#Building photo frame how to
#Building photo frame software
#Building photo frame windows

Ramset Super Wallmate Toggle Anchor (Hollow Wall Anchors).x2 Pine Dressed Standard Grade 42X19MM 1.2M.SanDisk 32GB Ultra microSDHC UHS-I Memory Card.Micro USB cable (to power the unit from the monitor).3pc Heatsink Kit for Raspberry Pi 4 (I only used the 1 Heatsink for the CPU).

#Building photo frame software

fbi software could be launched from Terminal, so there was no need for an OS GUI.

PiicoDev sensors were used as they offered a near plug and play usability.

The monitor needed to support DDC/CI for brightness control over HDMI, provide power to the Raspberry Pi via USB (less cables up the wall), and having an ultrathin bezel made building a frame a lot easier.

Using the existing VESA mounting brackets on the monitor to attach to the wall meant I did not have to engineer a frame that would have to support the monitor's weight.

Mounting a dismantled laptop into a picture frame was a nightmare, having to access ports was another disaster, etc

Previous attempts to build a digital picture frame from a laptop failed miserably.

#Building photo frame windows

I come from a Windows OS background so my Linux expertise is minimal There were a number of lessons learnt in getting to the final project build. Wallpapers thanks to: L'Outlander - City On A Hill, provided by Lofi Girl Why I built it this way I have also included a section at the end of unsuccessful software choices if you are considering other options in this space. I have written the instructions in a modular way so that you only need to complete the parts you require, for example, the light sensor, touch sensor and frame are optional. Lastly, I expanded the project with a touch sensor to safely shutdown the Raspberry Pi and provide additional functionality. It also incorporated a light sensor that adjusted the brightness of the monitor depending on the brightness of the room.

The project was built on a Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+. I concentrated on setting up the computer/software side first before building a wooden frame and mounting the monitor to the wall. It needed to be easy to build and operate smoothly. You’re welcome.The idea behind this project was to build a large digital picture frame at a lower cost than the ones you could purchase. That’s right, it doesn’t cost a penny to do this. You can do this with any old desktop computer or laptop computer… as long as it still turns on and the Windows program is still working.

Wait 1 minute… your photo slideshow will begin, and it will never stop until you move the cursor on the laptop screen!.

Finally, click Change Power Settings, then Power Saver -> Change Plan Settings and select NEVER for all 3 “plugged in” options. Then click Settings -> Browse to select the folder where your digital photos are stored (TransferPhotos). If yours is a Win 7 computer: in the Screensaver dropdown box choose Windows Live Gallery. Finally, click the Adjust Monitor Power button and select NEVER for all 3 “when plugged in” options. Then click Settings -> Browse to select the folder where you digital photos are stored (TransferPhotos).

If yours is a Win 98 computer: in the Screensaver dropdown box choose My Picture Slideshow.

Then open Appearance & Themes then Display Properties (on Win 98 computers) -OR- Appearance & Personalization then Change Screensaver (on Win 7 computers). (I just copied it onto my laptop’s desktop screen.)

Put the thumb drive or memory card into your laptop and drag (or copy) the entire folder (TransferPhotos) that you put those pics in TO your laptop’s hard drive.

(I created a new folder - right click…new… folder - and named it TransferPhotos.) Make sure you put all of the individual photo files into a single folder that’s used just for these photos.

Copy your favorite pictures onto a thumb drive or memory card.

#Building photo frame how to

Here’s how… How To Use An Old Computer Monitor or Laptop As Digital Photo Frame Turn it into a very large digital photo frame! Well, I just discovered an AWESOME and FUN use for it now: I had one that was so outdated and slow that we tossed it away in the closet to use for parts or something one day. If you buy thru these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.