last modified: October 23, 2025
Posted on 2019-12-07— Projects
I’ll walk you through creating custom patterns for your snowflake decoration, covering double-buffering, frame-sync, non-linear PWM, fixed-point math and the scene interface in C++. If you can solder and use an SWD programmer, read on for practical examples and a ready-to-edit User scene template.
Posted on 2019-11-30— Projects
I walk you through flashing custom firmware to your Pimoroni snowflake decoration using an SWD J-Link and Atmel Studio. I cover hardware, wiring, software setup, and step-by-step build and flash instructions so you can safely program your boards. Read the full guide for tips and troubleshooting.
Posted on 2019-11-23— Projects
I walk through creating custom wiring for the snowflake decoration, covering layouts, cable choices, current and voltage-drop math, and a simple power supply board for Pimoroni kits. If you want practical tips and diagrams to wire your own design, please read the full guide.
Posted on 2019-11-22— Projects
I walk you through the Snowflake v1.2 firmware's button-based configuration: short vs long presses, auto and single modes, LED indicators, and pattern durations. I explain the six-second timeout and that settings aren't saved after power loss—please read the full post for step-by-step usage and tips.
Posted on 2019-11-18— Projects
I wanted to capture the tiny, spiky corona of light from a snowflake decoration on video and found it challenging. After experiments I developed a simple effect that better conveys the sparkling as seen by the eye. Read on to see my approach, results, and how you can try it yourself.
Posted on 2019-11-15— Projects
I've been making videos of my LED snowflake decorations, but they still fall short of the live sparkle and diffraction I see. I explain the problems—blinding LED peaks and weak diffraction spikes—and invite you to read the post to watch the clips and see my plan to add digital effects.
Posted on 2019-11-13— Common
I'm happy to share you can now buy an assembled Snowflake Decoration from Pimoroni with worldwide shipping. The panels arrive pre-soldered, use 5V power and flat cables so no soldering is needed. If you'd like details on the updates and compatibility, please read the full post.