Thymio Light Painting Lesson Key Concepts

Create glowing artwork with Thymio and explore how robotics, programming, and photography work together! This multi-part lesson focuses on light painting, color control, and creative expression:

• Learn long exposure light painting using Thymio and a camera.
• Start with a single color to understand movement and timing.
• Create a programmable light paintbrush to change colors.
• Advanced: Design flowers, shapes, and patterns using motion.
• Advanced: Use rainbow blending techniques (Mission 43) for gradient light effects.

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, students will:

1. Practice light painting using a single LED color.
2. Capture long-exposure photos to create glowing designs.
3. Build a program to change Thymio’s LED colors like a paintbrush.
4. Create custom light artwork and try a pixel puzzle challenge.

By the end of this lesson, students will understand how movement, light, and programming combine to create visual effects.

Important Notes:

Use a dark environment and a slow shutter speed for best results. Keep movements smooth for cleaner designs.

Tips for this Lesson:

1. Start with simple shapes before creating complex designs.
2. Move slowly to keep light trails clear and smooth.
3. Test different colors to see how they appear in photos.
4. Keep your camera stable using a tripod if possible.

Products/Materials

The following products and resources can be used in this lesson:

FUN FACT!

Did you know that light painting is a real photography technique used by artists? By keeping the camera shutter open, moving lights turn into glowing lines and shapes!

Download the Lesson PDF Files Below:

Check out the video tutorial/solutions below: