# LED Matrix Display for Bitmap Pixel Art and Animation ## Overview https://youtu.be/VZcNJuJpLjc ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/095/394/medium800thumb/led_matrices_pixel_art.jpg?1602012399) Build your own pixel art display in order to view some of your favorite retro, low-rez artwork! We'll use **.bmp** format raster graphics files formatted for the 64x32 pixel RGB LED matrix display. You can create your own pixel art, or scour the web for some favorites. This project uses the Matrix Portal to show the pixel art on the display. It runs CircuitPython and uses the Slideshow library to make it easy! You can play the slideshow and let it loop, or press the Matrix Portal's UP and DOWN buttons to pause/resume the loop and pick a particular image you're dying to see! ## Parts ### 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... In 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) ### Black LED Diffusion Acrylic Panel 12" x 12" - 0.1" / 2.6mm thick [Black LED Diffusion Acrylic Panel 12" x 12" - 0.1" / 2.6mm thick](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4594) A nice whoppin' slab of some lovely black acrylic to add some extra diffusion to your LED Matrix project. This material is 2.6mm (0.1") thick and is made of special cast acrylic that makes it perfect for glowy projects, especially matricies or NeoPixels. Unlike smoke or... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4594) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4594/guides) ![LED RGB matrix 12" x 12" with "Adafruit Industries LED Matrix" text showing, and LED acrylic slowly covering to make it nicely diffused](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/product-videos/640x480/4594-04.jpg) ### 5V 2.5A Switching Power Supply with 20AWG MicroUSB Cable [5V 2.5A Switching Power Supply with 20AWG MicroUSB Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1995) Our all-in-one 5V 2.5 Amp + MicroUSB cable power adapter is the perfect choice for powering single-board computers like Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, or anything else that's power-hungry! This adapter was specifically designed to provide 5.25V, not 5V, but we still call it a 5V USB... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1995) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1995/guides) ![MicroUSB power supply with bundled cable and U.S. plugs.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1995-02.jpg) ### Micro B USB to USB C Adapter [Micro B USB to USB C Adapter](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4299) As technology changes and adapts, so does Adafruit, and speaking of _adapting_, this _ **adapter** _ has a Micro B USB jack and a USB C plug. USB C is the latest industry-standard connector for transmitting data _and_ power.... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4299) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4299/guides) ![Angled shot of Micro B USB to USB C Adapter.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/4299-02.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) - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/pixel-art-matrix-display/install-circuitpython.md) ## Featured 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... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4745) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4745/guides) ### Black LED Diffusion Acrylic Panel 12" x 12" - 0.1" / 2.6mm thick [Black LED Diffusion Acrylic Panel 12" x 12" - 0.1" / 2.6mm thick](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4594) A nice whoppin' slab of some lovely black acrylic to add some extra diffusion to your LED Matrix project. This material is 2.6mm (0.1") thick and is made of special cast acrylic that makes it perfect for glowy projects, especially matricies or NeoPixels. Unlike smoke or... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4594) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4594/guides) ### 5V 2.5A Switching Power Supply with 20AWG MicroUSB Cable [5V 2.5A Switching Power Supply with 20AWG MicroUSB Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1995) Our all-in-one 5V 2.5 Amp + MicroUSB cable power adapter is the perfect choice for powering single-board computers like Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, or anything else that's power-hungry! This adapter was specifically designed to provide 5.25V, not 5V, but we still call it a 5V USB... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1995) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1995/guides) ### Micro B USB to USB C Adapter [Micro B USB to USB C Adapter](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4299) As technology changes and adapts, so does Adafruit, and speaking of _adapting_, this _ **adapter** _ has a Micro B USB jack and a USB C plug. USB C is the latest industry-standard connector for transmitting data _and_ power.... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4299) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4299/guides) ### 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) ## Related Guides - [Adafruit MatrixPortal M4](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-matrixportal-m4.md) - [Weather Display Matrix](https://learn.adafruit.com/weather-display-matrix.md) - [Purple Air AQI Display](https://learn.adafruit.com/purple-air-aqi-display.md) - [Matrix Portal New Guide Scroller](https://learn.adafruit.com/matrix-portal-new-guide-scroller.md) - [Animated GIF Player for Matrix Portal](https://learn.adafruit.com/animated-gif-player-for-matrix-portal.md) - [Network Connected RGB Matrix Clock](https://learn.adafruit.com/network-connected-metro-rgb-matrix-clock.md) - [RGB Matrix Dreidel Game](https://learn.adafruit.com/rgb-matrix-dreidel-game.md) - [LED Protest Sign](https://learn.adafruit.com/led-protest-sign.md) - [Adafruit Protomatter RGB Matrix Library](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-protomatter-rgb-matrix-library.md) - [Use an art canvas to diffuse an RGB matrix](https://learn.adafruit.com/use-an-art-canvas-to-diffuse-rgb-matrix.md) - [Matrix Portal Sand Handles](https://learn.adafruit.com/matrix-portal-sand.md) - [RGB LED Matrices with CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/rgb-led-matrices-matrix-panels-with-circuitpython.md) - [Cardboard Window Skull With Animated LED Eyes](https://learn.adafruit.com/cardboard-window-skull-animated-led-eyes.md) - [IoT Twitter Listener Party Parrot](https://learn.adafruit.com/iot-twitter-listener-party-parrot.md) - [Matrix Portal Flow Visualizer](https://learn.adafruit.com/matrix-portal-flow-visualizer.md) - [AdaBox 016](https://learn.adafruit.com/adabox016.md)