Regular drawing and painting just didn’t seem to fit the bill of a creative outlet for me, so I decided to design my own mix of art, Arduino, LEDs, sound sensors and star wars all sprinkled with a little computer code. The end product is a MASSIVE (4’x5′) Star Wars art piece with lights that wirelessly dance to the beat of the music. I hope this inspires you to build your own.
The list of supplies:
For the tech side:
I got all the tech working by compiling an uploading the following code to the Arduino:
#define REDPIN 5
#define GREENPIN 6
#define BLUEPIN 3
int redNow;
int blueNow;
int greenNow;
int redNew;
int blueNew;
int greenNew;
void setup()
{
pinMode(7,INPUT); //SIG of the Parallax Sound Impact Sensor connected to Digital Pin 7
pinMode(REDPIN, OUTPUT);
pinMode(GREENPIN, OUTPUT);
pinMode(BLUEPIN, OUTPUT);
redNow = random(255);
blueNow = random(255);
greenNow = random(255);
redNew = redNow;
blueNew = blueNow;
greenNew = greenNow;
}
#define fade(x,y) if (x>y) x–; else if (x<y) x++;
void loop()
{
boolean soundstate = digitalRead(7);
if (soundstate == 1) {
analogWrite(BLUEPIN, blueNow);
analogWrite(REDPIN, redNow);
analogWrite(GREENPIN, greenNow);
redNew = random(255);
blueNew = random(255);
greenNew = random(255);
// fade to new colors
while ((redNow != redNew) ||
(blueNow != blueNew) ||
(greenNow != greenNew))
{
fade(redNow,redNew)
fade(blueNow,blueNew)
fade(greenNow,greenNew)
analogWrite(BLUEPIN, blueNow);
analogWrite(REDPIN, redNow);
analogWrite(GREENPIN, greenNow);
delay(1);
}
}
else{
digitalWrite(REDPIN,0);
digitalWrite(GREENPIN,0);
digitalWrite(BLUEPIN,0);
}
}
Then I put all the wiring together using this schematic.
Darth
I started by tracing out Darth Vadar using a projector onto the floor under layment board.
Cut out everything that was white.
Glue and fixed everything I broke.
and because I’m a bit of a perfectionist, weeks and weeks of sanding, filling, sanding, cutting (again), more sanding, and fine tooth filing with a jewelers file
Then more cutting… this time it’s the backing plate (the MDF sheet):
This holds the LEDs, hides the wires, and provides structural support for the artistic front which we glue to next.
Now paint the back side with the chrome paint to reflect light.
LEDs were double sided taped around the outside of where I cut it out (see pic above). Paint the front with the flat black paint (I seem to have forgotten to take a pic.) The wiring comes next following this schematic and the Arduino, sound sensor, and one of the bread boards glued to the front. You can see I hid the wires by using a small router on the backing plate .
Then all that left is attaching the picture hangers and cleaning up.
