How to control LED Strips with Arduino - Cosplay Tutorial

Getting into LED programming can be a little bit difficult if you never worked with code before! So here is a tutorial on how to find and edit existing code and build it into your costumes and props! I hope this video gives you some inspiration and ideas and makes programming more exciting and fun for you!

- Svetlana

Also check out my Advanced Lights Book if you want to learn even more:

Old strandtest code:

Products used:

Our Youtube filming equipment:

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[PunakiviAddikti]

Note that the LED strip used is WS2812B. They're individually addressable LEDs that have the WS2812B chip inside each one. The signal goes into *signal in* and goes out of "signal out" into the next strip's "signal in". Note that the Arduino is incapable of driving a long strip. For that you'll need to add 5V power to the strip. The reason why you have to specify the length of the strip and how the chips determine how many LEDs are in the strip is because after the signal passes through one LED, a bit of data gets added that tells the next chip how many times the data has previously passed through a chip. The Arduino needs to know how many LEDs there are so that half of the strip isn't dark if not enough LEDs are specified. If the number of LEDs falls short, the next LED won't know what color it should be, what brightness etc. It defaults to all colors off because the data isn't *addressed* to it or the following LEDs.
If you want extra modes in your code, you can use *variables.* You can change the state of a variable based on an event, and then call a variable and execute the function it matches. Let's say you make a variable called Mode. You can add a number to the variable. Let's say each time you press a button, the variable number grows by 1. The variable will be set to 0 at the start of the sketch. When you press the button the variable reaches 1 and an animation code is executed. If the variable reaches 2, a different animation is executed. You can now press the button again to set the variable to 3. Now another animation will be played. But when the variable gets to 4, a different code is executed. Now it sets the variable to 0. When the variable is 0, no animation is played and all LEDs are off. Don't forget to add the part that resets the variable to 0 or it will continue to grow until you either reset or the variable can't fit into the memory of the Arduino anymore. You can have the variable start from 1 and get reset to 1 if you want the animations to cycle instead of turning off. You can add as many variables as the memory of the Arduino permits to perform a lot of modes.

[miepetersen]

Also a small note, if you want to 'disable' multiple lines in your code you can type /* 'whatever code you don't need' */
For example:
/* rainbow(20);
rainbowCycle(20); */

This will disable everything between the two 'markers' in your code. It's just a neat shortcut if you have to disable lots of lines which are right after each other :)

[cbt]

btw if you're getting an error with the "old" strandtest code from the link in the descrpition make sure to add <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h> after #include at the top :)

[maskedfoxx]

Thank God my husband went into programming and knows all about writing codes. He showed me that me made a simple calculator for a project once, so I have faith he can help me with this when I get things wrong.

[thelunamage]

All the programmers in the chat complaining about googling the code. Dont feel to bad this video was made for cosplayers that want to add more to there outfits XD. People that dont know coding normally dont want to spend time learning coding to make 1 aspect of a fn cosplay. 😂😂

[grondinguillaume]

Anyway! Now everybody know that we are all going to continue to have a hard time until Kamui explain how to do stuff!!!!
So today I propose officialy to create the ultimate source of knowlege: Kamuipedia
PS: <3 <3 <3 :D

[creepblackcat]

I am studying electronic engineer, I am otaku and I like to do cosplay, this video shows me my true destiny

[angiasaa]

I love how much energy you manage to pack into your videos! 🤩

Adorable and informative, I enjoy playing around with code, but never thought to put it into my clothing. I need to start a new project now. Thank you for your videos. :-)

[xRnChrisx]

Programming 101: Google the code, don't write it yourself. Seriously.

[timturk]

Neopixel LEDs are also used in the lightsaber community to get realistic Blade effects :)

[Otakuchan]

Make more books and I'll buy them! I have almost all of them hahaha

[Yes.Im.Mr.Anderson]

Тот случай когда ищешь идеи на английском, а тут Светлана рассказывает забавную идею достаточно подробно. Спасибо, пойду дальше кодить свои поделки.

[SigmaWolf]

This definitely takes some practice but is an awesome elevation to any cosplay. Also, I don't know which of you does the editing of your videos but it cracks me up...I love it. You two are so creative and cleaver with your videos. BHB.

[LuckyHunter]

I think your top worked on me. I just went and bought the complete digital set of books. After a quick scan through I can say I'm already happy with my purchase!! Love your work!

[etzel]

lol.. I must say that is a cute dress! It's been fun over the past couple years that I've been watching your videos waiting for you to somehow promote your books.. but this is by far the best! You are awesome and I love your work.

[jatodd]

Her genuine unbridled excitement is adorable.

[nikonopp]

Nach genau so einem Video hab ich gesucht !!!

[Coco-qomx]

My brother just graduated as a computer engineer (programmer) and my dad worked for ten years running an electrical power plant (making circuits for light dimmers) so I’m just gonna recruit them :D

[abyssal_moon]

I needed this video to make the cosplay of my dreams exactly as I imagined, and now that I can and that I know that its not as hard ad i thought, i can finally cry tears of joy 😭
Thank you Svetlana, you and Benni will always be my favourite crafters and cosplayer ever!

[Justrex]

Holy snap! I really hope I can find someone who knows what they are doing when I get this far in my cosplay. I quit programming over forty years ago. I used to know BASIC and APL pretty well, but... Can imagine I'll be watching this one over and over again... Wow.