Etch A Sketch – Controlling Processing from Arduino

Introduction

Some projects call for more computing power and resources than an Arduino alone can supply. One solution is to use an Arduino as a way to interface between physical controllers and a computer. This is done by sending data over the serial port to a computer. Processing is a great option as it has so many similarities to Arduino.

To demonstrate how data can be sent from an Arduino to control what happens in a Processing sketch, we will draw inspiration from an Etch A Sketch.

What is an Etch A Sketch?

An Etch A Sketch is a drawing toy that was sold by the Ohio Art Company. It was first sold in the 1960s. The toy draws a line using two controllers: a knob that changes the horizontal position and a second knob for the vertical position. To erase what has been drawn, the toy is flipped upside down and is shaken.

etch-a-sketch

We are going to mimic this interaction using Arduino and Processing. We will use Processing to draw on a computer, and we will control that drawing using two potentiometers and a tactile button.

Sections

This tutorial is broken down into 5 sections:

  1. Processing Sketch
  2. Adding a Button
  3. Adding the First Knob
  4. Adding the Second Knob
  5. Putting It All Together