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“Magic Projector (A Romantic One)” is a homemade Arduino project, not a finished projector for sale. It uses an 8×8 LED matrix to display a short sequence, then switches on a hand lamp to reveal a message printed on acetate inside a cardboard box. Arturo Rosete published the build on Hackster.io on April 15, 2018. See the original project.
What the Magic Projector does
Rosete describes it as a “Simple but meaningful project to ask a girl to be your girlfriend using an LED matrix & Arduino.” The box stages that message in two parts: an 8×8 LED matrix displays sprites, then a lamp lights the message on acetate. The enclosure separates the matrix and Arduino from the lamp and its control circuit.
The tutorial includes Arduino code for displaying generated matrix sprites. Its described sequence shows loading symbols, a name, a heart and a blinking arrow; the lamp then turns on while the heart remains displayed. The project page provides the creator’s code and build account, but does not establish independent testing of the software or hardware.
Parts and tools listed for the build
The following inventory reflects the creator’s project page; it is not a verified current shopping list or a guarantee that unspecified components will work together.
#1 Best Overall
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| Area | Items listed |
|---|---|
| Electronics | One Arduino UNO; one 8×8 common-cathode LED matrix; a breadboard; eight 330-ohm resistors; one generic NPN transistor; a switch; jumper wires; a 2.7-kilohm resistor; a 9V battery and clip; AA batteries; and a hand lamp. |
| Enclosure and assembly | Cardboard box, glue and matte black paper. |
| Tools | Soldering iron, hot glue gun and cutting pliers. |
| Software and resource | Arduino IDE and an LED matrix sprite generator. |
The project names an Arduino UNO and identifies its matrix as a GMM-23088CSB. Rosete says a generic matrix may work, but readers should check its pinout diagram against the build rather than assume any 8×8 matrix is interchangeable.
Choose a matrix-control approach
The author discusses two ways to control the matrix. His notes describe trade-offs from his own build, not a general performance test.
Rank #2
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| Approach | What the project says | Practical consideration |
|---|---|---|
| MAX7219 LED driver | Reduces the number of Arduino pins used and the number of resistors. | The author reports noisy signals in his attempt and suggests shorter connections might help. That observation is specific to his setup. |
| Direct pin-to-pin wiring | The author chose this approach after the driver attempt. | It avoids the driver in this build, but involves wiring the matrix directly to Arduino pins. Match the matrix pinout to the wiring. |
The page does not provide a systematic comparison of brightness, cost, power use or different matrix models, so it cannot establish which method is best for every build.
How the box creates the reveal
The enclosure is a simple optical setup: the matrix and lamp need separate spaces, and the path between the lamp and acetate message must remain unobstructed. Rosete says he rejected a bulb because its beam was not focused enough and used an LED hand lamp identified as NF-A651 instead.
Rank #3
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His described finish uses matte black paper on the outside, translucent black fabric over the matrix and a message printed on acetate. These are details of his construction, not requirements for every adaptation. He also notes that one 9V battery could power the project if longer wires were available to connect the circuits; the page does not give a measured runtime or establish a general power specification.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the tutorial does—and does not—establish
The Hackster.io page is the primary source for the project’s parts inventory, wiring narrative, enclosure description and code. It documents one creator’s build, with photographs and implementation notes; it does not report an independent replication, an electrical safety review, or present-day component availability. Rosete links a GitHub repository, but the existence of that link alone does not establish that the code or hardware has been independently tested.
Rank #4
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For anyone reproducing the project, the most important compatibility check documented by the creator is the LED matrix pinout. The project page is the appropriate place to consult for its original diagrams and build details: Magic Projector (A Romantic One) on Hackster.io.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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