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RGB/Underglow/NeoPixel

Want your keyboard to shine? Add some lights!

CircuitPython

This does require the NeoPixel library from Adafruit. It is part of the Adafruit CircuitPython Bundle. Simply put this in the "root" of your CircuitPython device. If unsure, it's the folder with main.py in it, and should be the first folder you see when you open the device.

Currently we support the following addressable LEDs:

  • WS2811, WS2812, WS2812B, WS2812C, etc.
  • SK6812, SK6812MINI, SK6805

Color Selection

KMK uses Hue, Saturation, and Value to select colors rather than RGB. The color wheel below demonstrates how this works.

Changing the Hue cycles around the circle. Changing the Saturation moves between the inner and outer sections of the wheel, affecting the intensity of the color. Changing the Value sets the overall brightness.

Enabling the extension

The only required values that you need to give the RGB extension would be the board pin for the data line, and the number of pixels/LED's. If using a split keyboard, this number is per side, and not the total of both sides.

import board
from kmk.extensions.RGB import RGB

rgb = RGB(pixel_pin=board.GP14, num_pixels=27)
keyboard.extensions.append(rgb)

[Keycodes]

Key Aliases Description
KC.RGB_TOG Toggles RGB
KC.RGB_HUI Increase Hue
KC.RGB_HUD Decrease Hue
KC.RGB_SAI Increase Saturation
KC.RGB_SAD Decrease Saturation
KC.RGB_VAI Increase Value
KC.RGB_VAD Decrease Value
KC.RGB_ANI Increase animation speed
KC.RGB_AND Decrease animation speed
KC.RGB_MODE_PLAIN RGB_M_P Static RGB
KC.RGB_MODE_BREATHE RGB_M_B Breathing animation
KC.RGB_MODE_RAINBOW RGB_M_R Rainbow animation
KC.RGB_MODE_BREATHE_RAINBOW RGB_M_BR Breathing rainbow animation
KC.RGB_MODE_KNIGHT RGB_M_K Knight Rider animation
KC.RGB_MODE_SWIRL RGB_M_S Swirl animation

Configuration

Define Default Description
rgb.num_pixels The number of LEDs connected
rgb.rgb_order (1, 0, 2) The order of the pixels R G B, and optionally white. Example(1, 0, 2, 3)
rgb.hue_step 10 The number of steps to cycle through the hue by
rgb.sat_step 17 The number of steps to change the saturation by
rgb.val_step 17 The number of steps to change the brightness by
rgb.hue_default 0 The default hue when the keyboard boots
rgb.sat_default 255 The default saturation when the keyboard boots
rgb.val_default 255 The default value (brightness) when the keyboard boots
rgb.val_limit 255 The maximum brightness level

Built-in Animation Configuration

Define Default Description
rgb.breathe_center 1.5 Used to calculate the curve for the breathing animation. Anywhere from 1.0 - 2.7 is valid
rgb.knight_effect_length 4 The number of LEDs to light up for the "Knight" animation

Functions

If you want to create your own animations, or for example, change the lighting in a macro, or a layer switch, here are some functions that are available.

Function Description
rgb.set_hsv_fill(hue, sat, val) Fills all LED's with HSV values
rgb.set_hsv(hue, sat, val, index) Sets a single LED with HSV value
rgb.set_rgb_fill(r, g, b) Fills all LED's with RGB(W) values
rgb.set_rgb((r, g, b), index) Set's a single LED with RGB(W) values
rgb.increase_hue(step) Increases hue by a given step
rgb.decrease_hue(step) Decreases hue by a given step
rgb.increase_sat(step) Increases saturation by a given step
rgb.decrease_sat(step) Decreases saturation by a given step
rgb.increase_val(step) Increases value (brightness) by a given step
rgb.decrease_val(step) Decreases value (brightness) by a given step
rgb.increase_ani() Increases animation speed by 1. Maximum 10
rgb.decrease_ani() Decreases animation speed by 1. Minimum 10
rgb.off() Turns all LED's off
rgb.show() Displays all stored configuration for LED's

Direct variable access

Define Default Description
rgb.hue 0 Sets the hue from 0-255
rgb.sat 255 Sets the saturation from 0-255
rgb.val 255 Sets the brightness from 0-255
rgb.reverse_animation False If true, some animations will run in reverse. Can be safely used in user animations
rgb.animation_mode static This can be changed to any modes included, or to something custom for user animations. Any string is valid
rgb.animation_speed 1 Increases animation speed of most animations. Recommended 1-5, Maximum 10. 
from kmk.extensions.rgb import AnimationModes
rgb = RGB(pixel_pin=rgb_pixel_pin,
        num_pixels=27
        val_limit=100,
        hue_default=0,
        sat_default=100,
        rgb_order=(1, 0, 2),  # GRB WS2812
        val_default=100,
        hue_step=5,
        sat_step=5,
        val_step=5,
        animation_speed=1,
        breathe_center=1,  # 1.0-2.7
        knight_effect_length=3,
        animation_mode=AnimationModes.STATIC,
        reverse_animation=False,
        refresh_rate=60,
        )

Hardware Modification

To add RGB LED's to boards that don't support them directly, you will have to add a 3 wires. The power wire will run on 3.3v or 5v (depending on the LED), ground, and data pins will need added to an unused pin on your microcontroller unless your keyboard has specific solder points for them. With those 3 wires connected, set the pixel_pin as described above, and you are ready to use your RGB LED's/NeoPixel.

Troubleshooting

Incorrect colors

If your colors are incorrect, check the pixel order of your specific LED's. Here are some common ones.

  • WS2811, WS2812, WS2812B, WS2812C are all GRB (1, 0, 2)
  • SK6812, SK6812MINI, SK6805 are all GRB (1, 0, 2)
  • NeoPixels will vary depending on which one you buy. It will be listed on the product page.

Lights don't turn on

Make sure that your board supports LED backlight by checking for a line with PIXEL_PIN. If it does not, you can add it to your keymap. If you added the LED's yourself, you will also need to set num_pixels to the number of installed LED's in total.

Alternate LED chipsets

Not all RGB LEDs are compatible with NeoPixels. To support these, the RGB extension accepts an instance of a Pixelbuf-compatible object as an optional parameter. If supplied, pixel_pin is ignored and the supplied Pixelbuf is used instead of creating a NeoPixel object. The RGB extension will figure out LED count from the pixel buffer length if not passed explicitly.

This works easily with APA102 ("DotStar") LEDs, but for most other RGB LED chipsets you will need to provide a wrapper to match the expected interface.

A simple example using APA102:

import adafruit_dotstar
from kmk.extensions.RGB import RGB
from kb import rgb_pixel_pin  # This can be imported or defined manually

_LED_COUNT=12
pixels = adafruit_dotstar.DotStar(board.SCK, board.MOSI, _LED_COUNT)

rgb = RGB(pixel_pin=None, pixels=pixels)
keyboard.extensions.append(rgb)

Multiple PixelBuffer

Similar to alternate drivers, the RGB module supports passing multiple Pixelbuf objects as an iterable.

from kmk.extensions.RGB import RGB

pixels = (
    Neopixel(...),
    DotStar(...),
    CustomPixelBuf(...)
)

rgb = RGB(pixel_pin=None, pixels=pixels)
keyboard.extensions.append(rgb)