(^76) The Official Raspberry Pi Projects Book raspberrypi.org/magpi
A Raspberry Pi 3 is connected to an
Adafruit PiTFT screen on the back of the
camera – Abhishek dubs this the CamPi
An ad hoc wireless network is
created on bootup, which allows
the two Pi boards to communicate
without an internet connection
The cartridge (aka SnapPi) slots into
the CamPi, and shows the resulting GIF.
Each new GIF replaces the previous file
efore digital cameras
became popular,
photographers would use
film to capture their images. They’d
take a set number of shots and send
their snaps away to be processed,
but then they’d have to wait days –
or even weeks – to see the results.
Projects SHOWCASE
Ever wished your instant camera could cope with moving images?
Abhishek Singh has the answer!
The Instagif
is inspired by
the Polaroid
OneStep SX-70
A Pi 3 and
Pi Zero W
are used
Instagif takes
three-second
GIFs
The GIF fades
into view like a
Polaroid image
It took four
weeks to
design
and build
Quick
Facts
INSTAGIF
NEXTSTEP
B
Right The
cartridge looks
like a Polaroid
picture, and is
ejected using a
rack-and-pinion
mechanism
ABHISHEK SINGH
A UX designer by trade, Abhishek
enjoys making things that
use augmented reality and
360-degree video.
magpi.cc/gyNiur
Instant cameras were invented
to speed up this process. Polaroid
became famous for making
cameras that could print out a
paper-based photo in seconds.
A few shakes, and the image
would appear as if by magic.
While instant cameras have fallen
out of favour with the advent of
digital cameras, the appeal of the
concept endures.
Instant update
Abhishek Singh certainly likes it.
Motivated by the desire to build
something physical, and spurred
on by his love of animated GIFs
(“my earlier projects have revolved
around them as well,” he tells
us), he has harnessed the power
of the Raspberry Pi and moved
the instant camera into the 21st
century. By inserting a cartridge
with a tiny screen into his cool
retro-inspired invention, you can
record a GIF, wait for the cartridge
to pop out and, after a few seconds,
watch and enjoy the mini-video.
What’s more, the device looks
just like a vintage Polaroid
OneStep camera.
“Something about holding a
moving image sounded intriguing,”
Abhishek explains. “It’s instantly
relatable, and it has the unique and
exciting interaction of a physical
image coming out immediately that
you can hand to a person. I wanted
to recreate the experience of a
Polaroid in a new way.”