With the Raspberry Pi's enormous popularity as a DIY platform and the widespread appeal of animated GIFs online, it was only a matter of time before someone brought them together. Besides the components, all you need is a well-organized project to follow, and that's exactly what PIX-E is. The camera is based on a Raspberry Pi Zero, its case is 3D printed, and a simple 18650 battery provides up to eight hours of autonomy.
The traditional way to create an animated GIF usually involves capturing a piece of video and processing it from there. In the past, we've seen one or two tools that simplify this process, and any interested user can take a closer look. There's no strange science behind an animated GIF. Like regular video, an animated GIF presents a series of frames, but with fewer and lower-quality ones. That said, creating an animated GIF should be a simple task for any camera. Instead of looking at existing models, Nick Brewer decided to build his own, called PIX-E.
Components and Software
The total component count is ten. The project site has the full list, but with one of its images you can already identify the Raspberry Pi Zero with its camera, a microSD card, a 18650 battery connected to a charging and regulation circuit (which converts its 3.7V to 5V), two physical switches (one trigger and one to power the camera), a small LED with its corresponding resistor, and a WiFi module that helps you publish animated GIFs directly to the web (Twitter in this case). The software side requires modules like PiCamera, Gitcore, and GraphicsMagick. Uploading GIFs to Twitter is optional (so you could skip the WiFi module), but those who want it will need to add Twython to the setup. The software steps are numerous but easy to follow and don't require deep knowledge.
Design and Battery
Of course, the final design of the PIX-E camera is very clean thanks to a 3D printed case. Once you have the components, adapting the dimensions is simple, but in theory it won't be necessary, since its internals are well known and generally available. Naturally, the internal battery can be recharged without having to take the camera apart, and depending on its capacity, the PIX-E manages to run for six to eight hours without interruption, enough for any session. With some extra elements (say, a bigger battery and a USB hub), the PIX-E would become a computer and camera at the same time... but that's another story.
Official site: PIX-E GIF Camera
