The electronic and hardware components you’ll need for your Raspberry Pi digital photo frame depend on how simple or complex you’d like the project to be. At the bare minimum, you’ll need the Raspberry Pi itself, a display that could be anything from your old HDMI computer monitor to the Pi’s official 7-inch LCD, a reliable power supply, a microSD card for the OS, and a Wi-Fi dongle or LAN cable (for Pi models missing built-in Wi-Fi support and need to be connected to the web or your home network).
If you find this too basic and looking for a bit more pizzazz, you can dial it up a notch with a few tweaks here and there using sensors. One developer integrated an ambient light sensor to their Pi-based picture frame. This adjusts the display’s brightness depending on the light intensity in the room. They also made use of capacitive touch sensors for effortless navigation through the photo collection and for shutting down the Pi safely when needed. Another developer added a PIR motion sensor to their frame to keep it asleep and only wake the display up when someone approaches.
As for the accessories, consider getting a case for your Pi. If, however, you’re working with the official 7-inch LCD, there are cases designed specifically for it, complete with a cozy spot for the board. For other small displays without readily available cases, you might want to frame it up with something like wood, sturdy cardboard, or even a 3D-printed enclosure. Other Pi accessories worth throwing into the mix is a heatsink for the Pi to keep the board cool while it’s running 24/7 and wall brackets or picture hanging kits if you plan on mounting the frame on your wall.
