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reFrame: Build a Camera with a Waveshare Color E-Paper Screen

reFrame: Build a Camera with a Waveshare Color E-Paper Screen. The documented open version uses off-the-shelf hardware and can double as a desk frame.

PineMux Editorial 30 Sep 2026 2 min read

Cameras & Imaging

The original reFrame camera held beside its e-paper image.
The original reFrame camera held beside its e-paper image. Source: kaloyaan/reframe · original image.

01 / Project overview

Kaloyan Kolev’s reFrame is a real experimental camera that presents one photograph at a time on a six-color e-paper screen. The documented open version uses off-the-shelf hardware and can double as a desk frame. Its slower display update is part of the interaction: taking a photograph and waiting for the picture to appear are separate moments.

One of the author’s dithered sample images for the color e-paper display.

FROM THE ORIGINAL PROJECT
One of the author’s dithered sample images for the color e-paper display.
kaloyaan/reframe · View original image

A second original output sample shows how different colors and textures are rendered.

FROM THE ORIGINAL PROJECT
A second original output sample shows how different colors and textures are rendered.
kaloyaan/reframe · View original image

02 / Materials & software

  • Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
  • Camera Module 3
  • Waveshare 4-inch Spectra 6 display
  • PiSugar 3
  • printed enclosure

03 / Compatibility & setup notes

The color display refresh is intentionally slow, and the shown image remains when power is removed. Software, hardware files and documentation have distinct license notices.

A conceptual journey from a camera image to a limited-color e-paper picture. AI-generated illustration; not the original project, a wiring guide or a tested build.

AI CONCEPT
A conceptual journey from a camera image to a limited-color e-paper picture. AI-generated illustration; not the original project, a wiring guide or a tested build.

04 / Build the project

  1. Compare the bill of materials with the published build guide.
  2. Verify the camera and Waveshare display separately before fitting the enclosure.
  3. Follow the software setup and test the shutter-to-display flow on stable power before configuring the battery.
The original browser dashboard exposes the project’s gallery and camera controls.

FROM THE ORIGINAL PROJECT
The original browser dashboard exposes the project’s gallery and camera controls.
kaloyaan/reframe · View original image

05 / Check the result

Test a bright scene, a darker scene and repeated captures. Judge the dithered output on the physical panel rather than expecting LCD-like color or live view.

PineMux build note: Keep a record of the board revision, firmware version and first successful test. Follow the upstream guide for exact pins and commands.

06 / Sources & build notes

Upstream attention: 624 GitHub stars, checked 30 September 2026. Stars indicate community interest, not a reliability guarantee.

Original project by kaloyaan. This PineMux editorial overview is based on the linked primary source; PineMux has not bench-tested this build.

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