hyperion.ng

Hyperion is an open-source software project that creates ambient lighting effects around your TV or monitor by controlling LED strips. The idea is similar to the bias lighting feature that some high-end televisions advertise: the LEDs behind your screen change color to match what is on screen, extending the image into the room and reducing eye strain in dark environments. Rather than paying for a manufacturer's built-in version, Hyperion lets you build your own with off-the-shelf LED hardware.

The software works by capturing what is displayed on screen (via a video capture device or software grabber), calculating the average colors along each edge of the image, and then sending color commands to connected LED strips in real time. It supports a wide range of LED controllers and hardware devices, including popular DIY options used in home theater setups. The full list of compatible hardware is in the project documentation.

Hyperion is designed to run on low-power single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi, keeping CPU usage low so the device can be left running continuously without much power draw. Configuration and remote control happen through a web interface that works in multiple languages. There is also a JSON-based programming interface that allows other software and scripts to interact with Hyperion, and a command-line utility for testing setups.

An included effect engine, written in Python, comes with 39 built-in lighting patterns that run independently of any screen content. These include things like color cycles, breathing effects, and other animations that can be used as decorative lighting when no video source is active. Developers can also write custom effects using Python.

The project is released under the MIT license, has an active community forum, a Discord server, and accepts contributions including translations through an external translation platform.