ReFrame – The EPaper Camera
reFrame is an open-source digital camera that uses a six-pigment ePaper display to produce dithered, print-like photos. The project emphasizes a slow, deliberate photography experience where images remain on the screen even after power-off.
Why it matters
The project highlights a growing interest in 'slow technology' and hardware DIY culture that prioritizes aesthetic experience over digital efficiency.
reFrame's ePaper display has six pigments, so photos are dithered before they display on the screen.
The dithered photos look somewhere between a newspaper halftone and an old video game. The processing is part of the fun: you watch the colors come in one by one, like a digital polaroid.
After you press the shutter, each photo takes 15 seconds to fully appear. The display uses electrical charges to physically move ink particles into place.
With ePaper, the photo on screen stays there even after powering off. The only way to clear the screen is to take a new photo. With ePaper, the photo on screen stays there even after powering off. The only way to clear the screen is to take a new photo.
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