raspberrypi.org/magpi The Official Raspberry Pi Projects Book 41
POLAPI-ZERO Projects
>STEP-01
The inside
The schematics for the build are similar
to Pierre’s original camera. The only
differences are the added LCD screen
and buttons for reviewing previously
captured images.>STEP-02
The outside
Pierre designed the case and used an
online 3D-print service to complete
the process. The white colouring of the
camera is, in part, a homage to the White
Box artwork by Vít Hašek.>STEP-03
The PolaPi-Zero
Pierre used the opportunity to utilise
new, smaller components as a means to
simplify the overall technical build and
add extra features, such as the ability to
view previous images.BUILDING THE POLAPI-ZERO
memory LCD, the camera allows
its user to see the image on screen
in black and white before printing,
guaranteeing the quality of the
photograph before you commit to
the print.
Pierre used the project as
“a good excuse to start learning
Python (finally)”, in part due to
the array of existing Python code
available online. His original
camera ran using Java, and though
he admits to the final Python code
not being “the most elegant”, he
provides it via both his GitHub repo
(magpi.cc/2ndslE3) as complete
code, and as a downloadable image
for the Raspberry Pi Zero.
For the physical body of the
camera, Pierre designed the unit in
Autodesk 123D before sending it to
an external 3D printing company,
3DHubs.com, for completion.
Again, he provides the case 3D
print files in his GitHub repo.
Completing the build with a Pi
Camera Module, a 7.2 V battery
with voltage regulator, and a
handful of buttons, the PolaPi-
Zero is good to go, providing
instant gratification to any user
wishing to immortalise their
photography on receipt paper.So what next?
With the technology in place,
Pierre started to experiment with
different styles of image capture.
Starting with the idea of slit-scan
photography, where a movable
slide with a slit cut in it is passed
between the lens and subject
matter, Pierre played around with a
coded variant. The result is an odd,
stuttered image effect that varies
depending on whether the scanreads horizontally or vertically.
The continuous length of the
thermal camera paper allows this
effect to be captured and printed.
Pierre claims to live “always
with the hope to make something
and not just use something”, and
as his interesting builds continue
to wow us, we look forward to
seeing what comes next.Above and Below
Examples of
the slit-scan
photography that
Pierre has been
experimenting
with using the
PolaPi-Zero