T
here have been some impressive magic
mirror projects as makers around the
globe challenge each other to improve
on previous designs. Although the results are
undoubtedly impressive, it can make the hobby
look a little daunting to the beginner, especially if
you don’t have access to the necessary equipment
to build a custom frame. In this tutorial, we’ll
assemble a simple magic mirror using off-the-
shelf parts. This can be built in an afternoon and
is a great way to find out whether you want to take
it to the next step and get working on something
a bit bigger.01
Prepare the frame
To create our magic mirror, we will create
a ‘sandwich’ of the frame, a piece of observation
mirror acrylic, and the screen. It’s vital that all
these are kept as clean as possible during assembly
as any dust will get trapped and leave an irritating
mark on your lovely mirror. Unpack the frame,
remove the mount, and then remove the plastic
clear sheet. You’ll need to carefully peel back thetwo protective layers and then replace the clear
sheet in the frame. This is statically charged and
will start to attract dust, so lots of cleaning is
required. Return the mount to the frame.02
Mount the mirror
The big ‘trick’ of a magic mirror is the use
of two-way material, also known as ‘observation
glass’. This material is the same that is used in
police interview rooms and as privacy screening.
It’s only semi-reflective, so the output from your
screen can be seen ‘through’ the glass but it’s
still effective as a mirror (if a little darker than a
regular mirror). This material is cheapest when
bought by the roll, so it’s ideal for custom-build or
larger mirror projects. Ours is a £5 A5 acrylic sheet.
Remove the protective sheeting and place in the
frame, making sure it covers the open area. Secure
with sticky tape.03
Add the screen
We’re using the official 7-inch touchscreen
for this project to make power requirements easier;
we only need one cable to drive both Raspberry
Pi and the display. It also happens to be a perfect
size for this project. The touchscreen needs to be
carefully placed so it’s in parallel with the frame
and central. Secure with sticky tape.You’ll Need
> Ikea Ribba 18×24
picture frame
magpi.cc/ribba
> Official Raspberry
Pi 7′′′′ Touchscreen
magpi.cc/
touchscreen
> A5 observation
mirror
magpi.cc/a5mirror
> Gaffer or duct tape
> Velcro or foam
sticky padsAssembling a
simple magic mirror
Would you like a magic mirror, but don’t fancy all that carpentry? Here’s a first
project to ease you in without having to reach for the band-saw
The Ikea Ribba range
is perfect for a starter
project like this thanks
to having unusually
deep frames and a
wide variety of sizesTip! Not for Zero
A Raspberry Pi Zero
would seem ideal
for this project,
but MagicMirror^2 is
incompatible with
that model and the
original Raspberry
Pi 1.TUTORIAL
26 magpi.cc Build The Ultimate Magic Mirror
The big ‘trick’ of a magic
mirror is the use of two-
way material, also known
as ‘observation glass’