Here we’ll learn about making a DIY digital photo frame. How hard and technical is it? Can I just convert a tablet or monitor into a makeshift digital photo frame? These questions and more will be answered as we expand on the idea. By the time we’re done, you’ll know if it’s a good idea for you – or if you’d be better off buying a premium digital frame. Let’s get started!
Can I make a DIY digital photo frame at home?
While there are ways to build a digital photo frame at home by yourself, it’s not something we advise. The process can be quite technical and will cost similar to or more than most other mass-sold digital frames. The most common way to build a DIY digital photo frame is using a Raspberry Pi and an attachable display or monitor. Here’s a great guide to building a Raspberry Pi digital photo frame at home.
You’ll need to buy all the individual parts depending on the capabilities and functions you want the final product to have. Raspberry Pi computers come in different setups with different capabilities. For example, some include Wi-Fi and the ability to connect USB/SD card readers; whereas other include internal storage space. You need to have a clear idea of what you want to spend, and the features you want your DIY digital photo frame to have.
You also need to choose an external and compatible display. The most common digital photo frame size is 10-inches, but you’d get a decent viewing angle and experience with a smaller 8-inch display. It will be cheaper than larger panels. Try to get a 4:3 aspect ratio monitor or display and ensure the resolution is at least 800×600 for enough sharpness and clarity.
You then need to connect them all to make the final product. This is where experience and technical know-how become important. You might want to try with a cheaper Raspberry Pi computer and a cheap display if this is your first time. After all, you don’t want to waste good parts because of beginner mistakes.
In the end, making a DIY digital photo frame isn’t going to save you money or time. It’s also quite likely you’ll make some mistakes the first couple of times you try. Unless this is a specific passion project you’ve taken on, you’ll get a more attractive and capable frame by getting a premium model.
Pix-Star’s frame is a great example with a high-resolution display and one of the most versatile feature sets on the market. It features Wi-Fi, free & unlimited cloud storage, a mobile app, and a web interface. It can also be added to a multi-frame control group for families and elderly users that struggle with new devices.
How to convert a tablet or monitor into a DIY digital photo frame?
Using a tablet or external monitor as a digital photo frame should be your last choice. This is because they lack the functionality and focused feature set that most premium digital photo frames have. These include emailing photos, sending media via the mobile app, linking albums through the web interface, etc. While these can be achieved on a tablet or monitor, it’ll be nowhere near as user-friendly as it is on top frames like the Pix-Star.
The main issue you’re going to have with tablets is battery life. They have great portability, but keeping the screen on and displaying photos all the time will require third-party apps and will quickly drain the battery fast. This will require regular recharging which more or less limits the benefit of portability. It also harms battery longevity and can cause overheating and swelling.
The main issues with monitors and displays are their lack of versatility. While they can play videos without limits, sending photos to and displaying slideshows will be slow and complicated. You’d get a far easier interface with a frame like the Pix-Star. Slideshows can be effortlessly customized and the play order & frequency of photos is easily adjustable.
How to DIY mount a digital photo frame on the wall?
Some digital photo frames – usually higher-end models – come with built-in support for a standard VESA mount (purchased separately) for wall-mounting. These mount types let you fix the frame on the wall without blocking any of the USB/SD card ports, the power inlet, or the onboard controls. It also allows switching between landscape and portrait orientations without much difficulty.
If your frame doesn’t either support a standard VESA mount or have dedicated hanging holes, you’ll need to do some DIY work. Alternatively, you could pay to get a custom wall mount or housing frame. A DIY wall mount can be done by making a cutout in your wall or building a housing frame manually. If this is the route you take, make sure that the USB/SD card ports and power inlet aren’t blocked. Also, make sure the motion sensor and/or remote-control sensor aren’t blocked by the mount.
Can DIY digital photo frames connect to Wi-Fi?
This depends on the complexity of the DIY digital photo frame you’ve built. As mentioned earlier, some Raspberry Pi models come with Wi-Fi and even Bluetooth connectivity built into the computer. Alternatively, if your model supports it, you could connect a Wi-Fi dongle to connect to home Wi-Fi networks and hotspot connections.
Generally speaking, most DIY digital photo frames aren’t going to let you connect to mobile apps and web interfaces (or receiving photos through email) without some serious technical know-how and experience. Even if you could figure these out for yourself, it would be very expensive, pricing your DIY digital frame far past what you’d pay for a premium digital frame like the Pix-Star.
How to send photos to a DIY digital photo frame?
Most DIY digital photo frames can only receive photos and other media through an inserted USB/SD card. If you’re building a Raspberry Pi digital frame, this is why choosing one with USB/SD card ports and readers is essential. Even DIY digital photo frames with Wi-Fi will struggle to receive photos through any method other than a USB/SD card.
If you want to be able to send photos, videos, and audio messages to your digital photo frame, Pix-Star’s option is a fantastic choice. You can load photos by USB/SD card (there’s also a plug-and-play quick slideshow option), send pictures via email, send photos, video & audio through the Pix-Star mobile app, and link & sync pictures from external sources like Facebook, Instagram, Google Photos, etc. through the web interface. It’s a solid choice for bigger families with elderly users that aren’t very tech-savvy.
