# One diffuser, one LED matrix, a lot of spacing tests

A 3D-printed test rig swaps the gap between an LED matrix and its diffuser, and the light changes more than you'd expect from a few millimeters.

- Category: Hardware (prototype)
- Made by: [Falla](https://www.tiktok.com/@falladesign) on TikTok
- Original: https://www.tiktok.com/@falladesign/video/7689924520391478550
- On Afterware: https://afterware.xyz/p/one-diffuser-one-led-matrix-a-lot-of-spacing-tests

## Can I build this?

- Difficulty: Beginner
- AI-buildability: 4/5 (Mostly a 3D-printed jig and an off-the-shelf LED matrix, with little wiring and the code is simple.)
- Time: A weekend
- Cost: $15–30
- Parts: 8x32 WS2812B flexible LED matrix
- Tools: 3D printer

Estimates based on the original write-up. How the AI-buildability score works: https://afterware.xyz/ai-buildability

## Build sheet

- Method: 3D-printed test rig
- Subject: LED matrix + diffuser spacing
- Project: Magnetic light

## Starter prompt

```
Based on "One diffuser, one LED matrix, a lot of spacing tests" on Afterware: https://afterware.xyz/p/one-diffuser-one-led-matrix-a-lot-of-spacing-tests

Write Arduino code for an ESP32-S3 driving an 8x32 WS2812B flexible LED matrix, with a test mode that cycles through a few patterns so I can judge how light looks through a diffuser. Keep the code simple so I can swap diffusers without changing the firmware. I'm mounting the matrix in a 3D-printed jig with slots at several distances from the diffuser.
```

## Story

Falla built a small 3D-printed test rig to try different distances between an LED matrix and its diffuser. It's part of a magnetic light project. The point of the rig is that you can slide the diffuser to a new spacing and compare the result on the same LEDs.

The early finding is that even a small change in spacing makes a surprisingly big difference in how the matrix looks. The maker says a side-by-side comparison is coming in a separate reel, so the effect is best judged there.

If you're building your own LED panel, the takeaway is to treat diffuser spacing as a tunable parameter, not a fixed detail. A printed jig with a few fixed positions is a cheap way to find the sweet spot before you commit to an enclosure.

## Resources

- [Build video](https://www.tiktok.com/@falladesign/video/7689924520391478550)

Tags: led matrix, diffuser, 3d-printed, prototype, lighting

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