A to Type C** cable will help you with the transition to USB C, even if you're still totin' around a USB Type A hub, computer or laptop. USB C is the latest industry-standard connector for... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4472) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4472/guides) ![Six-inch-long USB Type A to Type C cable.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/4472-00.jpg) You can unplug the cable to turn it off, but it's easier and handier to plug in an on/off switch. ### USB Cable with Switch [USB Cable with Switch](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1620) Add a power switch to any USB-powered project simply by plugging this between the USB power port and the USB cable. 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 USB A socket on one end and a... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1620) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1620/guides) ![Short USB Extender Cable with Switch in center](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1620-02.jpg) ### Additional Materials You'll also need a backpack, messenger bag, or purse with a pocket that will comfortably fit your RGB display, with a couple inches extra on the "long" side to accommodate the Matrix Portal board and the USB cable. I found the pack I'm using in this guide in the travel section at Target. For the window, you'll need a square of vinyl. You can find this online or at your local plastic store. I used iridescent vinyl, which does make the matrix a little harder to see in the daytime, but it's shiny and iridescent so I don't really care -- and the matrix still shows through beautifully in lower light. The iridescence also gives my images a bit of a rainbow sheen, which I count as a win. I also used a bit of [Fray Check](https://www.amazon.com/Dritz-1674-Liquid-Sealant-0-75-Ounce/dp/B000YQKIDY/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=fray+check&qid=1603291229&sr=8-2) on my bag. This is a great product that you can find at sewing stores or online. Just apply it to the cut edges of your fabric and it will keep the fabric from unraveling. I always have some of this stuff handy. - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/matrix-portal-rgb-display-handbag/prep-the-matrixportal.md) ## Guide Products ### Adafruit Matrix Portal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display [Adafruit Matrix Portal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4745) Folks love our [wide selection of RGB matrices](https://www.adafruit.com/category/327) and accessories, for making custom colorful LED displays... and our RGB Matrix Shields and FeatherWings can be quickly soldered together to make the wiring much easier. But what if we made it... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4745) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4745/guides) ### 64x32 RGB LED Matrix - 4mm pitch [64x32 RGB LED Matrix - 4mm pitch](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2278) Bring a little bit of Times Square into your home with this sweet 64 x 32 square RGB LED matrix panel. These panels are normally used to make video walls, here in New York we see them on the sides of busses and bus stops, to display animations or short video clips. We thought they looked... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2278) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2278/guides) ### USB Battery Pack - 2200 mAh Capacity - 5V 1A Output [USB Battery Pack - 2200 mAh Capacity - 5V 1A Output](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1959) A smaller-sized rechargeable battery pack for your [Raspberry Pi](http://www.adafruit.com/raspberrypi) or [Raspberry Pi B+](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1914) (or [Arduino](http://www.adafruit.com/arduino), or  No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1959) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1959/guides) ### USB Battery Pack for Raspberry Pi - 10000mAh - 2 x 5V outputs [USB Battery Pack for Raspberry Pi - 10000mAh - 2 x 5V outputs](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1566) A large-sized rechargeable battery pack for your [Raspberry Pi](http://www.adafruit.com/raspberrypi) (or [Arduino](http://www.adafruit.com/arduino), or [Propeller](http://www.adafruit.com/category/26), or anything else that uses 5V!). This pack is intended for... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1566) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1566/guides) ### USB Type A to Type C Cable - 6" long [USB Type A to Type C Cable - 6" long](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4472) As technology changes and adapts, so does Adafruit. This   **USB Type A to Type C** cable will help you with the transition to USB C, even if you're still totin' around a USB Type A hub, computer or laptop. USB C is the latest industry-standard connector for... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4472) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4472/guides) ### USB Cable with Switch [USB Cable with Switch](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1620) Add a power switch to any USB-powered project simply by plugging this between the USB power port and the USB cable. 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 USB A socket on one end and a... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1620) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1620/guides) ## Related Guides - [Adafruit MatrixPortal M4](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-matrixportal-m4.md) - [RGB Matrix New York Times Title Scroller](https://learn.adafruit.com/rgb-matix-nyt-text-scroller.md) - [Matrix Portal Money-Sensing Tip Jar](https://learn.adafruit.com/matrix-portal-money-sensing-tip-jar.md) - [Raspberry Pi SelfieBlock](https://learn.adafruit.com/selfieblock.md) - [Halloween Countdown Display Matrix](https://learn.adafruit.com/halloween-countdown-display-matrix.md) - [Creating MatrixPortal Projects with CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/creating-projects-with-the-circuitpython-matrixportal-library.md) - [Apple IIe Fruit Jam Enclosure](https://learn.adafruit.com/apple-iie-fruit-jam-enclosure.md) - [IoT Twitter Listener Party Parrot](https://learn.adafruit.com/iot-twitter-listener-party-parrot.md) - [Tombstone Prop-Maker RP2040](https://learn.adafruit.com/tombstone-prop-maker-rp2040.md) - [Raspberry Pi Low-Light Long-Exposure Photography](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-hq-camera-low-light-long-exposure-photography.md) - [Which CircuitPython Board is Right for You?](https://learn.adafruit.com/choose-your-circuitpython-board.md) - [Stream Deck controlled RGB Message Panel using Adafruit IO](https://learn.adafruit.com/stream-deck-controlled-rgb-message-panel-using-adafruit-io.md) - [Matrix Portal Flow Visualizer](https://learn.adafruit.com/matrix-portal-flow-visualizer.md) - [Starlight Groove Tutu – Sound-Reactive LED Skirt](https://learn.adafruit.com/starlight-groove-tutu-sound-reactive-led-skirt.md) - [Scroll an SMS Text Message on your RGB Matrix](https://learn.adafruit.com/scroll-an-sms-text-message-on-your-rgb-matrix.md) - [Network Connected RGB Matrix Clock](https://learn.adafruit.com/network-connected-metro-rgb-matrix-clock.md)