I’ve created a LED Art project I’ve been wanting to do for a long time, but wasn’t really possible before the SmartLED Shield for Teensy 4 - check out the video below.

This project involves the Teensy 4 playing back an animated GIF in slow motion, and interpolating between frames 240 times per second to really smooth out the slow motion effect.

Teensy 4 playing back an animated GIF in slow motion:

Continuum is a light art display that is continuously in motion, with options to move quickly, slowly, or incredibly slowly. The RGB LEDs in the display are updated 240 times per second, with unique images calculated each update. A slider on the side of the display controls if the LEDs play back the content - currently Animated GIFs - in normal 1x speed, 1000x slower than normal, or anywhere in-between.

The frame is powered by the Teensy 4.1, and the SmartMatrix Library, using the SmartLED Shield for Teensy 4. The LED panels are 32x32 pixel P5 (5 mm pitch) RGB HUB75 panels combined to make a 96x96 pixel 480 mm (18.9") square display that fits into an Ikea Ribba shadowbox frame.

I posted more details including instructions on how to build your own over on Instructables.

Campaign Update

We’ve crossed the 50% mark in just one week! Thanks to everyone that backed the project, shared it with a friend, or posted a link online. If you know of an online community that would like to know about the campaign, please post a link to the campaign with them, or let us know where you think we should be posting so we can help get the word out.

Your Feedback Please!

What are you most interested in doing with SmartMatrix Library and the SmartLED Shield? I’d love to hear what you want to build so I can decide what feature to add to SmartMatrix Library next.

I’m deciding whether to work on support and examples for streaming video from the computer over USB, or adding support for more font options including larger fonts. Which are you most interested in?

You can click on the "Ask Pixelmatix a technical question" link below, or respond to my post in the SmartMatrix Community. I’d love to hear back on what projects you’re interested in doing, and what features you want to see.