A modern web-based photo frame controller for Waveshare 5.65" 7-color e-paper displays. Upload and display images wirelessly with an intuitive web interface featuring interactive cropping, multiple dithering algorithms, and image rotation.

📸 Screenshots

Boot Screen Web Interface
Boot Screen Web Interface
QR code for easy connection Upload interface
Crop Editor Algorithm Selection
Crop Editor Algorithm Selection
Drag, zoom, rotate 5 conversion methods
Final Result
Display Result
Photo rendered on e-paper

✨ Features

Web Interface

  • Interactive Crop Editor - Drag to reposition, pinch/scroll to zoom
  • 90° Rotation - Rotate images to fit any orientation
  • Background Selection - Choose white or black backgrounds
  • 5 Dithering Algorithms - Preview and compare conversion methods:
    • Floyd-Steinberg (balanced, natural look)
    • Atkinson (softer, less noise)
    • Ordered/Bayer (retro, patterned)
    • No Dithering (pure colors, cartoon style)
    • Black & White (classic 2-color)
  • Live Preview - See exactly how your image will look before uploading
  • Touch-Friendly - Works seamlessly on mobile devices

Connectivity

  • Access Point Fallback - Automatic AP mode if no network configured
  • QR Code Display - Scan to connect instantly
  • Web Configuration - Save WiFi credentials through browser

Storage & Performance

  • SPIFFS Storage - No PSRAM required
  • Optimized Memory Usage - ~64KB buffer for 600x448 display
  • Fast Uploads - Progress tracking and efficient transfer

🛠️ Hardware Requirements

Required Components

  • ESP32 Development Board (any variant with SPI support)
  • Waveshare 5.65" 7-Color E-Paper Display (600x448 pixels)
  • Model: GDEP0565D90
  • Colors: Black, White, Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Orange

Pin Connections

ESP32 Pin Display Pin Function
GPIO 4 BUSY Busy Signal
GPIO 5 CS Chip Select
GPIO 16 RST Reset
GPIO 17 DC Data/Command
GPIO 18 CLK SPI Clock (SCK)
GPIO 23 DIN SPI MOSI (Data in)
3.3V VCC Power
GND GND Ground

Note: Modify pin assignments in display_config.h if using different wiring.

📦 Installation

Prerequisites

Install the following libraries through Arduino IDE Library Manager:

- GxEPD2 (by Jean-Marc Zingg)
- QRCode (by Richard Moore)

Upload Steps

  1. Clone Repository
    bash git clone https://github.com/9carlo6/E-Paper.git cd E-Paper

  2. Open in Arduino IDE

    • Open E-Paper_Photo_Frame.ino

  3. Configure Board

    • Board: ESP32 Dev Module
    • Upload Speed: 921600
    • Flash Size: 4MB (with SPIFFS)
    • Partition Scheme: Default 4MB with spiffs

  4. Verify Pin Configuration

    • Check display_config.h matches your wiring

  5. Upload

    • Click Upload and wait for completion

🚀 Usage

First Time Setup

  1. Power On - ESP32 boots and displays welcome screen with QR code
  2. Connect to WiFi - Connect to E-Paper WiFi (password: epaper2025)
  3. Open Web Interface - Scan QR code on display

Uploading Images

  1. Open Web Interface - Go to http://[IP-ADDRESS]
  2. Upload Image - Click or drag image (JPG, PNG, BMP supported)
  3. Crop & Position
    • Drag to move image
    • Use zoom controls or pinch to scale
    • Click "Rotate" to rotate 90°
    • Select white or black background
    • Use "Fit" to auto-scale, "Center" to center image
  4. Choose Algorithm - Preview all conversion methods and select preferred one
  5. Upload to Display - Click "Upload to Display" and wait for refresh

📁 Project Structure

E-Paper/
├── E-Paper_Photo_Frame.ino    # Main program file
├── display_config.h            # Display hardware configuration
├── web_interface.h             # Complete web interface (HTML/CSS/JS)
└── README.md                   # This file

⚙️ Configuration

WiFi Settings

Default AP credentials (modify in E-Paper_Photo_Frame.ino):

#define AP_SSID "E-Paper WiFi"
#define AP_PASS "epaper2025"

Display Settings

Pin configuration (modify in display_config.h):

#define EPD_CS   5
#define EPD_DC   17
#define EPD_RST  16
#define EPD_BUSY 4

Image Settings

Resolution (modify in E-Paper_Photo_Frame.ino):

#define IMAGE_WIDTH 448
#define IMAGE_HEIGHT 600

🔧 Troubleshooting

Display Not Updating

  • Check pin connections
  • Verify SPIFFS is initialized (check Serial Monitor)
  • Ensure image file size is correct (134,400 bytes)

WiFi Connection Failed

  • Check SSID and password
  • Verify signal strength

Web Interface Not Loading

  • Confirm correct IP address
  • Check ESP32 is powered and connected
  • Try accessing /config endpoint

Upload Errors

  • Ensure image file is valid format
  • Check SPIFFS has available space
  • Verify network connection is stable

🎨 About Dithering Algorithms

The web interface offers 5 different algorithms to convert your photos for the 7-color display:

  • Floyd-Steinberg: Best for photographs, provides natural gradients
  • Atkinson: Softer alternative, less grainy than Floyd-Steinberg
  • Ordered (Bayer): Creates retro halftone patterns, good for graphics
  • No Dithering: Pure color quantization, cartoon-like effect
  • Black & White: Classic 2-color dithering for monochrome look

Each algorithm provides a live preview so you can choose the best result for your image.

📝 Serial Monitor Output

The system provides detailed logging:

  • SPIFFS initialization status
  • WiFi connection progress
  • IP address assignment
  • Web server status
  • Upload progress
  • Display update timing

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Feel free to:

  • Report bugs
  • Suggest features
  • Submit pull requests
  • Improve documentation

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

🙏 Acknowledgments

  • GxEPD2 library by Jean-Marc Zingg
  • QRCode library by Richard Moore
  • Waveshare for e-paper display documentation

📧 Contact

For questions or support, please open an issue on GitHub.

Project Link: https://github.com/9carlo6/E-Paper