Light Show 2.0

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Kit purchase

Looking for parts? Check out our all-in-one kits below — packed with components, beginner-friendly guides, and tons of fun.

Name	Includes Arduino board	PURCHASE LINK
Ultimate Sensor Kit	Arduino Uno R4 Minima	BUY
Elite Explorer Kit	Arduino Uno R4 WiFi	BUY
3 in 1 Ultimate Starter Kit	Arduino Uno R4 Minima	BUY
Universal Maker Sensor Kit	×	BUY

Course Introduction

In this lesson, you will learn how to use Arduino along with LEDs, and resistors to create a light show.

Note

If this is your first time working with an Arduino project, we recommend downloading and reviewing the basic materials first.

Required Components

In this project, we need the following components:

SN	COMPONENT INTRODUCTION	QUANTITY	PURCHASE LINK
1	Arduino UNO R4 Minima	1	BUY
2	USB Type-C cable	1
3	Breadboard	1	BUY
4	Wires	Several	BUY
5	1kΩ resistor	Several	BUY
6	LED	Several	BUY

Wiring

Common Connections:

LED
- Connect the LEDs cathode to negative power bus on the breadboard, and the LEDs anode to a 1kΩ resistor then to the 2 to 13 on the Arduino.

Writing the Code

Note

You can copy this code into Arduino IDE.
Don’t forget to select the board(Arduino UNO R4 Minima) and the correct port before clicking the Upload button.

// =========================================
// LED Light Show - For Beginners
// Created for 12 LEDs connected to pins 2–13
// -----------------------------------------
// Effect 1: Ping-Pong
// Effect 2: Waterfall
// Effect 3: Wave (two rounds)
// Effect 4: Bouncing (two rounds)
// Effect 5: Progressive Keep (two directions)
// Effect 6: Running Back
// Effect 7: Ladder (two directions)
// Effect 8: Alternating
// Effect 9: Grouped Flash (two times)
// Effect 10: Cross Blink (two times)
// =========================================

const int ledPins[] = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13};
const int numLeds = 12;

void setup() {
  // Set all LED pins as outputs
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
    pinMode(ledPins[i], OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
  }
}

void loop() {
  pingPongEffect();          // Effect 1
  waterfallEffect();         // Effect 2
  waveEffect();              // Effect 3
  bouncingEffect();          // Effect 4
  progressiveKeepEffect();   // Effect 5
  runningBackEffect();       // Effect 6
  ladderEffect();            // Effect 7
  alternatingEffect();       // Effect 8

  // Keep consistent loop structure for repeated effects
  for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
    groupedFlashEffect();    // Effect 9 - Repeat twice
  }

  for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
    crossBlinkEffect();      // Effect 10 - Repeat twice
  }
}

// -------------------------------
// Effect 1: Ping-Pong
// -------------------------------
void pingPongEffect() {
  // Move light from left to right
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    delay(80);
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
  }

  // Move light from right to left
  for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    delay(80);
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
  }
}

// -------------------------------
// Effect 2: Waterfall
// -------------------------------
void waterfallEffect() {
  // Flow from left to right
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    delay(50);
  }
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
    delay(50);
  }

  // Flow from right to left
  for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    delay(50);
  }
  for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
    delay(50);
  }
}

// -------------------------------
// Effect 3: Wave (two rounds)
// -------------------------------
void waveEffect() {
  for (int repeat = 0; repeat < 2; repeat++) {
    // Left to right wave
    for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
      if (i > 1) digitalWrite(ledPins[i - 2], LOW);
      delay(50);
    }

    // Right to left wave
    for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
      if (i < numLeds - 2) digitalWrite(ledPins[i + 2], LOW);
      delay(50);
    }

    // Turn off last two LEDs
    for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], LOW);
    }
  }
}

// -------------------------------
// Effect 4: Bouncing (two rounds)
// -------------------------------
void bouncingEffect() {
  for (int repeat = 0; repeat < 2; repeat++) {
    // Move inward
    for (int i = 0; i < numLeds / 2; i++) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
      digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], HIGH);
      delay(50);
    }

    // Turn off inward
    for (int i = 0; i < numLeds / 2; i++) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
      digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], LOW);
      delay(50);
    }

    // Move outward
    for (int i = numLeds / 2 - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
      digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], HIGH);
      delay(50);
    }

    // Turn off outward
    for (int i = numLeds / 2 - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
      digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], LOW);
      delay(50);
    }
  }
}

// -------------------------------
// Effect 5: Progressive Keep (two directions)
// -------------------------------
void progressiveKeepEffect() {
  // Left to right progressive
  for (int round = 0; round < numLeds; round++) {
    for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
    for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= numLeds - round; i--) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    }
    for (int i = 0; i < numLeds - round; i++) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
      if (i > 0) digitalWrite(ledPins[i - 1], LOW);
      delay(50);
    }
    if (numLeds - round - 1 >= 0) digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - round - 1], LOW);
  }

  // Right to left progressive
  for (int round = 0; round < numLeds; round++) {
    for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
    for (int i = 0; i < round; i++) digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= round; i--) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
      if (i < numLeds - 1) digitalWrite(ledPins[i + 1], LOW);
      delay(50);
    }
    if (round < numLeds) digitalWrite(ledPins[round], LOW);
  }
}

// -------------------------------
// Effect 6: Running Back
// -------------------------------
void runningBackEffect() {
  // Forward
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    delay(50);
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
  }

  // Backward
  for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    delay(50);
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
  }
}

// -------------------------------
// Effect 7: Ladder (two directions)
// -------------------------------
void ladderEffect() {
  // Left to right
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    delay(50);
  }
  for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
    delay(50);
  }

  // Right to left
  for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    delay(50);
  }
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
    delay(50);
  }
}

// -------------------------------
// Effect 8: Alternating
// -------------------------------
void alternatingEffect() {
  for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    // Even LEDs ON, odd LEDs OFF
    for (int j = 0; j < numLeds; j += 2) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[j], HIGH);
      if (j + 1 < numLeds) digitalWrite(ledPins[j + 1], LOW);
    }
    delay(300);

    // Even LEDs OFF, odd LEDs ON
    for (int j = 0; j < numLeds; j += 2) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[j], LOW);
      if (j + 1 < numLeds) digitalWrite(ledPins[j + 1], HIGH);
    }
    delay(300);
  }

  // Turn off all LEDs
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
}

// -------------------------------
// Effect 9: Grouped Flash
// -------------------------------
void groupedFlashEffect() {
  int groupSize = 4; // 4 LEDs per group
  for (int g = 0; g < numLeds; g += groupSize) {
    for (int i = g; i < g + groupSize && i < numLeds; i++) digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    delay(300);
    for (int i = g; i < g + groupSize && i < numLeds; i++) digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
  }
}

// -------------------------------
// Effect 10: Cross Blink
// -------------------------------
void crossBlinkEffect() {
  for (int repeat = 0; repeat < 2; repeat++) {
    // Opposite LEDs ON/OFF alternately
    for (int i = 0; i < numLeds / 2; i++) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
      digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], LOW);
    }
    delay(300);

    for (int i = 0; i < numLeds / 2; i++) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
      digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], HIGH);
    }
    delay(300);
  }
}